Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Central Michigan/Illinois State
Gymnastics Takes Second At Central Michigan
1/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 18, 2004
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - Freshmen Chayla Hill and Victoria Iakounina each claimed a share of the event titles on vault and bars as Michigan State gymnastics finished second at Central Michigan against the Chippewas and Illinois State Sunday. CMU won the meet with a team score of 193.975, MSU was second at 193.025 and Illinois State posted a 188.625.
"We were better on floor exercise than we were last week," said head coach Kathie Klages, "but we didn't compete as well in all other events. We worked hard at practice last week to make our floor routines sharper, so I was pleased with our improvement on that event."
On vault, Hill scored a career-best 9.775 in her second collegiate meet, tying CMU's Kara Reighard for the title. Spartan freshman Kristen Coleman and junior Nicole Anderson each recorded 9.650s to finish second among MSU gymnasts as State recorded a 48.225 in the event.
Iakounina tied Central Michigan's Sara Burtinsky for her first collegiate event title on bars, as she scored a career-best 9.775. MSU junior Jennifer Yarbrough wasn't far off Iakounina's score, with a 9.750, good for third place in the event. The Spartans struggled on bars, as they had to count one fall en route to posting a team score of 47.850.
 Victoria Iakounina finished tied for first on bars with a 9.775 at Central Michigan.  | |
The Spartans finished second on beam, which they controlled last week against some of the nation's best competition, with a 48.275. MSU struggled here as well, as they had to count another fall in the team score. Iakounina was again MSU's top scorer, taking third place with a 9.800. Juniors Anna Hunsinger and Lauren Simpson both recorded 9.725s for the Spartans.
On floor, Hunsinger posted a 9.800, a season-best score good for third place overall as CMU's Reighard (9.85) and Laura McLaren (9.825) took first and second place, respectively. MSU's Hill was second among the Spartans with a 9.775, while Nicole Anderson recorded a 9.750. State's team score of 48.675 in the event placed them second on floor to CMU's 48.775.
The Spartans next compete on Friday at Florida against NC State and Illinois-Chicago. That meet begins at 7 p.m.
B>TEAM RESULTS1. Central Michigan, 193.9752. MICHIGAN STATE, 193.0253. Illinois State, 188.625
OVERALL TOP FINISHERS & TEAM EVENT SCORESVAULT (CMU 48.500, MSU 48.225, ISU 47.050)1T. Chayla Hill (MSU) 9.775; 1T. Kara Reighard (CMU) 9.775; 3. Shanna Duggan (CMU) 9.725BARS (CMU 48.150, MSU 47.850, ISU 45.925)1. Victoria Iakounina (MSU) 9.775; Sarah Burtinsky (CMU) 9.775; 3. Jennifer Yarbrough (MSU) 9.750BEAM (CMU 48.550, MSU 48.275, ISU 47.775)1. Sara Burtinsky (CMU) 9.925; 2. Matti Crawford (CMU) 9.825; 3T. Victoria Iakounina (MSU) 9.800; 3T. Lisa Klein (ISU) 9.800FLOOR (48.775, 48.675, ISU 47.875)1. Kara Reighard (CMU) 9.850; 2. Laura McLaren (CMU) 9.825; 3. Anna Hunsinger (MSU) 9.800ALL-AROUND1. Kara Reighard (CMU) 38.600; 2. Victoria Iakounina (MSU) 37.975
Players Mentioned
