Michigan State University
NCAA Regional Final
No. 10 Gymnastics Finishes Fourth at NCAA Gainesville Regional Final
4/7/2024 7:36:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - No. 10 Michigan State gymnastics ended the 2024 season with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Gainesville Regional Final Sunday night at Florida's Stephen C. O'Connell Center, its third-straight appearance in a regional final.Â
The Spartans conclude the season at 29-7, its winningest season in program history. Â
No. 4 Florida (198.325) and No. 5 Utah (197.575) advanced to the NCAA Championships. Missouri finished third with a 197.325, while MSU scored a 196.650 to finish fourth.Â
MSU got out to a strong start on vault, led by a near-perfect 9.975 in the anchor position from sophomore Sage Kellerman. Kellerman was one of three Spartans to stick their vaults with junior Skyla Schulte earning a 9.850 in the leadoff spot and sophomore Olivia Zsarmani scoring a 9.950 in the fourth spot. Freshman MaKayla Tucker and junior Gabrielle Stephen posted 9.825s. After the first rotation, Florida took the lead with a 49.600 on vault and Missouri sat in second with a 49.525, followed by MSU in third.Â
In the second rotation, the Spartans recovered from a slower start on bars in the with a pair of 9.850s from sophomore Nikki Smith and senior Delanie Harkness in the final two spots. Utah took a narrow 98.450-98.425 lead over MSU, while Florida and Missouri remained in the top two positions.Â
MSU posted a 48.675 on beam in the third rotation. Junior Giana Kalefe led the Spartans with a 9.900, her fifth score of 9.900 or better on the event this season. Tucker and Schulte both scored 9.850s. The Spartans headed into the final rotation with a 147.100.Â
The Spartans finished strong with a 49.550 on floor, earning four scores of 9.900 or better. Tucker and Harkness scored 9.900s, followed by a 9.925 from Smith and a 9.950 from Schulte in the anchor spot. Sophomore Elle Beaufait scored a 9.850 in the leadoff spot and Stephen earned a 9.875 in the third spot.Â
Individual qualifiers for the 2024 NCAA Championships will be announced on Monday, April 8. The NCAA semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, April 18 at 4:30 and 9 p.m. CT.Â
Players Mentioned
