By Diana Ly, SDA Media Relations Student Assistant
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 17 Arizona State gymnastics team finished in third with a 195.750 at the University Park Regional, Saturday evening at Penn State's Rec Hall. The effort constitutes the program's best at NCAA Regionals since April 6, 2013 when the Gym Devils finished third with a 194.425 at the NCAA West Regional.
Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, Cairo Leonard-Baker, also earned an individual all-around berth to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships with a tally of 39.200. The last time an Arizona State gymnast qualified to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships as an individual was when Taylor Allex won the vault title (9.900) at the 2016 Tuscaloosa Regional.
"We came out a little tight to start today," said Gym Devil head coach Jay Santos. "Floor was just a little off but we managed to avoid anything major and then we went to vault and I thought we had good vaults despite the scores so I was pretty pleased with the second rotation from a performance stand point. I think we really turned it on for the last two rotations to end the meet. We really did a great job on bars and beam and I love the way the team rallied and finished so strong. I think it really shows the heart of this group that they stay focused and didn't get discouraged by the rough start."
The Gym Devils recorded event scores of 48.675, 49.125, 49.050, 48.875 on vault, bars, beam and floor, respectively. Leading the effort once again was Leonard-Baker, who tied third in the all-around behind an impressive all-around duo from Florida, Alex McMurtry and Amelia Hundley. Junior Anne Kuhm finished seventh with a solid all-around tally with a 39.050, while Sophomore Ashley Szafranski tied for second with a pair of Florida gymnasts, Megan Skaggs and Rachel Gowey.
The 2018 season was a monumental one for the Gym Devil program. ASU added fives scores to the record books, while notching record breaking finishes at Pac-12 Championships and the tonight's Regional. The Gym Devils will wrap up 2018 with a team record of 14-15-1 and 3-3 in the Pac-12.
"This has been a fantastic season overall and the team worked tremendously hard all year to make a huge turnaround from last season," noted Santos. "I'm immensely proud of this team for everything they were able to achieve but also for how they handled the whole season as expectations rose. There is a bright future for Sun Devil Gymnastics."
Team Results:
1. Florida: 197.725
2. Washington: 196.275
3. Arizona State: 195.750
4. New Hampshire: 194.950
5. Penn State: 194.900
6. New Hampshire: 194.400
Event One - Floor | 48.875
After a bye in the first rotation, the Gym Devils posted a solid 48.875 on floor. Spearheading the effort was the dynamic duo of Leonard-Baker and Kuhm, who both scored a 9.825. Junior Justine Callis started the Gym Devils off strong with a 9.775, while junior Kaitlyn Szafranski posted a solid 9.750.
Event Two - Vault | 48.675
During the third rotation, Arizona State posted a 48.675 on vault with junior Morgan Wilson pacing the effort with a 9.775. Leonard-Baker and sophomore Jessica Ginn added a pair of 9.750s.
Event Three - Bars | 49.150
After their last bye of the competition, ASU swung into their best-event tally of the meet with a 49.150 on bars. Courtesy of the tally, the Gym Devils have surpassed the 49+ mark on bars eight times this season. Spearheading the effort was A. Szafranski, who tied a career-high on bars with a 9.900. Leonard-Baker and Kuhm followed closely behind with 9.850 and 9.825 respectively. Rounding out the rotation, Wilson added another solid routine for a 9.800.
Event Four - Beam | 49.050
The Maroon and Gold continued their 49+ streak, posting a 49.075 in the final rotation. Junior Heather Udowtich led the way with a season-high 9.850, while A. Szafranski followed closely behind with a 9.825. Juniors, Callis and Wilson added a pair of 9.800s.
Individual all-around qualifier, Leonard-Baker, will represent the maroon and gold at the NCAA National Championships on April 20-21 inside Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Mo.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 17 Arizona State gymnastics team finished in third with a 195.750 at the University Park Regional, Saturday evening at Penn State's Rec Hall. The effort constitutes the program's best at NCAA Regionals since April 6, 2013 when the Gym Devils finished third with a 194.425 at the NCAA West Regional.
Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, Cairo Leonard-Baker, also earned an individual all-around berth to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships with a tally of 39.200. The last time an Arizona State gymnast qualified to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships as an individual was when Taylor Allex won the vault title (9.900) at the 2016 Tuscaloosa Regional.
"We came out a little tight to start today," said Gym Devil head coach Jay Santos. "Floor was just a little off but we managed to avoid anything major and then we went to vault and I thought we had good vaults despite the scores so I was pretty pleased with the second rotation from a performance stand point. I think we really turned it on for the last two rotations to end the meet. We really did a great job on bars and beam and I love the way the team rallied and finished so strong. I think it really shows the heart of this group that they stay focused and didn't get discouraged by the rough start."
The Gym Devils recorded event scores of 48.675, 49.125, 49.050, 48.875 on vault, bars, beam and floor, respectively. Leading the effort once again was Leonard-Baker, who tied third in the all-around behind an impressive all-around duo from Florida, Alex McMurtry and Amelia Hundley. Junior Anne Kuhm finished seventh with a solid all-around tally with a 39.050, while Sophomore Ashley Szafranski tied for second with a pair of Florida gymnasts, Megan Skaggs and Rachel Gowey.
The 2018 season was a monumental one for the Gym Devil program. ASU added fives scores to the record books, while notching record breaking finishes at Pac-12 Championships and the tonight's Regional. The Gym Devils will wrap up 2018 with a team record of 14-15-1 and 3-3 in the Pac-12.
"This has been a fantastic season overall and the team worked tremendously hard all year to make a huge turnaround from last season," noted Santos. "I'm immensely proud of this team for everything they were able to achieve but also for how they handled the whole season as expectations rose. There is a bright future for Sun Devil Gymnastics."
Team Results:
1. Florida: 197.725
2. Washington: 196.275
3. Arizona State: 195.750
4. New Hampshire: 194.950
5. Penn State: 194.900
6. New Hampshire: 194.400
Event One - Floor | 48.875
After a bye in the first rotation, the Gym Devils posted a solid 48.875 on floor. Spearheading the effort was the dynamic duo of Leonard-Baker and Kuhm, who both scored a 9.825. Junior Justine Callis started the Gym Devils off strong with a 9.775, while junior Kaitlyn Szafranski posted a solid 9.750.
Event Two - Vault | 48.675
During the third rotation, Arizona State posted a 48.675 on vault with junior Morgan Wilson pacing the effort with a 9.775. Leonard-Baker and sophomore Jessica Ginn added a pair of 9.750s.
Event Three - Bars | 49.150
After their last bye of the competition, ASU swung into their best-event tally of the meet with a 49.150 on bars. Courtesy of the tally, the Gym Devils have surpassed the 49+ mark on bars eight times this season. Spearheading the effort was A. Szafranski, who tied a career-high on bars with a 9.900. Leonard-Baker and Kuhm followed closely behind with 9.850 and 9.825 respectively. Rounding out the rotation, Wilson added another solid routine for a 9.800.
Event Four - Beam | 49.050
The Maroon and Gold continued their 49+ streak, posting a 49.075 in the final rotation. Junior Heather Udowtich led the way with a season-high 9.850, while A. Szafranski followed closely behind with a 9.825. Juniors, Callis and Wilson added a pair of 9.800s.
Individual all-around qualifier, Leonard-Baker, will represent the maroon and gold at the NCAA National Championships on April 20-21 inside Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Mo.