Michigan State University Athletics
Gymnastics Picked Sixth in Preseason Big Ten Poll
12/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Dec. 15, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. - As announced by the Big Ten Conference office today, Dec. 15, the Michigan State gymnastics team was selected to finish tied for sixth by the coaches in the 2011 Big Ten Preseason poll. Also, senior Kathryn Mahoney (Western Springs, Ill.) and sophomore Shanthi Teike (Columbus, Ind.) were named to the 2011 Gymnasts to Watch List.
The Spartans, who are ranked 27th in the GymInfo preseason poll, are coming off their 20th-consecutive winning season and return 10 members from the 2010 season, and welcome seven newcomers to the lineup in 2011.
Mahoney was held out of action for a majority of last season after having pins surgically inserted into her foot prior to the start of the year. In her time in the lineup, Mahoney made the best of her opportunity as she posted a season-best score of 9.850 on the floor at the NCAA Regionals in Lexington, Ky. At the Big Ten Championships, Mahoney posted a score of 9.725 on the beam, ranking third on the team in the event. Mahoney has posted five top-three finishes in her career.
Teike made an impressive impression in her first season donning the Green and White. Teike was twice named Big Ten Freshman Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 18 and Feb. 22). Last year, Teike twice posted season-high scores of 9.850 on the vault, most recently at the Big Ten Championships. Teike also posted a 9.850 on the floor during the meet against Ohio State (Jan. 30). A season-best all-around score came against New Hampshire (Feb. 20) when she posted a 39.100 mark. Also against UNH, Teike saw her best beam score of 9.825 recorded. Teike posted 18 top-three performances.
Michigan, who finished first in the conference in 2010, was picked first for this upcoming season. Illinois follows the Wolverines in second, while Penn State and Iowa are third and fourth place, respectively. Minnesota in fifth and Ohio State is tied for sixth with the Spartans.
The Spartans open the regular season with a tri-meet with Iowa, Michigan and Western Michigan on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. in Jenison Field House.
Big Ten Women's Gymnastics 2011 Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Michigan
2. Illinois
3. Penn State
4. Iowa
5. Minnesota
T-6. Michigan State
T-6. Ohio State
Gymnasts to Watch List
Allison Buckley, Sr., Illinois
Melissa Fernandez, Sr., Illinois
Houry Gebeshian, Sr., Iowa
Rebecca Simbhudas, Sr., Iowa
Natalie Beilstein, So., Michigan
Kylee Botterman, Sr., Michigan
Kathryn Mahoney, Sr., Michigan State
Shanthi Teike, So., Michigan State
Kendra Elm, Sr., Minnesota
Kristin Furukawa, Sr., Minnesota
Rebecca Best, Sr., Ohio State
Sarah Miller, Fr., Ohio State
Madison Merriam, So., Penn State
Sharaya Musser, So., Penn State
Players Mentioned
