(Photo credit: Elizabeth Agazaryan/WCSN)
TEMPE — Although it was No. 4 Utah that had received the most love from the judges for most of Friday night’s Valentine’s Day showdown against Arizona State gymnastics, things started to change in the final rotation.
It was then that scores got tight and the tension became high in Desert Financial Arena, but it wasn’t what either team was looking for to finish off the meet.
To start the Red Rocks on beam, junior Ana Padurariu fell on her tumbling series and scored an 8.900. Following right after her was sophomore Camie Winger who scored a 9.400 with a few balance checks. The next three Red Rocks’ routines went smoothly in comparison, but the door was still left open for the Sun Devils to take the lead.
On floor, ASU fifth-year Sarah Clark and sophomore Lilia Purler put up solid scores of 9.850, putting the chance at a win definitively in focus.
Junior Kimberly Smith performed well throughout her routine but struggled to keep that energy going into her last tumbling pass and got a 9.250. The tension was high. Utah fans were silent for the first time all night, and Sun Devil fans were on the edges of their seats.
To finish on beam, Olympic silver medalist and senior Grace McCallum fell at the beginning of her routine on what is usually considered a simple skill for her.
While waiting for McCallum’s score to come in, fifth-year veteran Emily White started her anchor routine.
“Really I didn’t feel any pressure from that,” White said. “I was just trying to stay with my teammates and do it for them.”
White put up the Gym Devils’ best floor score of the night with a 9.925, but unfortunately for the Gym Devils (6-5, 1-2 Big 12 Conference), it wasn’t enough to secure a win against the No. 4-ranked Red Rocks (9-4, 5-0 Big 12) who outscored ASU 196.600 to 196.475.
Although it was tough for them to miss such a stellar opportunity, the Sun Devils were able to get their second-highest score of the season with a 196.475.
“I’m disappointed, we had an opportunity, we didn’t take advantage of it,” head coach Jay Santos said.
Beam looked a little different for the Sun Devils. They secured their best event score of the season with a 49.225. Junior Isabella Kowan made her second NCAA appearance and beat her score from Feb. 7 with a 9.875. Even though the Gym Devils had one fall in the middle of the lineup, Clark didn’t let that get in the way of her performing a solid routine and scoring a 9.825.
This wasn’t the only time Clark reset the team Friday. The veteran was able to keep her composure on both beam and floor. Junior Kayla Lee started off the floor rotation with a 9.675, not quite the score the Gym Devils were looking for. Things were looking up, however, when Clark secured a 9.850, which set the Gym Devils up for success in their final rotation.
The drama in the last rotation of the meet was unexpected given what happened in the beginning. The Red Rocks started strong on bars in the first rotation with every score being a 9.800 or higher, including McCallum who secured another 10.0. This marked her fourth career perfect 10.0 on bars and Utah’s first of the season.
Utah’s first rotation was hard to match for the Gym Devils. Freshman Halle Braaflat and Smith both put up scores of 9.800 on vault. Anchoring the event was fifth-year Jada Mangahas who tied her career-high of 9.900 with a picture-perfect stick.
“That was what I’ve been looking for the last few weeks is just getting that stick on vault,” Mangahas said. “It was really surreal to be able to do that and get my career high again.”
After her performance on vault, Mangahas made sure to keep her composure for rotation two on bars. With a 9.875, she led the Gym Devils in the right direction. Following Mangahas were the other two ASU veterans, Clark and White. This was when White really began to show her true colors and was able to put up a score of 9.850. After her was Clark who finished bars with a stuck dismount that gave her a 9.875.
Looking ahead as the Gym Devils gear up for their final home meet of the season, they have a lot to think about. Senior night is just around the corner, which means emotions will be high for seniors Alex Theodorou and Jenna Blair, along with fifth-years Clark, White, and Mangahas.
“I’m definitely gonna be sad to be there for the last time ever, but I’m gonna just try to enjoy the moments with my team, cause I know I’m gonna remember those forever,” Managahas said.
Even after senior night against West Virginia, the Sun Devils still have a lot to look forward to when they resume their travels to Utah to compete against BYU. ASU is looking to build off its solid performance Friday to improve going forward.
“I think bars and beam have done a pretty solid job throughout the year,” Santos said. “If we can get lighting to strike and put it all together … I think there’s still room to improve.”
