Gymnastics Opens 2011 Season With Heavy Hearts

Jan. 7, 2011

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Competing with a heavy heart after losing a teammate last week during practice to a season-ending injury, the Michigan State gymnastics squad (0-3, 0-2 Big Ten) opened its 2011 campaign when it hosted Big Ten rivals Iowa and No. 9 Michigan, as well as Western Michigan, on Friday night. Junior Jackie Berg (Tinley Park, Ill.) led the Spartans on the uneven bars with a winning mark of 9.875.

"I think the team was very courageous today," said MSU head coach Kathie Klages. "It is very difficult to get back out here and into the competition environment. I felt very proud of what they got accomplished today. It was one of those situations where we didn't know where they were emotionally and not sure what was going to happen when we hit the competitive floor, but we just kept Kathryn (Mahoney) in mind and focused in on what Kathryn would want. She would want us back out here competing today. We did the best job we could tonight."

Overall, the Wolverines took home top honors with their top team score of 195.700. In second was Iowa with a 193.825 mark and the Broncos in third with 192.050. The Spartans recorded a score of 191.850.

The Green and White opened the initial competition of the season on the vault seeing senior Nicole Argiros (Livonia, Mich.) with a team-best score of 9.725. Kylee Botterman of Michigan led the way with a 9.875 mark. Botterman's teammates Sarah Curtis and Natalie Beilstein were joined by Houry Gebeshian and Rebecca Simbhudas both of Iowa in second with scores of 9.850. The Wolverines placed first on the event with 49.075. Iowa was second (48.925), followed by MSU in third (47.975) and Western Michigan (47.950).

Michigan State then proceeded to the uneven bars where it saw Berg with a career-best mark to lead all gymnasts. This marked Berg's first career individual win on an event. Berg was joined by Curtis of UM at the top of the podium. Jordan Sexton of Michigan was joined by teammate Botterman in third with a 9.850 mark. Michigan once again was tops on the event (49.200) with Iowa in second (48.850). WMU followed in third with 48.500 and the Green and White rounded out the teams with 47.700.

"I am very proud of Jackie (Berg) today," said Klages. "She has been working hard all fall and I knew that this was going to be her year to shine. I am really excited about the improvements she has made all fall and what she is capable of doing. We have a couple things in our sleeve for some of our gymnasts, including Jackie, in terms of upgrading some of our routines. Tonight we just wanted to keep things safe and keep the athletes confident."

Junior Alyssa Brennan (Palm Bay, Fla.) captured her first top-three finish of her career with a third-place mark of 9.725 on the beam, leading the team on the event. Botterman once again led the gymnasts on the event with a 9.825 score. Sexton was second while Brennan was joined by Curtis, Jessa Hansen of Iowa and Kelsey Turnquist of Western Michigan. UM paced the all teams in first with a 48.475 mark, Western Michigan was second (47.850) and the Spartans in third (47.750). Iowa rounded out the teams in fourth with a score of 47.175.

Sophomore Shanthi Teike (Columbus, Ind.) was tops for the MSU on the floor with a score of 9.775, good for sixth-place overall. Beilstein and Rebecca Simbhudas of Iowa shared the floor crown with 9.875 marks. Botterman placed third with 9.850. The Wolverines completed the events sweep with a 48.950 team score. Iowa was second (48.875) while the Spartans were third (48.425). WMU posted a score of 47.750 to place fourth overall.

Winning the all around title was Botterman with a score of 39.400. Curtis placed second with 39.225 and Hansen was third (39.150). Teike was the only Spartan all arounder, finishing with score of 38.300 for fifth.

This marked the team's first competition since losing fellow Spartan senior Kathryn Mahoney (Western Springs, Ill.) for the season after she suffered a fractured C6 vertebra at practice on Wednesday, Dec. 29 while vaulting. Mahoney has since been transferred to the prestigious Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago where she will continue to receive care for her injury.

"The gymnastics community is a very small community," said Klages regarding the team huddle following the meet which was joined by all competing gymnasts and staff. "Some of these gymnasts have known each other for years. The support that I got from all of the coaches here tonight right away after Kathryn's accident was amazing. I heard from all of them. I have heard from many, many coaches from around the county. The Spartan Family has been great, but to see all of gymnasts praying together on the floor, praying for Kathryn, is one of the most incredible feelings I have ever felt."

The Spartans return to action next weekend when they travel to Morgantown, W. Va., on Friday, Jan. 14. MSU will square off against West Virginia at 7:30 p.m.