(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics)
The No. 17 Arizona State Gym Devils (8-8-1, 3-4 Pac-12) finished second in the first session of the PAC-12 Championships with a 196.425 behind the No. 11 Oregon State Beavers who finished with a 196.425. The No. 30 Stanford Cardinal finished third with 196.350 followed by the home team and in-state rival, Arizona Wildcats who recorded a 195.825.
The Gym Devils got back on track recording their first 196+ score in three meets. ASU also recorded a 49.0+ on every with event totals of 49.000 (vault), 49.125 (bars), 49.075 (beam), and floor (49.125).
“I’m thrilled with how they did today,” Head Coach Jay Santos said. “942 Crew showed up today which really brought a great energy to the team and almost brought an aspect of home field advantage. I thought they really turned it on when they had to and were very composed while waiting for their turn to go, and I hope they bring that same energy into regionals.”
Five-time PAC-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Week and PAC-12 Freshman of the Year Cairo Leonard-Baker paved the way along with 2012 French Olympian Anne Kuhm. Leonard-Baker and Kuhm finished second and third in the all-around in the first session with a 39.425 and 39.400, respectively. Stanford senior Elizabeth Price led the first session with an all-around total of 39.650.
“Today was amazing,”, Leonard-Baker. “I thought we had an amazing energy and had so much fun out there. I think we finally proved that we’re not the underdogs anymore and we’re a force to be reckoned with.”
ASU began its meet strong on the bars where they showcased multiple clean routines and stuck landings. Leonard-Baker led off the Sun Devil effort with a 9.875. Lone-senior Nichelle Christopherson returned to the lineup for the first time since her ankle injury during week four at Oregon State. Christopherson earned a 9.825 in the No. 4 position. Kuhm and sophomore Ashley Szafranski added a 9.825 and 9.850, respectively, to end the rotation with a 49.125.
“It felt really good to be back out there again,” Christopherson said. “I’m coming close to the end of my four years so I just tried to embrace the moment because you only get this opportunity once so I just wanted to leave it all-out on the floor for my team.”
Oregon State came into the meet as the No. 5 seed and was given the Olympic rotation of vault, bars, beam and floor. Sophomore Destinee Davis led the Beavers recording a 9.875 followed by junior Mary Jacobsen’s 9.825 and freshman Kaitlyn Yannish’s 9.800 to finish with a 49.025.
Stanford began its day on the beam where they suffered a fall in the No. 2 position. However, the Cardinal were able to recover after the remainder of the lineup hit their routines and dropped the fall. Junior Taryn Fitzgerald anchored the Cardinal effort scoring a 9.850. Price also contributed a 9.825 followed by freshman Kyla Bryant who earned a 9.800 to bring the team total to 48.975.
The home team began the first rotation on floor where they earned a team cumulative of 48.900. The Wildcats only had five girls competing on floor, therefore they were unable to drop a score. However, the Wildcats hit five-for-five and were not forced to count a fall. Senior Kennedy Schneider led Arizona with a 9.875. Madison Cindric added a 9.800 to conclude the rotation.
Heading into the second rotation, Arizona State led the pack with a 49.125 followed by Oregon State (49.025), Stanford (48.975), and Arizona (48.900).
The Gym Devils moved to the beam where A. Szafranksi’s unique beam routine led with a 9.875 followed by Kuhm who had a clean routine to earn 9.850. Juniors Justine Callis and Heather Udowich added a pair of 9.800s to end the rotation with a 49.075.
Oregon State went to the bars where they hit six strong routines to earn a 49.200. Senior Dani Dessaints anchored the Beavers with a 9.900. Junior McKenna Singley and sophomore Hallie Briscoe’s clean lines and stuck landings propelled the squad with a 9.875 and 9.825, respectively.
Stanford was on the floor in the third rotation where Price performed a near perfect routine. Price opened with a powerful double layout accompanied by a stuck landing to earn an impressive 9.950. Bryant and freshman Rachel Flam recorded a pair of 9.875s to close out the rotation.
Arizona moved to the vault where sophomore Heather Swanson scored a 9.875 in the No. 5 position. Freshman Adra Parks added a 9.850 followed by sophomore Jenny Leung’s 9.850 to bring their team total to a 48.800.
At the halfway point, Oregon State took the lead with a 98.225. Arizona State and Stanford tied for second with a 98.200 followed by Arizona with a 97.725.
ASU moved to the floor for the third rotation where Leonard-Baker and Kuhm led the Gym Devils with a pair of 9.900s. K. Szafranski’s powerful tumbling added a 9.850, ending the rotation with a 49.125.
Oregon State headed to the balance beam where they recorded six scores of 9.8+. Destinee Davis anchored the Beavers with a 9.875. Singley and sophomore Maela Lazaro added a pair of 9.850s along with freshman Alyssa Minyard’s 9.825 to earn a team total of 49.200.
Arizona suffered a fall in the third rotation, but they already recorded five hit routines and were not forced to count the fall. A pair of 9.850s by Cindric and junior Hailey Hendrickson paved the Wildcat effort. Junior Danielle Spencer-Bearham added a 9.800 to help the GymCats finish with a 48.875.
Heading into the final rotation, Oregon State led the pack once again with a 147.425. Arizona State followed shortly behind with a 147.325, followed by Stanford (147.275) and Arizona (146.575).
ASU ended its day on the vault with a 49.100. Leonard-Baker stuck her yurchenko full to earn a career-high of 9.900. Kuhm performed a clean yurchenko full of her own to add a 9.850 followed by a pair of 9.800s from junior Morgan Wilson and sophomore Jessica Ginn.
Oregon State extended its lead on floor in the final rotation to record a 49.150. Davis and sophomore Isis Lowery’s energetic floor routines received a 9.850 followed by a pair of 9.825s from Jacobsen and sophomore Sabrina Gill.
Stanford finished its day on bars where Price hit yet another near perfect bars routine. Price earned a perfect 10 from two judges and a 9.950 from the other two to earn an average 9.975. Bryant added a 9.850 to close out the rotation.
Arizona concluded its meet on the balance beam where they hit six routines of 9.8+. Senior Victoria Ortiz finished her final meet with a 9.875. Cindric, sophomore Courtney Cowles, and Hendrickson added a trio of 9.850s. UA finished with a team cumulative of 49.225.
“I’m really proud of how the team did today,” Kuhm said. “We worked so hard in the gym to prepare for this meet, and it finally came together for us so I’m really happy.”
The Sun Devils will be heading to the Regional Championships Saturday, April 7. The location of where ASU will be headed will be announced during a selection show on March 26.
Session two scores to come. Check back later for updates.
