Courtesy Nicole Praga, SDA Communications
TEMPE, Ariz. – In an emotional Senior Night, the Arizona State gymnastics team and its three seniors shined for one final time in Wells Fargo Arena on Friday, helping the Gym Devils post their second-highest team score of the season with a 194.625, just shy of the Penn State Nittany Lions’ 195.350.
The final home meet of the season for the Gym Devils saw improvements, and new season highs on each event.
Starting the night on vault, the Gym Devils posted a 48.850 for a season high. Senior Taylor Allex led the Gym Devils with a 9.900, wining the event for the fifth time this season. Senior Allie Salas followed with a 9.825. Three additional season-bests were posted on vault, including freshman Corinne Belkoff’s 9.800, senior Carissa Kraus’ 9.775, and freshman Heather Udowitch’s 9.550.
A 48.725 team score on beam created another season high for the Gym Devils. Junior Beka Conrad led the team with her 9.800, followed by Udowitch’s 9.775. Senior Allie Salas posted a 9.725 on beam, tying her career high. Allex competed on beam in Wells Fargo Arena for the first time since the Washington meet in January, scoring a 9.700.
Allex hit a 9.925 on floor to win her second event on the evening, her fourth floor title on the season, and the fifth time she went 9.9+ in the regular season. Belkoff posted a 9.875 on floor for the fourth time this season to take second behind Allex. The Gym Devils posted a 48.800 team score on floor to finish out the meet.
The Gym Devils scored a 48.250 on bars, led by Kraus’ 9.775 and Salas’ 9.725.
In the all-around competition, Salas tied her career high 39.100, a mark she first hit this season against Arizona. Freshmen Belkoff and Udowitch both posted their own career bests, scoring a 39.100 and a 38.500, respectively.
Up next the Gym Devils travel to Auburn, Ala. on Friday, March 11 for the final regular season meet of the season. The meet is slated for a 5 p.m. PT/7 p.m. CT start.