TEMPE, Ariz.—The Arizona State women's gymnastics team (0-1) will stay on the road in the second week of the 2017 regular season, traveling to Denver to participate in a quad meet with No. 7 Denver (1-0), Air Force (1-0), and Texas Women's University (0-2) on Saturday, Jan. 14.
The meet is slated for a 6 p.m. MT start and live stats will be available.
Fans can follow along on Twitter by following @ASUGymnastics. Fans are encouraged to tweet with #WeWill in support of the 2017 Gym Devils.
ABOUT DENVER
The then-No. 14 Pioneers started off the 2107 season with one of their best season openers in program history, posting a 195.875 to defeat Minnesota on the road.
Freshman Maddie Karr took home the all-around title with a 39.500, shattering Denver's previous record for highest all-around score by a freshman in her first meet.
The Pioneers posted a meet-high 49.050 on vault, led by Karr's 9.925 and followed by three scores of 9.800 or higher. On bars Denver scored a total 48.925 with freshman Sam Ogden leading the Pioneers with a 9.850 in her collegiate debut. Karr once again led the Pioneers on floor with a 9.900 to help toward the total of 48.950. Denver finished the meet on beam with a 48.950 with Karr's 9.875 leading the way.
The Pioneers current No. 7 ranking is the second-highest ranking in program history.
ABOUT AIR FORCE
The Falcons kicked off the 2017 season with a 190.875-184.750 win over Winona State to mark the squad's second highest season-opening score since 2013.
Freshman Anna Salamone recorded a debut score of 9.750 on vault to lead the Falcons to an event total of 47.975. On bars, Air Force posted a total 47.950, led by sophomore Analise Howard's 9.775. Junior Casey Bell scored a career-best 9.825 on floor to finish the meet for the Falcons.
ABOUT TEXAS WOMEN'S
Texas Women's University opened the 2017 season on the road at the Arizona Tri-Meet, coming in third place with a 189.500 behind Utah State and the Wildcats.
Junior Schyler Jones claimed the all-around title with a 38.650, including scores of 9.750 and 9.725 on vault and floor, respectively. Jones led the Pioneers on vault to a team-high event score of 48.150. Sophomore Erin Alderman led the team on floor with a 9.775.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gym Devils opened the 2017 campaign on the road at Iowa State, posting a total 191.800.
A 48.225 team score on bars was the highest event score for ASU in the meet. Freshman Ashely Szafranski made her collegiate debut and led the Gym Devils with a 9.725. New Sun Devil and junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson followed with a 9.675.
Sophomore Morgan Wilson tied a career high 9.700 on vault to lead the Gym Devils on the event after missing most of last season with an injury. Freshman Jessica Ginn debuted with a 9.650.
Three Sun Devils posted a 9.7+ on beam, led by Szafranski's second team-high of the meet, a 9.750. Sophomore Justine Callis posted a 9.725 followed by Christopherson's 9.700. On floor, Christopherson posted a team high 9.725.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil will compete in Wells Fargo Arena for the first time in the 2017 season, facing UC Davis on Saturday, Jan. 21. The meet is a dual meet with the men's gymnastics team facing Illinois.
The meet is slated for a 4 p.m. MT start, and will be live streamed on TheSunDevils.com.
2017 EVENT LEADERS
Vault
Sophomore Morgan Wilson tied a career high 9.700 in the 2017 season opener against Iowa State after missing most of last season with an injury. Freshman Jessica Ginn made her Sun Devil debut with a 9.650.
Bars
Freshman Ashley Szafranski made her collegiate debut against Iowa State with a team-high 9.725 on bars. Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson followed with a 9.675.
Beam
Freshman Ashley Szafranski led the Gym Devils again in the season opener with a 9.750 on beam. Sophomore Justine Callis came close to her career high with a 9.725.
Floor
Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson led the Gym Devils with a 9.725 on floor in the season opener, followed by freshman Morgan Hart's 9.600.
THE 2017 RETURNERS
ASU returns seven gymnasts from last year's lineup, with senior Beka Conrad ready to lead the program. Also back are six sophomores who made immediate impact in last season's squad: Corinne Belkoff, Justine Callis, Eileen Imbus, Katelyn Lentz, Heather Udowitch, and Morgan Wilson.
