TEMPE, Ariz.—The Arizona State women's gymnastics team (2-4, 0-1 Pac-12) returns home to Wells Fargo Arena to face the No. 5 UCLA Bruins (2-1, 1-0 Pac-12) on Saturday, Feb. 4. The meet is slated for a 1:30 p.m. MT start and will be televised on the Pac-12 Network. Jim Watson and Amanda Borden will be on the call.
Saturday's meet is part of Sun Devil Athletics' green initiatives to drive fan awareness of sustainability and best practices. See below for facts and figures on the campaign and ASU's impact on sustainability.
Fans can follow along on Twitter by following @ASUGymnastics. Fans are encouraged to tweet with #WeWill in support of the 2017 Gym Devils.
ABOUT UCLA
The then-No. 8 Bruins hit a season-high 197.325 in a victory over Pac-12 foe Oregon State, capped by 2012 Olympian and freshman Kyla Ross' perfect 10 on bars, the first of her career.
All six Bruins in the bars line-up posted scores of 9.800 or higher, culminating to a total 49.550, their highest bars score since the 2010 NCAA Regionals. Redshirt senior Christine Peng-Peng Lee nearly matched Ross' perfect bar score with her 9.950. On vault, Ross continued to roll with her stuck vault, earning her a 9.925. Fellow Olympian and freshman Madison Kocian recorded a 9.875, helping the Bruins to a total 49.225 on the event.
UCLA scored a season-high 49.200 on floor, led by Kocian's 9.925 and junior JaNay Honest's 9.875. They counted five scores of 9.850 or better on beam to score a total 49.350, paced by Lee's winning 9.925.
Kocian won the all-around for the second time this season, scoring a career-high 39.525.
GREEN GAME ASU
To promote Sun Devil Athletics' green initiatives while driving fan awareness of sustainability and its best practices. Arizona State University was the first school in the country to offer a degree in sustainability and the University prides itself on being a national leader in the sector. Sun Devil Athletics green games will leverage the high-profile platform of athletics events to inform our fan base and highlight sustainable practices.
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE AT ASU
Sustainability is one of the pillars of Arizona State University, and Sun Devil Athletics prides itself with aligning the department to minimize its carbon footprint. Athletics provides a unique opportunity to promote sustainability at our University, and Sun Devil Athletics has fully embraced the opportunity to advance sustainable practices as an institution and with our fans.
In June of 2016, USG and NACDA named Arizona State the most sustainable athletics department for its innovative and creative sustainable practices. Basketball's Weatherup Center has the distinction of being named the first athletic practice facility in the nation to become LEED-certified. Wells Fargo Arena became the first installed and operational LED-lit Power Five athletic facility, increasing lighting by 25 percent and reducing energy consumption by 75 percent. Additionally, ASU boasts the most solar panels out of any university in the country to harness the Valley's 300-plus days of sunshine.
ZERO WASTE INITIATIVES AT ASU
•Arizona State harnesses energy from 81,424 solar panels, the most of any university in the country. In FY16, ASU generated 41,305,722 kWh of energy from the sun, enough to power over 3,100 Arizona homes for the entire year (40% of Tempe campus during peak demand). Softball stadium solar panels generate energy and provide shade to spectators, using Phoenix's 300-plus days of sunshine (local resource) to create energy.
•Every ticketed sport hosts a green game to put promotion behind the zero waste initiative. Have seen diversion results (waste from event thrown into recycle/compost instead of trash) in the 90% range when events are publicized.
•Participated in Pac-12 Game Day Challenge, where teams take snapshots of their Zero Waste success and compete against other Pac-12 schools for most sustainable school in the conference. This year ASU placed first in the Pac-12 for the school that creates the least waste per fan.
•Wells Fargo Arena was the first operational LED-lit Power Five athletic facility in the nation, increasing lighting levels by 25% and reducing energy consumption by 75%. Exceeds the 125-vertical foot candle measurement needed for NCAA broadcast standards, and will factor into championship selections for ASU. The total 10-year savings with the new lighting is $357,000.
•LEED Certification of Weatherup Practice Facility (Basketball)/Sun Devil Stadium: Weatherup is the first athletic practice facility in the nation to become LEED-certified (v2+ Gold), solar panels provide 45% of energy, and the facility is made with renewable wood flooring and recycled/locally manufactured products.
•Sun Devil athletics worked with concessionaire Sodexo on sustainable practices and since February 2013, the majority of products sold by SDA are recyclable and compostable.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gym Devils hit a new season-high, but fell short to the No. 15 California Bears Saturday night in Haas Pavilion by a total 193.575 to Cal's 196.025.
Sophomore Morgan Wilson hit a career high of 9.725 on vault to lead the Gym Devils to a total 48.375. Freshman Jessica Ginn posted the same score as Wilson, while sophomore Katelyn Lentz recorded a 9.700 for her vault. Junior Nichelle Christopherson posted a career high 9.625.
The Gym Devils were led on bars by sophomore Eileen Imbus with a score of 9.750. Freshman Ashley Szafranski recorded a 9.725. Christopherson had a clean bar routine for a 9.700. ASU posted a total 48.450 on the event.
