Saturday, March 5
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
197.575
vs
196.725
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Western Michigan
Spartan Gymnastics Excels on Record-Breaking Senior Night
3/5/2022 10:10:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
EAST LANSING, Mich. - On a memorable Senior Night, school records fell as No. 12 Michigan State gymnastics set a new school record with a 197.575 en route to decisive win over Western Michigan at a rowdy Jenison Field House on Saturday night. The Broncos ended with a school record of their own with a score of 196.725, but the night belonged to the Green and White.
The Spartans celebrated five special seniors following the meet in Sydney Ewing, Lea Mitchell, Ashley Hofelich, Alaina Raybon and Alyssa Wiedeman.
"This group has been such a crucial part of this program," head coach Mike Rowe commented. "They've really been a big part of getting us to where we are, getting everyone else on the team to understand how we're trying to transform this program. The success we've had along the way is attributed to them, and everyone jumping on board with it has been amazing. The routines just got better and better and the kids were so into it, and that's what it's all about; when you're having that much fun, and seeing the results they produce, it builds up their confidence. It's just part of this snowball that keeps on rolling, and we hope it keeps going."
The team score of 197.575 broke the school record set earlier this season when MSU earned a 197.425 at home against Illinois on Feb. 13. The record was secured by another school high when the Spartans ended the meet with a 49.675 on floor. The previous school record was 49.575, which also came in the same Feb. 13 meet.
Freshman Skyla Schulte broke Kristen Coleman's school record in the all-around with a 39.675. Coleman's previous record of 39.625 also came against WMU in 2007. This was Schulte's fourth all-around title of the season. She also won outright or earned a share of the top score on vault and beam.
The Spartans started the night with a 49.100 on vault. Michigan State took the top three spots in the event, led by Schulte's career-high 9.900. This was her second vault title of the season, also winning in a quad meet on Jan. 9. Freshmen Lauren Hsu and Gabrielle Stephen tied for second with matching 9.825 scores.
Michigan State edged out Western Michigan on bars, 49.400-49.250. Sophomore Delanie Harkness captured the bars title with a career-high 9.950, the second-high bars score in MSU history. She is one of only three Spartans to achieve the high score. Her previous career-high was 9.925 against Iowa on Jan. 22. WMU's Payton Murphy finished second with a score of 9.900. A pair of Spartans finished third with sophomore Jori Jackard and Schulte earning matching 9.875 marks.
The events then moved to beam, where MSU also topped WMU, 49.400-49.325. Schulte continued her dominance on the night, tying for first with WMU's Amanda Gruber with a score of 9.950. The score was a new career high for the freshman and the second highest in school history. This was Schulte's second balance beam win of the season.
Hofelich put the cherry on top of the night as she tied the school record on floor. She joins Sarah Alexander (3/22/03), Polly Kiker (3/11/00), Melissa Green (2/19/00) and Briony Lecky (3/14/98) on reaching near perfection with the 9.975 mark. She received a perfect ten score on her routine from one of the two floor judges. Hofelich bested her previous career-high of 9.925, which she had already done seven separate times this season.
The Spartans took the top five spots on floor en route to the school record. Schulte finished second with a career-high 9.950. Junior Nyah Smith and Harkness both either set or tied career highs to finish tied for third with scores of 9.925.
With the win, Michigan State improved to 13-3 overall, while Western Michigan falls to 7-8.
Michigan State now hits the road for its regular season finale at No. 10 Kentucky on Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m. on SEC+.
The Spartans celebrated five special seniors following the meet in Sydney Ewing, Lea Mitchell, Ashley Hofelich, Alaina Raybon and Alyssa Wiedeman.
"This group has been such a crucial part of this program," head coach Mike Rowe commented. "They've really been a big part of getting us to where we are, getting everyone else on the team to understand how we're trying to transform this program. The success we've had along the way is attributed to them, and everyone jumping on board with it has been amazing. The routines just got better and better and the kids were so into it, and that's what it's all about; when you're having that much fun, and seeing the results they produce, it builds up their confidence. It's just part of this snowball that keeps on rolling, and we hope it keeps going."
The team score of 197.575 broke the school record set earlier this season when MSU earned a 197.425 at home against Illinois on Feb. 13. The record was secured by another school high when the Spartans ended the meet with a 49.675 on floor. The previous school record was 49.575, which also came in the same Feb. 13 meet.
Freshman Skyla Schulte broke Kristen Coleman's school record in the all-around with a 39.675. Coleman's previous record of 39.625 also came against WMU in 2007. This was Schulte's fourth all-around title of the season. She also won outright or earned a share of the top score on vault and beam.
The Spartans started the night with a 49.100 on vault. Michigan State took the top three spots in the event, led by Schulte's career-high 9.900. This was her second vault title of the season, also winning in a quad meet on Jan. 9. Freshmen Lauren Hsu and Gabrielle Stephen tied for second with matching 9.825 scores.
Michigan State edged out Western Michigan on bars, 49.400-49.250. Sophomore Delanie Harkness captured the bars title with a career-high 9.950, the second-high bars score in MSU history. She is one of only three Spartans to achieve the high score. Her previous career-high was 9.925 against Iowa on Jan. 22. WMU's Payton Murphy finished second with a score of 9.900. A pair of Spartans finished third with sophomore Jori Jackard and Schulte earning matching 9.875 marks.
The events then moved to beam, where MSU also topped WMU, 49.400-49.325. Schulte continued her dominance on the night, tying for first with WMU's Amanda Gruber with a score of 9.950. The score was a new career high for the freshman and the second highest in school history. This was Schulte's second balance beam win of the season.
Hofelich put the cherry on top of the night as she tied the school record on floor. She joins Sarah Alexander (3/22/03), Polly Kiker (3/11/00), Melissa Green (2/19/00) and Briony Lecky (3/14/98) on reaching near perfection with the 9.975 mark. She received a perfect ten score on her routine from one of the two floor judges. Hofelich bested her previous career-high of 9.925, which she had already done seven separate times this season.
The Spartans took the top five spots on floor en route to the school record. Schulte finished second with a career-high 9.950. Junior Nyah Smith and Harkness both either set or tied career highs to finish tied for third with scores of 9.925.
With the win, Michigan State improved to 13-3 overall, while Western Michigan falls to 7-8.
Michigan State now hits the road for its regular season finale at No. 10 Kentucky on Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m. on SEC+.
Players Mentioned
Vault, Bars, Floor
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
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