THE 2017 NEWCOMERS
The Gym Devils will field another young roster in 2017 with seven freshman expected to contribute to the lineup: Averie Brook (Houston, Texas/World Champions Centre), Jessica Ginn (Chandler, Ariz./Desert Lights Gymnastics), Morgan Hart (Las Vegas, Nev./Browns Gymnastics), Mekayla Jones (Birmingham, Ala./JamJev Gymnastics), Graycee Rushton (Gilbert, Ariz./Arizona Dynamics Gymnastics), Ashley Szafranski (Orefield, Pa./Parkettes), and Alex Wilson (Denver, Colo./Tigar Gymnastics). The 2017 squad will also feature junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson (Michigan), who brings high-level experience from both club and college.
THE 2017 SCHEDULE
ASU is set for another rigorous schedule this year, which will include nine teams that finished in the top-25 in 2016.
The Gym Devils open the 2017 season on the road for the first two weeks at Iowa State on Friday, Jan. 6 and at Denver on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. MT.
The Sun Devils will compete at home five times this season, opening on Saturday, Jan. 21 against UC Davis. ASU will also host meets against three Pac-12 foes in February: reigning conference champion UCLA on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m. MT, Stanford on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. MT, and Utah on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. MT.
Other 2017 road matches include the Pac-12 opener at California on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. MT, at Washington on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. MT, and the annual rivalry match at Arizona on Sunday, March 5 at 1 p.m. MT.
ASU will cap the home slate and the regular season on Friday, March 10, hosting a tri-meet with Bridgeport and Sacramento State before traveling to Stanford, Calif. for the 2017 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships on March 18.
GYM DEVILS ON THE PAC-12 NETWORK
Each of ASU's six conference match-ups during the regular season (at California, vs. UCLA, at Washington, vs. Stanford, vs. Utah, at Arizona) will air on the Pac-12 Network. The sessions of the 2017 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships in Stanford, Calif. will also be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
THE 2016 CAMPAIGN
Despite injuries through most of the 2016 season, the Gym Devils finished their season at the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships. Their season-high team score of 194.725 was posted against then-No. 15 California on Feb. 16.
Following the conference championship, the then-senior duo of Taylor Allex (vault, floor) and Allie Salas (all-around) qualified to compete as individuals at the NCAA Regional championships. Allex won the vault NCAA Regional title and finished her career at the NCAA Championship.
The meet is slated for a 6 p.m. MT start and live stats will be available.
Fans can follow along on Twitter by following @ASUGymnastics. Fans are encouraged to tweet with #WeWill in support of the 2017 Gym Devils.
ABOUT DENVER
The then-No. 14 Pioneers started off the 2107 season with one of their best season openers in program history, posting a 195.875 to defeat Minnesota on the road.
Freshman Maddie Karr took home the all-around title with a 39.500, shattering Denver's previous record for highest all-around score by a freshman in her first meet.
The Pioneers posted a meet-high 49.050 on vault, led by Karr's 9.925 and followed by three scores of 9.800 or higher. On bars Denver scored a total 48.925 with freshman Sam Ogden leading the Pioneers with a 9.850 in her collegiate debut. Karr once again led the Pioneers on floor with a 9.900 to help toward the total of 48.950. Denver finished the meet on beam with a 48.950 with Karr's 9.875 leading the way.
The Pioneers current No. 7 ranking is the second-highest ranking in program history.
ABOUT AIR FORCE
The Falcons kicked off the 2017 season with a 190.875-184.750 win over Winona State to mark the squad's second highest season-opening score since 2013.
Freshman Anna Salamone recorded a debut score of 9.750 on vault to lead the Falcons to an event total of 47.975. On bars, Air Force posted a total 47.950, led by sophomore Analise Howard's 9.775. Junior Casey Bell scored a career-best 9.825 on floor to finish the meet for the Falcons.
ABOUT TEXAS WOMEN'S
Texas Women's University opened the 2017 season on the road at the Arizona Tri-Meet, coming in third place with a 189.500 behind Utah State and the Wildcats.
Junior Schyler Jones claimed the all-around title with a 38.650, including scores of 9.750 and 9.725 on vault and floor, respectively. Jones led the Pioneers on vault to a team-high event score of 48.150. Sophomore Erin Alderman led the team on floor with a 9.775.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gym Devils opened the 2017 campaign on the road at Iowa State, posting a total 191.800.
