(Photo: Amara Grubor/WCSN)
In their final performance before the Pac-12 Championships, the Gym Devils pulled through with a bittersweet victory on Senior Night against the United States Air Force Academy as they sent off three veteran members of the team.
ASU came out on top at home for the second time this season, scoring 195.175 points to Air Force’s 191.050 in Friday’s dual meet.
The Devils began the night on vault scoring a 48.500 in the opening rotation, leaving Air Force trailing behind by 1.3 points. Junior Stephanie Miceli tied her career high with a 9.625 while junior Taylor Allex was the top-scoring gymnast for the event with a 9.825.
In the second rotation, ASU pulled through with crucial scores from the three all-around gymnasts, putting them at a 97.475 by the end of the event. Having one fall on vault made a critical impact in Air Force’s score, putting them at a 95.375 after their second rotation, falling 2.1 points behind going into the third event.
Beam has consistently been where the Devils have struggled all season long; however, all six girls competed with no falls, scoring them a 48.675 on the event. As the Falcons started competing on the floor exercise, they pulled out four impressive scores which led them to a 48.825 on floor, still trailing by 1.950 points leading up to the last event.
After seven falls on balance beam, Air Force earned a 46.850 on the event, putting them at a 191.050 overall. The Devils came out strong on floor as junior Stephanie Miceli tied her season high score of a 9.775. As junior Kristine Levin went out, she performed her highest-scoring floor routine of her career, earning a 9.750. Sophomore Savannah Borman also beat her career high by 0.150 by scoring a 9.725.
Following the meet, a ceremony was held for departing seniors Brianna Gades, Morgan Steigerwalt and Natasha Sundby.
ASU concluded the evening with the team’s second highest overall score of the season, which head coach René Lyst was proud of.
“I thought we did a good job, they were very consistent,” Lyst said. “We didn’t count any mistakes. Everybody worked hard, had great energy, it was a great way to send the seniors off.”
Levin said this victory would affect how the team would go into practice next week in preparation for Salt Lake City.
“It will boost our confidence…knowing that we can go out and score as good as we did.”
The Gym Devils will head to Salt Lake City on March 21 to compete in the Pac-12 Championships. Be sure to follow along at CronkiteSports.com for continuing coverage live from Utah.
