(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
In their last home meet of the season the No. 21 Arizona State Gym Devils (11-10, 1-5 Pac-12) defeated the No. 14 BYU Cougars (9-6) and the N0. 28 West Virginia Mountaineers (16-9)
During the meet, students in Barrett, the Honors College were recognized including gymnasts Corinne Belkoff, Jessica Ginn, Kaitlin Harvey, Katelyn Lentz and Heather Udowitch. The Gym Devils had an impressive 3.64 GPA this year with 13 WCGA Academic All-American gymnasts.
In their last meet just a few days ago, the Devils recorded a season-low score of 194.825, but this meet was much different. The Devils came out strong on vault and never looked back.
“We didn’t seem very aggressive on Sunday,” head coach Jay Santos said. “That was one of the big things we talked about was let’s really be aggressive in what we’re doing and go attack.”
The Gym Devils started off hot on vault where both Cairo Leonard-Baker and Morgan Wilson led the way. Both gymnasts record scores of 9.850 to anchor the event.
The Cougars started off with some struggles on beam, typically their best event. Three BYU gymnasts either stumbled or fell on beam. Mountaineer Jacquie Tun scored a 9.850 on bars, her seventh 9.825+ in their last eight meets.
After one rotation ASU led with a 49.025, followed by West Virginia (48.875) and BYU (47.950). This was the fourth 49.000+ on vault for the Devils in their last five meets.
To start the second rotation, Leonard-Baker led the Devils to their second 49+ with her team-high 9.875. Senior Justine Callis set a career-high 9.850 in her last home meet at ASU.
On the other side of the arena, BYU junior Shannon Evan’s viral Super Mario themed floor routine earned her a 9.900 on floor, and Kirah Koshinski and Carly Galpin each scored 9.850s for WVU on beam. After the second rotation the Devils still led with a 98.025, but BYU (97.750) overtook WVU (97.625) for second after a strong floor team score of 49.300.
After the team had to count a fall on beam on Sunday, senior Anne Kuhm led off the Gym Devils’ beam lineup off strong with a season-high 9.850. ASU kept this hot streak going as no Sun Devil scored below a 9.800, scoring their second highest beam score of the season (49.275). Callis continued her stellar night by taking home the event title with a 9.900.
West Virginia did not score below a 9.800 on floor, and Koshinski led the way with her 9.900. BYU fell short of a 49+ team score for the second time this meet with its highest score on vault came from sophomore Abbey Miner’s 9.825. Through three rotations, ASU still led with a 147.300, followed by WVU (146.900) and BYU (146.700).
Moving to floor, Callis tied her season-high with a 9.825, and Belkoff tied her career-high with a 9.900 in the seniors’ last performance at Wells Fargo Arena. Leonard-Baker also capped her night with a 9.900 with her and Belkoff taking home the floor title.
“I have been dreaming of this moment and that having it happen in my last home meet was like a dream come true,” Belkoff said about hitting her final routine.
In the final rotation, West Virginia’s Koshinski scored an event-high 9.925 on vault. This score gave her the WVU school record of 24 career 9.900+ scores.
ASU ended up winning the meet scoring 196.550, followed by BYU (195.825) and WVU (195.750). Leonard-Baker (ASU) and Evans (BYU) tied for the all-around title with a meet score of 39.425.
“Being able to end on this note at home meant the world,” Callis said. “We took home the win, and it was one of our best meets of the season… When our heads are in a really good place, we’re dangerous.”
The Gym Devils have a little time off before heading into the postseason. Up next, ASU will compete in the Pac-12 Championships on Saturday, March 23 in West Valley City, Utah.
