ASU looks to carry tri-meet momentum up to the Bay Area

(Photo via Samantha Maxwell/WCSN)

Despite taking third in last Friday’s highly anticipated tri-meet in Tempe, the No. 20 Arizona State women’s gymnastics team has a lot to hang its hat on after finishing the meet with its best outing of the season and registering a new season-high score of 197.250.

The Gym Devils (3-4, 0-2 Pac-12) now turn their attention to a road trip to face Stanford (1-5, 1-1 Pac-12) this Friday night. ASU will certainly look to take the momentum built in Tempe last weekend up to the Bay on Friday, looking to earn its first Pac-12 Conference victory of the season.

Because of how well the Sun Devils faired against No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 Cal, they moved up three spots in the national rankings. A key reason why ASU was able to put up such a strong showing against the top two teams in the country was its ability to earn a season-high total team score in three of the four competition events. The Gym Devils scored 49.225 on bars, 49.425 on beam and clocked in at 49.325 on floor.

Those strong performances also helped solidify the Sun Devils as a legitimate powerhouse on vault and bars. The team has now scored a 49.000 or better in 15 consecutive meets on vault, which is a program record. The Gym Devils have also scored a 49.000 or better on bars for the last 14 meets, with the program record of 19 not too far off on the horizon.

Senior Emily White is also a key name to keep an eye on for ASU. In the tri-meet, White received scores of 9.9 on beam and floor, which helped her earn this week’s Pac-12 Coaches Choice award. White is the first Sun Devil to receive a weekly recognition award for her excellence in the gym this season.

However, White wasn’t the only gymnast for ASU to have a monster showing last weekend. Senior Anaya Smith won her third event title of the year on vault after receiving a score of 9.950, which tied a career-high. Senior Jada Mangahas scored a 9.925 on beam and a 39.425 in the all-around, both career highs for her.

Senior Sarah Clark was the standout athlete on bars for the Gym Devils, recording a season-high of 9.900. Graduate Gracie Reeves also joined the party with a season-best result, notching a 9.875 on beam.

Although the Cardinal have only tallied one victory so far on the season, they are also coming off their best effort on the year, scoring a season-high of 196.875 at home against the Washington Huskies.

Despite not showing signs of being quite as potent as they were last year when they went to the NCAA Regionals, the Cardinal still have big performance capability.

Against Washington, Junior Anapaula Gutierrez had an event win on bars, with a 9.925 and senior Amanda Zeng topped everyone on floor, scoring a 9.900. In all, Stanford had nine career-best or matching career-best finishes in its bought with the Huskies.

Fifth-year Chloe Widner has been a staple for the Cardinal for the past four years but may only compete on bars due to injuries she has been battling. Widner recorded a 9.900 against Washington, which extended her streak of scoring a 9.900 or better for 20 consecutive meets.

It will take another high-performing effort for the Cardinal to best the Gym Devils on Friday night, as ASU ranks higher nationally in vault, bars and beam. Stanford only ranks higher in one event, which is floor, standing seven spots higher in the standings.