Spartans Selected Second in Big Ten Preseason Poll, Smith, Ortiz Named Gymnasts to Watch
12/13/2023 3:01:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State gymnastics was picked to finish second in the 2024 Big Ten Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league Wednesday. Freshman Gabi Ortiz and sophomore Nikki Smith were named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch.Â
The Spartans earn the No. 2 spot in the preseason poll for the second-straight season after earning a share of the 2023 Big Ten regular season title with Michigan and taking runner-up honors to the Wolverines at the 2023 Big Ten Championships. Michigan was picked to finish first in this year's poll, while Ohio State was selected third and Iowa and Minnesota were selected fourth and fifth, respectively.Â
MSU returns 18 of 19 gymnasts from its 2023 squad that eclipsed the 198.000 overall team score mark for the first time in program history with a 198.225 and set program records on vault (49.575), bars (49.725) and beam (49.600). The Spartans made their second-consecutive NCAA Regional Final appearance in 2023, finishing third in the NCAA Pittsburgh Regional Final, while current junior Gabrielle Stephen (beam) and current senior Delanie Harkness (floor) qualified as individuals for the NCAA Championships.Â
Ortiz, a native of Tampa, Florida, comes to MSU after a decorated National Development Program career at LeFleur's Gymnastics in Tampa. At LeFleur's, she was a four-year level 10 gymnast and qualified for three Women's Development Program National Championships (2021-23). She scored two 10.000s during her club career, capturing perfect scores on vault in 2022 and floor in 2023.Â
Smith enters her second year as a Spartan gymnast after putting together one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in program history last season. The West Bloomfield, Michigan native was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2023, posting high scores of 9.975 (bars, floor), 9.925 (beam) and MSU's third-ever perfect 10.000 on vault. She was also recognized as the league's Freshman of the Week six times and was named Gymnast of the Week twice.Â
The 11th-ranked Spartans host their annual Green and White exhibition meet on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. at Jenison Field House. The 2024 season officially gets underway at the Super 16 meet the weekend of Jan. 5 in Las Vegas.Â
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