Michigan State University
Penn State, West Virginia, Western Michigan
Gymnastics Places First in Initial Competition of Season
1/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 8, 2010
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Head Coach Kathie Senior Rochelle
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The No. 24 Michigan State gymnastics team opened up its 2010 competitive season today when it downed No. 11 Penn State, No. 21 West Virginia and Western Michigan in Jenison Field House with a score of 193.925. The meet also marked the first time since the 2005 season that MSU has started a season with a 3-0 record. Leading the Green and White with her second place all-around score of 39.000 was senior Nicole Curler (Bay City, Mich.).
"It was very exciting," said head coach Kathie Klages. "Our goal was to start the season off where we finished last year, and we feel we have accomplished that tonight. The team was really excited about getting out of the practice gym and onto the competition floor. They did an outstanding job, and we are very impressed with the win tonight."
The win over Penn State marked the first time MSU has defeated Penn State since 2006. Penn State finished in second with a score of 193.900. West Virginia recorded a score of 191.225 while Western Michigan compiled a score of 189.525. MSU extends its winning streak over WMU to 56 straight meets, having never lost, while the Spartans are now squared at 9-9-1 against WVU.
The Spartans opened the meet with solid performances from all participants on the vault. Senior Rochelle Robinson (Chesapeake, Va.) led the team with her vault score of 9.825, finishing tied for second overall. Junior Nicole Argiros (Livonia, Mich.) and sophomore Daneen Haba (Germantown, Tenn.) each posted impressive marks of 9.800. Brandi Personett of Penn State took home the individual vault crown with a score of 9.900. PSU's Sharaya Musser and Whitney Bencsko also finished tied for second. Penn State led all scores with 48.900, while MSU posted a team score of 48.875 for second place as a team. West Virginia followed in third with 48.325, while the Broncos posted a 47.100.
MSU proceeded to its next event the parallel bars in which it saw Robinson lead the team with a score of 9.800, finishing tied for second overall. Curler placed second on the team with her score of 9.625. Naja Johnson of West Virginia took home individual honors on the bars with a 9.850. Alexandra Brockway and Natalie Ettl, each of PSU, joined Robinson as runner-ups. The Nittany Lions score of 48.550 was tops while the Green and White followed with 47.950. The Mountaineers and Western Michigan rounded out the teams with score of 47.725 and 47.050, respectively.
Curler once again led the team with her impressive score of 9.800 on the beam. Robinson finished second on the team with a mark of 9.650, while senior Kelly Moffitt (Flora, Ind.) followed closely with a score of 9.625. Personett of PSU finished first on the event with her individual score of 9.850. Daryl Konsevick rounds out the top-three with her 9.675 mark. Michigan State led all squads with a mark of 48.050 on the beam. PSU followed with 47.950, while WMU recorded a score of 47.250 for third and WVU a score of 46.300 for fourth.
Once again, Curler paced the team as she finished tied for second overall with a score of 9.875 on the floor. Personett once again earned individual honors with her score of 9.900. Konsevick of Penn State joined Curler for on the podium in second. The Green and While topped all teams on the floor with its score of 49.050. West Virginia followed with a score of 48.875 while Penn State followed with its 48.500. Western Michigan closed out the floor with a team score of 48.125.
In the all-around, Brandi Personett of Penn State took home first-place honors with her score of 39.225. MSU's Curler finished in second with a score of 39.0, while Kristine Garbarino of Western Michigan rounded out the top three with a score of 38.778.
The Spartans will return to action for their second competition of the season they travel to Iowa City, Iowa on Friday, Jan. 15, for an 8 p.m. ET meet with the Hawkeyes.
Players Mentioned
