ASU Gymnastics: Sun Devils fall despite season high score

(Photo: Gabrielle Mercer/WCSN)

Arizona State gymnastics took on No. 17 Washington in Seattle for its third Pac-12 meet of the season. ASU earned a season-high total but fell to Washington in the end.

The Gym Devils opened the afternoon on the uneven bars. Freshman Graycee Rushton was the first to compete for ASU, tying her career high on bars with a 9.700. Freshman Morgan Hart returned to the lineup this week after being out for two weeks with an injured heel. Hart earned a respectable 9.650. Sophomore Morgan Wilson and freshman Ashley Szafranski continued to prove they are strong competitors on this event, scoring 9.725 and 9.750, respectively. Junior Nichelle Christopherson had the highest score of the afternoon for the Gym Devils, scoring a 9.800 with a stuck landing. The Gym Devils earned their season-high 48.675 on bars.

Washington started its competition on vault. Sophomore Kristyn Hoffa and freshman Haley Roy both earned 9.8+ scores of 9.825 and 9.800, respectively. Two scores of 9.850 followed from junior Haley Burleson and senior Alexandra Yacalis. The Huskies earned a 49.100 on the first rotation of the night.

ASU rotated to vault for the second event of the meet. Rushton led things off again, scoring a 9.600. Sophomore Katelyn Lentz hit a solid 9.700 while Wilson earned her career-high 9.800 on vault. Freshman Jessica Ginn added another solid vault to the Gym Devil lineup with a 9.775. ASU scored a 48.500 on the apparatus to bring its cumulative score to 97.175.

The Huskies moved to the uneven bars for the second rotation of the afternoon. Senior Kaitlyn Duranczyk earned the event-high score of 9.950. Junior Joslyn Goings also earned a high score of 9.825. Washington led the Gym Devils 98.175-97.175 afternoon two rotations.

The Gym Devils competed on the floor exercise for the third rotation. Freshman Mekayla Jones hit a career-high 9.80 while sophomore Corinne Belkoff hit a solid 9.775. Sophomore Justine Callis scored a 9.800 on her floor routine, earning her second consecutive 9.8+ of the season. Lentz scored a 9.850, earning a season-high and tying her career-high. Christopherson anchored the event, tying her season-high score of 9.800. The Gym Devils posted their second season-high of the meet with a 49.025. This was the first time this season the Gym Devils broke the 49.0+ mark.

Washington competed on the balance beam for their third event. The Huskies had two high scores of 9.900 from Burleson and Goings. Also, adding to the Huskies’ total was two scores of 9.825 from freshmen Michaela Nelson and Maya Washington. After three events, Washington was still up 147.425-146.200 over ASU.

ASU closed the meet on the balance beam. Callis competed first for the Gym Devils and scored a solid 9.725. Senior Beka Conrad posted a season-high 9.800 on the event. Lentz recorded another solid score of 9.750. Szafranski earned her second 9.750 of the meet on the balance beam. Christopherson closed the meet for the Gym Devils, earning a career-high 9.875. The Gym Devils earned their third season-high of the afternoon on the balance beam with a total score of 48.900.

For the fourth and final rotation, the Huskies performed on the floor exercise. The event was led by three scores of 9.900 from Burleson, Duranczyk, and Yacalis. Washington earned a total score of 49.325 on the event.

The Huskies beat out the Gym Devils 196.750-195.100. Washington swept the individual event titles, and junior Hailey Burleson won the all-around competition for the Huskies with a score of 39.425. Christopherson came in second in the all-around with a career-best 39.025.

The Gym Devils return home next week to take on Stanford in Wells Fargo Arena. The meet is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18 and will be live on the Pac-12 Network.