Michigan State University Athletics
Gymnastics Renews Rivalry with Western Michigan on Sunday
2/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 4, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State gymnastics team returns to action after a weekend off when it travels to Kalamazoo, Mich., to face Western Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 6 a 2 p.m. The first of three-consecutive road meets for MSU will see the Spartans facing the Broncos for Parent/Girl Scout Day inside University Arena.
This meet marks the first competition the Spartans have competed in after having last weekend off. MSU enters the weekend with an average team score of 191.750, while the Broncos have averaged 192.713 on the year.
The Spartans are tied for 31st in the nation on uneven bars with an average score of 48.450. MSU is also currently ranked 39th in the nation on vault with an average score of 48.175. On the balance beam, MSU is 47th overall (47.306) while sitting 52nd in the floor exercise (47.819).
Jackie Berg ranks 22nd in the nation with an average score of 9.825 on the bars. Kelsey Morley returned to the MSU lineup at the perfect time as she leads the team on the balance beam, ranking tied for 65th nationally (9.750). Shanthi Teike leads the team in the all-around with her tie for 94th in the nation (38.275). Gillian Carr rounds out the Spartan gymnasts ranking tied for 169rd on the floor (9.700).
Two weekends ago, the Spartans returned home of the first time in two meets when they hosted Minnesota for the fifth annual Flip for a Cure Meet. The Green and White fell 194.00 to 192.575 against WVU, and 192.175 to 191.175 against the Panthers.
Western Michigan currently boasts 3-4 mark overall and host Eastern Michigan on Friday. The Broncos enter the meet ranked 28th in that nation on the uneven bars and 31st on the balance beam with scores of 48.525 and 48.138, respectively. WMU comes in ranked 43rd overall on the vault with a 48.019 mark. The Broncos tally an average score of 48.031 on the floor for 46th in the nation.
WMU sees several Kristine Garbarino leading the team in the all-around and the floor exercise. Garbarino is tied for 118th on the floor (9.750) and tied for 120th in the all-around (37.900). Caitlin Sullivan leads the squad on both the vault and the balance beam. Sullivan currently ranks tied for 79th on the beam with a 9.738 average and tied for 89th on the vault (9.769). Caroline O'Brien is the top Bronco on the uneven bars ranking tied for 63rd on the event with a 9.775 mark.
Last weekend, Western Michigan traveled to Columbus, Ohio for a tri-meet with Ohio State and Bowling Green. The Broncos placed second overall behind OSU with a score of 192.650.
The Spartans are back in action next weekend for their second of three-straight road meets when they travel to Durham, N.H., for a quad meet. MSU will face host New Hampshire, Alaska-Anchorage and Brown with the meet beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12.
Players Mentioned
