Smith and Stephen Collect Final Big Ten Weekly Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill. - Michigan State gymnastics picked up a pair of Big Ten Weekly accolades in the final round of regular-season awards, the conference announced Wednesday afternoon.

Sophomore Gabrielle Stephen collected her second Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honor of the season, while Nikki Smith earned her sixth Freshman of the Week nod. Smith shares Co-Freshman honors with Iowa's Karina Muñoz.

Stephen put up an impressive showing in MSU's 197.800-195.225 victory over Northern Illinois on March 11, winning the all-around title with a career-best 39.725 and earning at least a share of every event title. She won the bars and beam titles outright, scoring a career-high 9.975 on bars and a 9.900 on beam, and shared the vault title with Smith (9.875) and floor title with sophomore teammate Skyla Schulte in another career-best 9.975.

Stephen's 9.975 score on floor sits in an eight-way tie for the top floor score in MSU history. Her 39.725 in the all-around ranks second in program history, just shy of Smith's 39.775 set on March 5.

The Elgin, Illinois native ends the regular season with 17 total event titles, the most of any Spartan during the 2023 season.

Smith finished third in the all-around in MSU's win over Northern Illinois with a 39.500. She scored a 9.875 on vault to share the title with Stephen, a 9.925 on bars, 9.825 on beam and 9.875 on floor.

Smith, a native of West Bloomfield, Michigan, has collected 12 event titles this season. Her six Freshman of the Week awards are the most of any athlete in the conference this season.

Both Stephen and Smith were part of MSU's team bars record set on March 11 of 49.725. The Spartans also tied their floor record, previously set on March 5, 2022 vs. Western Michigan, with a 49.675.

MSU heads to Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, March 18 for the Big Ten Championships at Iowa's Xtream Arena. Action gets underway at 5:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.

Players Mentioned

Skyla Schulte

Nikki Smith

Gabrielle Stephen

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