Spartans Finish Second at Big Ten Gymnastics Championships

Saturday, March 21

Champaign, Ill.

6 PM ET/5 PM CT

Michigan State University

Big Ten Championships

Photo by: Paige Goodenough

Spartans Finish Second at Big Ten Gymnastics Championships

3/21/2026 9:00:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

Results

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - No. 11 Michigan State gymnastics scored a 197.475 to finish second, its fifth-straight conference meet top-two finish, at the Big Ten Championships Saturday evening inside Illinois' State Farm Center.

UCLA won the meet with a 198.100, while Minnesota finished third with a 196.900 and Michigan scored a 196.800 to place fourth. With its second-place finish, MSU moves to 20-6 overall on the season.

Four Spartans earned podium finishes Saturday night, highlighted by senior Sage Kellerman's conference title on bars. With her victory on vault, she became the first Spartan since Kim Hartwick (1986-87) and second in program history to win Big Ten individual titles in two different seasons, last winning the vault title in 2023 during her freshman season. She also finished third on vault. Senior Nikki Smith captured runner-up honors on floor and in the all-around and shared third place on beam alongside freshman Lilia Cosman and sophomore Cady Duplissis.

All four Spartans were also named to the All-Championships team.

MSU sat in third after the first rotation behind first-place Michigan (49.550, floor) and UCLA (49.425, beam) with a 49.400 on bars, tying its second-highest score of the season. Kellerman led MSU with a career-high-tying 9.950 in the anchor spot to earn the event title, while junior Kendall Abney tied a career-high 9.900 in the fourth spot for the third-straight week. Smith earned a 9.875, junior MaKayla Tucker posted a 9.850, Cosman scored a 9.825 and senior Naya Howard led off with a 9.775.

A season-high 49.375 on beam helped the Spartans move into second place behind UCLA, 98.100-98.775, after two rotations. MSU put up a trio of 9.900s from Cosman, Smith and sophomore Cady Duplissis to earn a share of bronze. Abney led off with a 9.850, which was matched by Tucker in the No. 5 spot, and junior Isabella Trostel scored a 9.825 in the second spot.

The Spartans maintained second place behind UCLA, 148.550-148.225, with a 49.450 on vault. Smith led MSU with a 9.950 to finish as event runner-up. Tucker earned her eighth score of 9.900 or better on the event with a 9.900 in the No. 5 spot and was joined by Duplissis in the third spot, who tied her career high with the 9.900. Senior Stephanie Lebster and freshman Korynne Marquart posted 9.850s in the lead off and No. 2 spots, respectively.

MSU closed the meet with a 49.250 on vault to secure its second-place finish. Kellerman anchored with a 9.925 to capture her second podium finish of the day and lead the Spartans. Tucker earned a 9.875, Smith scored a 9.850 and Marquart and Trostel, who made her debut in the vault lineup, scored 9.800s.

The 2026 NCAA Regionals selection show is scheduled for noon on Monday, March 23 on ESPNU. NCAA Regionals are scheduled for April 1-5 at Arizona State, Kentucky, LSU and Oregon State.