Saturday, January 18
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
195.450
vs
195.325
Ohio State
Floor Boosts Spartan Comeback Win Over Ohio State Saturday
1/18/2020 10:21:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
Three career-highs on final event rallies MSU from full-point deficit.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - In a tightly-contested meet that came down to the final routine, junior Lea Mitchell tied a career-high on floor to guide Michigan State gymnastics past Ohio State in its Big Ten opener on Saturday at Jenison Field House. The Spartans edged the Buckeyes 195.450-195.325.
"It's really nice (to win the Big Ten opener) because their confidence has been building and now that they've done it against a Big Ten team, I think they're going to feel really good in the gym this week," MSU head coach Mike Rowe said. "Pushing one another; keeping the details and focusing on the landings. Those are the things that are going to help us climb to the top."
Saturday's meet was the 14th-annual Jan Howard Breast Cancer Awareness meet presented by Sparrow Health Systems and Dewpoint, dedicated in memory of Jan Howard, mother of alumni gymnast (1990-95) and current Director of Student-Athlete Development at Michigan State, Angela (Howard) Montie.Â
"Angela Howard (Montie) is an alumni who used to be on the team back in the day. It's a huge meet to her because she lost her mother to breast cancer and we made this memorial event to create awareness in the community," Rowe said. "Obviously it's a great cause and we just want to keep that going because I thought we had fight. It does mean a lot to be able to do it today."
Mitchell garnered all-around honors for the second-straight meet, edging Ohio State's Olivie Aepli with a score of 39.325. The junior also captured the event title on floor, tying her career high with a 9.925. Senior Ella Douglas continued her domination on beam with her third-straight beam win. She tied for first with OSU's Morgan Lowe with a 9.825.
The Spartans started the night on vault and captured a team score of 48.475. Ohio State's Aepli won the event with a 9.975. Mitchell and freshman Nyah Smith tied for fourth with scores of 9.775. Sophomore Alyssa Wiedeman also added a personal best with a 9.350.
Michigan State earned its first score over 49.000 on bars this season, recording a 49.025. There was a three-way tie with Mitchell, and OSU's Aepli and Colby Miller all earning matching 9.875 scores. Freshman Jori Jackard has topped her season best every week, recording 9.850 this week to finish tied for fourth. Junior Madison McHale also had a personal best with a 9.800.
MSU earned a 48.775 on its third rotation beam. Douglas continued her strong showing on beam tying for first with a 9.825. Sophomore Alaina Raybon tied for third with the Buckeyes' Alexis Hankins and Ella Hodges earning scores of 9.800, while Mitchell stayed in the hunt for the all-around title with a 9.750.
It all came down to the final rotation with the Spartans on floor and the Buckeyes on beam. Michigan State was able to prevail due to three career bests on floor. Mitchell previously earned a 9.925 at Illinois last season. Sophomore Ashley Hofelich also posted a career-best with a 9.900 to finish tied for second. Freshman Chloe Bellmore was the third Spartan with a career high with a 9.825 to finish tied for fourth.
"This was huge for us, to win by a couple tenths," Rowe said. "A door opened up evidently on beam and we stepped through it. I was confident that our floor team could do it for us and we had good performances on bars today. Vault may not have been what we're capable of doing but we kept going throughout and I'm so proud of them."
The Spartans conclude their season-high three-meet homestand against Nebraska on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m.
"It's really nice (to win the Big Ten opener) because their confidence has been building and now that they've done it against a Big Ten team, I think they're going to feel really good in the gym this week," MSU head coach Mike Rowe said. "Pushing one another; keeping the details and focusing on the landings. Those are the things that are going to help us climb to the top."
Saturday's meet was the 14th-annual Jan Howard Breast Cancer Awareness meet presented by Sparrow Health Systems and Dewpoint, dedicated in memory of Jan Howard, mother of alumni gymnast (1990-95) and current Director of Student-Athlete Development at Michigan State, Angela (Howard) Montie.Â
"Angela Howard (Montie) is an alumni who used to be on the team back in the day. It's a huge meet to her because she lost her mother to breast cancer and we made this memorial event to create awareness in the community," Rowe said. "Obviously it's a great cause and we just want to keep that going because I thought we had fight. It does mean a lot to be able to do it today."
Mitchell garnered all-around honors for the second-straight meet, edging Ohio State's Olivie Aepli with a score of 39.325. The junior also captured the event title on floor, tying her career high with a 9.925. Senior Ella Douglas continued her domination on beam with her third-straight beam win. She tied for first with OSU's Morgan Lowe with a 9.825.
The Spartans started the night on vault and captured a team score of 48.475. Ohio State's Aepli won the event with a 9.975. Mitchell and freshman Nyah Smith tied for fourth with scores of 9.775. Sophomore Alyssa Wiedeman also added a personal best with a 9.350.
Michigan State earned its first score over 49.000 on bars this season, recording a 49.025. There was a three-way tie with Mitchell, and OSU's Aepli and Colby Miller all earning matching 9.875 scores. Freshman Jori Jackard has topped her season best every week, recording 9.850 this week to finish tied for fourth. Junior Madison McHale also had a personal best with a 9.800.
MSU earned a 48.775 on its third rotation beam. Douglas continued her strong showing on beam tying for first with a 9.825. Sophomore Alaina Raybon tied for third with the Buckeyes' Alexis Hankins and Ella Hodges earning scores of 9.800, while Mitchell stayed in the hunt for the all-around title with a 9.750.
It all came down to the final rotation with the Spartans on floor and the Buckeyes on beam. Michigan State was able to prevail due to three career bests on floor. Mitchell previously earned a 9.925 at Illinois last season. Sophomore Ashley Hofelich also posted a career-best with a 9.900 to finish tied for second. Freshman Chloe Bellmore was the third Spartan with a career high with a 9.825 to finish tied for fourth.
"This was huge for us, to win by a couple tenths," Rowe said. "A door opened up evidently on beam and we stepped through it. I was confident that our floor team could do it for us and we had good performances on bars today. Vault may not have been what we're capable of doing but we kept going throughout and I'm so proud of them."
The Spartans conclude their season-high three-meet homestand against Nebraska on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Vault, Beam, Floor
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
Bars, Beam
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
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