Michigan State University
Maryland
No. 12 Gymnastics Posts Season-High Road Score in Win at Maryland
1/29/2023 4:30:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Posting a season-high road score and recording a sweep of the event titles, Michigan State gymnastics earned a 196.950-196.425 win over Maryland Sunday at the XFINITY Center in College Park.Â
With the win, Michigan State moves to 3-1 (2-0 B1G) on the season, while Maryland drops to 3-1 (1-1 B1G).Â
"Tonight's meet was a great effort on behalf of both of our floor and beam squads as they sealed the win after both bars and vault," said head coach Mike Rowe. "We're continuing to improve on details, but struggled with sticking the landings we'd been getting consistent on.  Overall, I'm happy we walked away with a decent road score, are 2-0 in the B1G, and can reset, refocus and concentrate our efforts towards next weekend and Penn State."
BARSÂ
The Spartans began the first rotation on bars, tying their season high of 49.250 set last week against Michigan. All six gymnasts scored a 9.800 or higher, with junior Delanie Harkness (9.900) collecting her third-straight event title on the event in a three-way tie with Maryland's Sierra Kondo and Aleka Tsiknias. Sophomore Skyla Schulte and senior Jori Jackard scored season-highs, with Schulte earning 9.850 in the lead-off position, and Jackard scoring a 9.875. Freshman Olivia Zsarmani continued her impressive freshman campaign on the event with a 9.825, and sophomore Gabi Stephen and freshman Nikki Smith scored matching 9.800s.Â
VAULTÂ
Freshman Sage Kellerman led the way for MSU in the second rotation with a 9.900 for her second vault event title of the season. The score tied her career-high set at Alabama on Jan. 6 and was the only vault of the day to score in the 9.900s. Schulte posted the second-highest score for MSU on the event with a 9.825, while Smith and Stephen both scored 9.800s. The Spartans posted a 49.075 team score on the event, narrowly trailing Maryland, 98.375-98.250, headed to the third rotation.Â
FLOORÂ
MSU posted its second-highest floor score of the season to take a 147.625-196.425 lead over Maryland in the third rotation with a 49.300. Smith earned her first floor event title with a 9.900 to lead the Spartans, her third-straight 9.900 on the event. Three Spartans – Harkness, Stephen and Schulte - scored 9.875s, and junior Giana Kalefe made her debut in the floor lineup with a 9.775.Â
BEAMÂ
The Spartans used a season-high 49.325 on beam to seal the victory in the final rotation. Schulte posted a season-high 9.900 to earn her first event title of the season. Kalefe earned a season-high 9.875 in the leadoff spot for MSU, while Smith, Stephen and junior Baleigh Garcia scored 9.850s in the final three routines. Zsarmani matched her career high with a 9.825. Â
Schulte won her first all-around title of the season with a season-high 49.450. Smith earned runner-up honors with a 39.350, and Stephen tied for third with Maryland's Emma Silberman with a 39.325. Â
MSU topped Maryland on beam (49.325-49.075) and floor (49.300-48.975) and tied the Terrapins on vault (49.025). The Spartans' 196.950 ranks as the 10th-best team overall score in program history.Â
UP NEXTÂ
Michigan State returns to Jenison Field House to host Penn State on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. The meet will serve as the Spartans' National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration. Streaming will be available via B1G+.Â
Players Mentioned