A 48.225 team score on bars was the highest event score for ASU in the meet. Freshman Ashely Szafranski made her collegiate debut and led the Gym Devils with a 9.725. New Sun Devil and junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson followed with a 9.675.
Sophomore Morgan Wilson tied a career high 9.700 on vault to lead the Gym Devils on the event after missing most of last season with an injury. Freshman Jessica Ginn debuted with a 9.650.
Three Sun Devils posted a 9.7+ on beam, led by Szafranski's second team-high of the meet, a 9.750. Sophomore Justine Callis posted a 9.725 followed by Christopherson's 9.700. On floor, Christopherson posted a team high 9.725.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil will compete in Wells Fargo Arena for the first time in the 2017 season, facing UC Davis on Saturday, Jan. 21. The meet is a dual meet with the men's gymnastics team facing Illinois.
The meet is slated for a 4 p.m. MT start, and will be live streamed on TheSunDevils.com.
2017 EVENT LEADERS
Vault
Sophomore Morgan Wilson tied a career high 9.700 in the 2017 season opener against Iowa State after missing most of last season with an injury. Freshman Jessica Ginn made her Sun Devil debut with a 9.650.
Bars
Freshman Ashley Szafranski made her collegiate debut against Iowa State with a team-high 9.725 on bars. Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson followed with a 9.675.
Beam
Freshman Ashley Szafranski led the Gym Devils again in the season opener with a 9.750 on beam. Sophomore Justine Callis came close to her career high with a 9.725.
Floor
Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson led the Gym Devils with a 9.725 on floor in the season opener, followed by freshman Morgan Hart's 9.600.
THE 2017 RETURNERS
ASU returns seven gymnasts from last year's lineup, with senior Beka Conrad ready to lead the program. Also back are six sophomores who made immediate impact in last season's squad: Corinne Belkoff, Justine Callis, Eileen Imbus, Katelyn Lentz, Heather Udowitch, and Morgan Wilson.
THE 2017 NEWCOMERS
The Gym Devils will field another young roster in 2017 with seven freshman expected to contribute to the lineup: Averie Brook (Houston, Texas/World Champions Centre), Jessica Ginn (Chandler, Ariz./Desert Lights Gymnastics), Morgan Hart (Las Vegas, Nev./Browns Gymnastics), Mekayla Jones (Birmingham, Ala./JamJev Gymnastics), Graycee Rushton (Gilbert, Ariz./Arizona Dynamics Gymnastics), Ashley Szafranski (Orefield, Pa./Parkettes), and Alex Wilson (Denver, Colo./Tigar Gymnastics). The 2017 squad will also feature junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson (Michigan), who brings high-level experience from both club and college.
THE 2017 SCHEDULE
ASU is set for another rigorous schedule this year, which will include nine teams that finished in the top-25 in 2016.
The Gym Devils open the 2017 season on the road for the first two weeks at Iowa State on Friday, Jan. 6 and at Denver on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. MT.
The Sun Devils will compete at home five times this season, opening on Saturday, Jan. 21 against UC Davis. ASU will also host meets against three Pac-12 foes in February: reigning conference champion UCLA on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m. MT, Stanford on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. MT, and Utah on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. MT.
Other 2017 road matches include the Pac-12 opener at California on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. MT, at Washington on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. MT, and the annual rivalry match at Arizona on Sunday, March 5 at 1 p.m. MT.
ASU will cap the home slate and the regular season on Friday, March 10, hosting a tri-meet with Bridgeport and Sacramento State before traveling to Stanford, Calif. for the 2017 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships on March 18.
GYM DEVILS ON THE PAC-12 NETWORK
Each of ASU's six conference match-ups during the regular season (at California, vs. UCLA, at Washington, vs. Stanford, vs. Utah, at Arizona) will air on the Pac-12 Network. The sessions of the 2017 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships in Stanford, Calif. will also be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
THE 2016 CAMPAIGN
Despite injuries through most of the 2016 season, the Gym Devils finished their season at the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships. Their season-high team score of 194.725 was posted against then-No. 15 California on Feb. 16.
Following the conference championship, the then-senior duo of Taylor Allex (vault, floor) and Allie Salas (all-around) qualified to compete as individuals at the NCAA Regional championships. Allex won the vault NCAA Regional title and finished her career at the NCAA Championship.