ASU Gymnastics: Gym Devils Place Third at Perfect 10 Challenge

(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)

It was a star-studded competition at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City Friday night, as the No. 19 Arizona State Gym Devils took on No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 18 Washington, and No. 35 George Washington in a quad-meet at the annual Perfect 10 Challenge.

Arizona State held its own among the fierce competition, recording a 195.650 to defeat George Washington (194.975) but fell short to Oklahoma and Washington. Oklahoma posted its third 198+ score this season with a 198.075 while Washington received a 196.250.

The Gym Devils began their night on the balance beam where they struggled to get the ball rolling, scoring a 48.750. Seniors Anne Kuhm and Justine Callis highlighted the rotation in the leadoff and anchor positions recording a 9.775 and 9.875, respectively.

The home team, Oklahoma, led its night off on vault where they went 49.575, taking an early lead in the first rotation. Junior Maggie Nichols made her return to the vault lineup for the first time since the second week of competition recording a 9.925 for a second place finish, tying her teammate Anastasia Webb. Freshman Olivia Trautman received a near-perfect 9.975 to win the event.

Washington started strong on the floor with four scores of 9.80 or better. Kristyn Hoffa highlighted the Husky rotation with a 9.875 followed by Evanni Roberson and Maya Washington who recorded a pair of 9.850s to earn a 49.100.

George Washington opened its night on the uneven bars with a 48.825. The Colonials suffered a fall in the middle of their rotation; however, after a pair of 9.800s from Alexandra Zois and Julia McLaughlin, they did not have to count the fall.

Heading into the second rotation, Oklahoma led the pack with a 49.575 followed by Washington (49.100), George Washington (48.825) and Arizona State (48.750).

The Gym Devils moved to the floor in the second rotation earning a 48.750. Kuhm’s 9.825 highlighted the rotation followed by sophomore Cairo Leonard-Baker who debuted her double layout in her opening pass to score a 9.775.

The Sooners posted a 49.650 on the uneven bars with five scores of 9.90 or better. Nichols earned her third consecutive 9.975 to win the event title.

Washington moved to the vault where Madison Copiak led the Huskies with a 9.850. UW added four scores of 9.800 for a 49.050 team total.

George Washington moved to the balance beam where it also had its share of struggles. The Colonials suffered a fall in the anchor position, but after posting five solid scores highlighted by Hannah Cohen’s 9.825, they did not have to count the fall.

At the halfway point, Oklahoma extended its lead with a 99.225, followed by Washington (98.150), ASU (97.500), and George Washington (97.350).

The Gym Devils moved to vault in the third rotation where they posted a season-high 49.075 event total. Senior Morgan Wilson and junior Jessica Ginn scored season highs with Wilson posting a 9.90, a first for ASU since Leonard-Baker’s 9.90 at the 2018 Pac-12 Championships, and Ginn posting a 9.850. Leonard-Baker and Kuhm added a 9.800 and 9.825, respectively.

Oklahoma continued to the balance beam where it proved to be a struggle for another team. The Sooners suffered a fall from Nicole Lehrmann. However, after strong 9.900 performances from Brenna Dowell and Webb, the Sooners were not forced to count the fall with a 49.200 team total.

Washington moved to the uneven bars where Copiak’s 9.90 highlighted the Husky rotation after suffering a fall of their own from Roberson. Michaela Nelson added a 9.875 giving the Huskies a 49.250 finish.

As for George Washington, Zois and Cydney Crasa paved the way for the Colonials on the floor with a pair of 9.825s. Rachel Kaplan added a 9.775 for a 48.825 team cumulative.

Going into the final rotation, Oklahoma continued to lead with a 148.425. Washington trailed slightly behind with a 147.400 followed by ASU (146.575) then George Washington (146.175).

Arizona State concluded its meet on the uneven bars which have been the Devils’ strongest and most consistent event all season long. Junior Morgan Hart and Callis got the ball rolling with a pair of 9.800s, tying Callis’s season-high. Kuhm added a strong 9.850 and Leonard-Baker capped the night off with a 9.925 in the anchor position for a tied third place finish.

The Sooners closed out the Perfect 10 Challenge with four scores of 9.90+ to earn a 49.650. Oklahoma’s scores kept rising with Webb’s 9.925, Jade Degouveia’s 9.950, Dowell’s 9.975, highlighted by Trautman’s perfect 10 to close out the meet.

Washington concluded its meet on the balance beam where Copiak and Washington’s 9.825 led the Huskies to a 48.850 finish.

George Washington ended their meet on the vault with a 48.800. Zois’s 9.825 paved the Colonial effort after they were forced to count all five scores after Anna Warhol missed her vault in the fifth position.

In a competitive field, Kuhm finished third in the all-around with a 39.275 with Leonard-Baker scoring a 39.075 for a fifth-place finish. Dowell took home the all-around title with a 39.675 followed by Webb with a 39.650.

The Gym Devils will return home to Wells Fargo Arena Friday, February 22, to host the Oregon State Beavers in a Beauty and the Beast style meet with the Arizona State wrestling team. The meet is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. MST and will be broadcasted live via ASU Live Stream.