TEMPE, Ariz.--The Arizona State gymnastics team (1-7, 0-4 Pac-12) remains at home for its final Monday meet of the 2016 season, hosting Pac-12 rival No. 20 Arizona (2-4, 0-4 Pac-12) at 7 p.m. MT at Wells Fargo Arena.
The meet is set to air on the Pac-12 Networks. Fans can also follow along on Twitter by following @ASUGymnastics. Fans are encouraged to tweet with #EmbraceExcellence in support of the 2016 Gym Devils.
Additionally the Territorial Cup Series point will be on the line on Monday. ASU currently leads, 5.5 to 1.5.
ABOUT ARIZONA
After two weeks on the road, the Wildcats lost a close meet at home last Monday, falling to Stanford, 196.650 to 196.150.
Maddy Cindric led the way on vault with a season high 9.850, while Shelby Edwards followed with a 9.825. On bars, Selynna Feliz-Terrazas posted a team-high 9.825, and Jessie Sisler, Edwards, and Krysten Howard each posted 9.850 on beam. On floor, the Wildcats wrapped the night with Sisler posting a 9.90.
Last season, ASU posted a 195.375 season high score on the road against the Wildcats.
TERRITORIAL CUP SERIES POINT ON THE LINE
The Sun Devils jumped out to a healthy lead over the Wildcats in the Territorial Cup Series this season, and currently lead, 5.5 to 1.5.
ASU earned its points from football, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, and a half a point from volleyball. The Sun Devils have claimed the series over the last two seasons.
LAST TIME OUT
The Sun Devils surpassed 194 for the second consecutive week this past Monday, posting a season-high 194.725 against California at Wells Fargo Arena.
Additionally, ASU surpassed the 49-point mark for the first time this season with a 49.200 on floor. Taylor Allex tied for first with a career high 9.950, the highest Sun Devil score since Natasha Sundby posted the same against NIU on March 14, 2014.
Allie Salas also tied her career high on floor with a 9.850. Heather Udowitch posted her own season high with a 9.800, and Corinne Belkoff tied hers from last week with a 9.875.
Bars also featured another season high for the Gym Devils. The 48.800 team score featured four season highs from the Gym Devils, all of which are the top Sun Devil scores this season. Carissa Kraus had a team best and season high 9.850. Three freshmen also posted season highs on bars, including Katelyn Lentz’s 9.800, Eileen Imbus’ 9.775, and Belkoff’s 9.750.
UP NEXT
With a quick turnaround, the Sun Devils hit the road on Saturday, Feb. 27, taking on UCLA in Los Angeles, Calif. The meet is slated for a 2 p.m. MT start and will air on the Pac-12 Networks.
ASU’S 2016 EVENT LEADERS
Vault
In ASU’s Pac-12 opener, at home against Washington, Taylor Allex matched her career best score on vault, winning the event with a 9.900. The score marked the first time Allex has won vault this season.
Bars
The Sun Devils posted four of the top-five bars scores this season against California, led by Carissa Kraus’ 9.850. Katelyn Lentz followed with a new best, 9.800, while Eileen Imbus posted a career best 9.775, and Corinne Belkoff scored a 9.750.
Beam
Freshman Katelyn Lentz tied her season best score on beam against California with a 9.825, which she also scored at Oregon State. Also against the Bears, Corinne Belkoff posted the No. 3 mark at 9.800, which Lentz also scored against Washington.
Floor
Taylor Allex set a new career high on floor with a 9.950, tying for first place in the event in the meet against Cal. Earlier this season, Allex previously tied her career best, a 9.900, the same night she set a personal best with that same score on vault.
All Around
Katelyn Lentz placed second at Stanford as she posted a personal best and Sun Devil season best with her score of 38.975. Allie Salas, who previously set the best mark in the Oregon State meet, improved her all-around score for the fourth week in a row at Stanford with a 38.925. Salas currently owns three of the top-five Sun Devil scores this season.
Gym Devils Post All-Time High Team GPA In Fall 2015
The Fall 2015 semester was a time of academic success for the GymDevils as the team achieved its all-time highest cumulative and semester GPA, it was announced this week.
Last spring, the team ended with a GPA of 3.27 for the semester, which improved after the 2015 fall semester to a GPA of 3.51. In addition to the team’s collective achievements, seniors Taylor Allex (3.65 GPA) and Kristine Levin (3.27 GPA) and junior Beka Conrad (3.67 GPA) all earned their highest semester GPA.
Freshman Corinne Belkoff had the team’s highest semester GPA at 3.93. Belkoff, as well as freshmen Katelyn Lentz, Heather Udowitch and Eileen Imbus are all students in Barrett, the Honors College.
THE 2016 RETURNERS
ASU returns five gymnasts from last year’s lineup, with seniors Taylor Allex, Carissa Kraus, Kristine Levin, and Allie Salas ready to lead the program. Also back is beam and floor specialist Beka Conrad.
Last season, Allex competed in just her second all-around of the season at the NCAA Regional in Norman, Okla.
THE 2016 NEWCOMERS
The Gym Devils are set to field a young roster in 2016, with six freshmen expected to contribute to the lineup: Corinne Belkoff (Tucson, Ariz./Arizona Dynamics), Justine Callis (Chesapeake, Va./Oaktree Academy), Eileen Imbus (San Antonio, Texas (Aerial Athletics), Katelyn Lentz (Brisbane, Calif./Head Over Heels Athletic Arts), Heather Udowitch (Spring Creek Academy), and Morgan Wilson (Lee’s Summit, Mo./Diamond Gymnastics Academy).
THE 2016 SCHEDULE
ASU will return to the road for the final time in the Pac-12 regular-season slate on Saturday, Feb. 27 at UCLA before rounding out the home schedule on Friday, March 4.
During the home finale, ASU will host both Penn State’s women’s and men’s program in a double-dual with the Arizona State men’s gymnastics team.
The final regular-season meet is slated for Friday, Match 11 at Auburn, and on the following Saturday, March 19, ASU will make the trek up to Seattle, Wash., for the 2016 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships.
GYM DEVILS ON THE PAC-12 NETWORKS
Each of ASU’s three home conference meets (vs. Washington, vs. California, and vs. Arizona) will air on the Pac-12 Networks. The Gym Devils’ meet at UCLA will also be televised on the Pac-12 Networks, as will the sessions of the 2016 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships.
THE 2015 CAMPAIGN
Despite being plagued by injuries throughout most of the 2015 season, the Sun Devils bounced back in their regular season finale with a 195.175-191.050 victory over Air Force.
Following competition at the Pac-12 Championships, then-senior Natasha Sundby (floor) and then-junior Taylor Allex (all-around) qualified to compete at the NCAA Regional championships.
DR. RENE LYST
Rene Lyst was named head coach of the Arizona State women’s gymnastics team in May of 2014, and enters her second season at the helm of the Sun Devil program in 2016. Lyst helped the Razorbacks have qualified for 11 NCAA Regionals as a team, seven NCAA Championship appearances, five top-10 finishes, and two NCAA Super Six appearances.