(Photo: Gabrielle Mercer/WCSN)
The Arizona State Gym Devils fell to No. 6 UCLA in their final Pac-12 matchup of the regular season.
ASU had a tough start on the uneven bars with only five gymnasts competing. The Gym Devils have been plagued with injury, including freshman Morgan Wilson who is out for the season with a torn achilles and freshman Eileen Imbus who is also suffered a season-ending blow.
“We don’t have anyone else, we can’t fabricate people,” ASU head coach Rene Lyst said. “Katelyn [Lentz] tweaked her ankle the other day so she was a little bit limited today so she should be back in there, but this is our team and we’re going to do the best we got with these guys.”
Senior Carissa Kraus had the highest score for ASU, receiving a 9.800 after a clean routine with a small hop on the landing. Things went downhill after that with the last three gymnasts. Freshmen Katelyn Lentz, Justine Callis and Heather Udowitch all suffering from falls mid-routine.
“I’ve never really struggled with bars in my career, so this is new to me so I’m definitely going to use it to work harder,” Udowitch said.
UCLA began on the vault. The Bruins had many stumbles on their landings, starting with sophomore Sonya Merez who had trouble on her landing after her yurchenko full earning her a 9.550. Sophomore Napualani Hall fell on her landing leaving her with a 9.375. Anchoring was freshman Madison Preston, the national vault champion in 2014, who received a 9.850 and posted the highest score for UCLA on the event.
After the first rotation ASU was already 1.650 points behind, ending with a 46.975 and UCLA ending with a 48.625.
Next up the Gym Devils continued on to the vault with only five gymnasts. They got off to a clean start with Heather Udowitch scoring a 9.400, and the scores only went up from there with. Senior Taylor Allex earned the highest score for the Devils with a 9.850.
The Bruins were on the bars for the second rotation. Sonya Meraz redeemed herself leading the team off with a 9.775. Senior Sophina DeJesus anchored for UCLA receiving the highest score of 9.925.
Rotation three was the Devils on floor and the Bruins on the balance beam.
Callis stumbled on her last pass after a clean two and a half twist. Freshman Corrine Belkoff scored a 9.800 – just short of her score on Monday against U of A where she scored 9.875. Next up was senior Allie Salas. She had four straight scores of had a 9.875 or better. Salas had a clean final pass with a double pike complete with a good landing, helping her to tie her career high of 9.875. The anchor for ASU was Allex, who is currently ranked No. 42 in the country on floor. Allex scored a 9.900, helping ASU to finish the third rotation with a 49.000.
For UCLA, Danusia Francis – the No. 2 gymnast in the world on balance beam – took the day off to rest. Anchoring was freshman standout Katelyn Ohashi, who returned to the beam this weekend after missing the past four meets for an injury. Ohashi finished with a career high of 9.900 after completing a clean dismount.
For the final apparatus the Gym Devils moved to the beam, only the second apparatus ASU was able to have a full roster for. Leading for the Devils was senior Allie Salas, who continued to struggle, finishing with a 9.675. Heather Udowitch ended her day with a score of 9.750, helping her to gain a all around season high of 37.475.
Corinne Belkoff fell at the beginning of her routine, giving her an automatic .500 deduction and leaving her with a low score of 8.975. Senior Beka Conrad, who has only competed on the beam all season, finished with a 9.725 after a hop on her landing and several wobbles.
UCLA took on the floor for the final rotation, where the Bruins are ranked No. 1 in the country averaging a 49.400. The Bruins are known for their hallmark of routines matching each gymnasts personality and unique skills. Senior Sophina DeJesus was recently all over the internet for her unique routine that incorporates popular dances moves such as the “nae nae.”
DeJesus finished her routine with a 9.925 after a new addition on her final a pass when she added a dab to the end. However, the star on floor tonight was redshirt senior Sadiqua Bynum who is the No. 1 gymnast on floor in the country. Bynum finished the night with a 9.950 – the winning score for the night.
“I can’t control scoring, I wish I could and I wish we could get the scores we deserved,” Allex said.
Arizona State will take on Penn State March 4 for senior night in Tempe.
You can contact Madeline Witt via e-mail
