ASU Gymnastics: Sun Devils finish second in season opener tri-meet

(Photo: Joseph Constantin/WCSN)

The Gym Devils came in second tonight in their 2016 season opener at Wells Fargo Arena in a tri-meet against No. 11 Nebraska and Bowling Green.

This is being considered a rebuilding year for the Gym Devils, following a 2015 season that boasted a roster with no freshman and just one sophomore. This year the team is young, with a total of six freshmen, and they made their presence known throughout this meet.

Arizona State took the vault first, finishing with a 48.375 in the event.

Seniors Allie Salas and Taylor Allex received the top scores for the team on this event with Salas finishing with a 9.800 and Allex getting a 9.725.

Next, the Gym Devils moved to the bars with freshman Morgan Wilson leading the rotation. Wilson finished with a 9.675, seemingly setting the tone for the Devils on the bars. Senior Kristine Levin was up next and scored a 9.750, even with her stuck landing. ASU had freshman all-around competitor Katelyn Lentz anchor for the bars, scoring a 9.475.

After completing the second rotation Arizona State pulled ahead of Bowling Green and Nebraska with a 96.700.

In the third rotation the Gym Devils took on the beam. Senior Allie Salas started it off for ASU earning a 9.675. Next up was freshman Heather Udowitch, who just graduated from high school in December, and is starting her first college semester this spring at ASU. Udowitch finished her first collegiate balance beam routine with a 9.750. Junior Beka Conrad took the beam after Udowitch. Conrad came in close on her back handspring layout resulting in her falling off the beam, leaving her with a low score of 9.125. Once again Lentz anchored the rotation finishing with a 9.500.

On their fourth and final rotation ASU went on to the floor. Freshman Eileen Imbus led the Gym Devils off and ended with a 8.975 after she tripped up on her final pass and touched the ground. Lentz went next earning a 9.850 her best score of the night and tying first place on floor with Nebraska junior Jennie Laeng Bowling Green senior Alyssa Nocella.

“Personally I’m really shy, so coming out here and showing off a floor a routine like that was a change for me, but I think it’s a good change,” Lentz said.

ASU seemed to continue to fall victim to small wobbles throughout the rest of the rotation. Freshman Corinne Belkoff and Salas both got significant deductions. Belkoff stepped out of bounds leaving her with a 9.500 and Salas fell in her middle pass and was left with a 9.175.

However, Allex finished off the meet with a bright spot earning a 9.825 after sticking the Arabian double front in her first pass and finishing off the rest of her her routine seamlessly.

The Gym Devils finished with a 192.700, 1.350 points behind Nebraska who finished in first.

ASU head coach Rene Lyst was pleased with the team after their first meet.

“This team is really good and we have a lot of potential,” Lyst said. “If we can get our mind right and believe in that I think we’ll be very happy with our season.”

The Gym Devils’ second meet of the season will be on Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. in Tempe.

You can contact Madeline Witt via e-mail 

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