Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Western Michigan, Illinois, Michigan
Gymnastics Finishes Third In Season Opening Meet
1/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 10, 2009
Results
Spartan Sports Podcasts:
RochelleNicole
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The 2009 Michigan State gymnastics team opened the season with a third place finish in a quad meet with Michigan, Illinois and Western Michigan tonight at Jenison Field House. The Spartans posted a score of 192.325, and junior Nicole Curler (Bay City, Mich.) returned to the lineup for the Spartans, posting a team-high 9.850 on floor exercise. She finished seventh in the all-around after competing on all events for the first time since March 2, 2008. Eighth-ranked Michigan won the meet with an overall score of 194.850, while No. 16 Illinois finished with a 193.950 and Western Michigan placed fourth with a team score of 187.900. Michigan State now holds a 54-0 all-time record against the Broncos.
MSU began on vault with junior Rochelle Robinson (Chesapeake, Va.) earning the top score of 9.750. Sophomore Nicole Argiros (Livonia, Mich.) finished second for the Spartans on the event with a 9.725. Robinson tied for fourth overall on the event, while Argiros tied for seventh. As a team, MSU finished third on vault after totaling 48.425. Michigan finished first with a score of 48.650, while Illinois was second (48.500) and Western Michigan posted 46.675.
The Spartans placed second on bars with a team score of 48.650, just behind the Wolverines with a 48.975. The Illini were third (48.575) and Western Michigan tallied 47.850. Robinson and freshman Jackie Berg (Tinley Park, Ill.) led the way for MSU, both recording 9.750 on bars, tying them for seventh overall on the event. Argiros and Curler posted 9.725, and senior Dani Fanning (Glendale, Ariz.) tallied a 9.700.
Junior Emily Lopatofsky (Waymart, Pa.) led Michigan State on beam with a score of 9.700, tying her for eighth overall, after competing in the event for just the second time in her career. Illinois finished first on beam (48.750) while Michigan took second (48.075). MSU was third after recording a 46.475 and Western Michigan posted a score of 45.850.
The meet concluded with the Spartans on floor exercise after posting a 48.775 for second place in the event. Michigan recorded a 49.150, Illinois posted a 48.125 and Western Michigan finished with a score of 47.525. Curler led the way for Michigan State, recording a 9.850 and placing fourth in the event. Argiros was second for the Spartans with 9.775 (seventh overall) and sophomore Kelsey Morley (Elkhart, Ind.) tallied a 9.750, finishing 11th in the event.
Curler and Lopatofsky participated in the all-around for Michigan State, with Curler finishing seventh with a 38.450. Lopatofsky, competing in the all-around for the first time in her career, was eighth after recording a 38.050. Michigan's Sarah Curtis finished first in the event, while teammate Tatjana Thuener-Rego placed second. Illinois teammates Marijka Botterman and Kelsey Joannides tied for third.
The meet was recorded by the Big Ten Network and will air on Friday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m.
Michigan State returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they hold the third-annual Jan Howard Flip for a Cure breast cancer awareness meet. West Virginia, Iowa and Illinois State will participate in the quad meet at Jenison Field House, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