Four Gym Devils recorded scores of 9.700 or better on floor leading to an event total 48.550. The sophomore duo of Corinne Belkoff and Lentz paced the Gym Devils on floor as they hit a pair of 9.750s for new season highs. Christopherson posted a 9.725 while freshman Mekayla Jones scored a 9.700.
On beam, Szafranski tied her career high of 9.750 to help lead the Gym Devils along with Lentz who posted an identical score and a season high on the event. Sophomore Heather Udowitch hit a 9.725 and senior Beka Conrad recorded a 9.700 to add to the team event total of 48.200.
In the all-around, Lentz won her first title of the season with a season-high 38.575. Christopherson posted her own season high in the all-around with a 38.375.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil will travel to Seattle, Wash. to face the No. 18 Washington Huskies in Alaska Airlines Arena on Saturday, Feb. 11.
The meet is slated for a 3:00 p.m. MT start and will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
ASU'S 2017 EVENT LEADERS
Vault
Freshman Jessica Ginn scored a career high 9.800 in the Denver Quad Meet to lead the Gym Devils. Sophomores Katelyn Lentz and Morgan Wilson share the second highest team scores of the season with a pair of 9.750s.
Bars
Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson holds the two highest bar scores for the Gym Devils. She recorded a season high 9.825 in Denver and followed with a 9.800 the next week at home against UC Davis. Sophomore Eileen Imbus and freshman Ashley Szafranski have season highs of 9.775.
Beam
Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson once again leads the Gym Devils with the two highest beam scores. She scored a career high 9.850 on beam at Denver and then added a 9.800 the next week at home against UC Davis. Senior Beka Conrad posted a season best 9.775 in the Denver Quad Meet.
Floor
Freshman Morgan Hart scored a career best 9.800 in Denver to hold the highest floor score for the Gym Devils. Freshman Mekayla Jones posted a career high 9.775 in the home opener against UC Davis.
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.
Saturday's meet is part of Sun Devil Athletics' green initiatives to drive fan awareness of sustainability and best practices. See below for facts and figures on the campaign and ASU's impact on sustainability.
Fans can follow along on Twitter by following @ASUGymnastics. Fans are encouraged to tweet with #WeWill in support of the 2017 Gym Devils.
ABOUT UCLA
The then-No. 8 Bruins hit a season-high 197.325 in a victory over Pac-12 foe Oregon State, capped by 2012 Olympian and freshman Kyla Ross' perfect 10 on bars, the first of her career.
All six Bruins in the bars line-up posted scores of 9.800 or higher, culminating to a total 49.550, their highest bars score since the 2010 NCAA Regionals. Redshirt senior Christine Peng-Peng Lee nearly matched Ross' perfect bar score with her 9.950. On vault, Ross continued to roll with her stuck vault, earning her a 9.925. Fellow Olympian and freshman Madison Kocian recorded a 9.875, helping the Bruins to a total 49.225 on the event.
UCLA scored a season-high 49.200 on floor, led by Kocian's 9.925 and junior JaNay Honest's 9.875. They counted five scores of 9.850 or better on beam to score a total 49.350, paced by Lee's winning 9.925.
Kocian won the all-around for the second time this season, scoring a career-high 39.525.
GREEN GAME ASU
To promote Sun Devil Athletics' green initiatives while driving fan awareness of sustainability and its best practices. Arizona State University was the first school in the country to offer a degree in sustainability and the University prides itself on being a national leader in the sector. Sun Devil Athletics green games will leverage the high-profile platform of athletics events to inform our fan base and highlight sustainable practices.
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE AT ASU
Sustainability is one of the pillars of Arizona State University, and Sun Devil Athletics prides itself with aligning the department to minimize its carbon footprint. Athletics provides a unique opportunity to promote sustainability at our University, and Sun Devil Athletics has fully embraced the opportunity to advance sustainable practices as an institution and with our fans.
In June of 2016, USG and NACDA named Arizona State the most sustainable athletics department for its innovative and creative sustainable practices. Basketball's Weatherup Center has the distinction of being named the first athletic practice facility in the nation to become LEED-certified. Wells Fargo Arena became the first installed and operational LED-lit Power Five athletic facility, increasing lighting by 25 percent and reducing energy consumption by 75 percent. Additionally, ASU boasts the most solar panels out of any university in the country to harness the Valley's 300-plus days of sunshine.
ZERO WASTE INITIATIVES AT ASU
•Arizona State harnesses energy from 81,424 solar panels, the most of any university in the country. In FY16, ASU generated 41,305,722 kWh of energy from the sun, enough to power over 3,100 Arizona homes for the entire year (40% of Tempe campus during peak demand). Softball stadium solar panels generate energy and provide shade to spectators, using Phoenix's 300-plus days of sunshine (local resource) to create energy.
•Every ticketed sport hosts a green game to put promotion behind the zero waste initiative. Have seen diversion results (waste from event thrown into recycle/compost instead of trash) in the 90% range when events are publicized.
•Participated in Pac-12 Game Day Challenge, where teams take snapshots of their Zero Waste success and compete against other Pac-12 schools for most sustainable school in the conference. This year ASU placed first in the Pac-12 for the school that creates the least waste per fan.
•Wells Fargo Arena was the first operational LED-lit Power Five athletic facility in the nation, increasing lighting levels by 25% and reducing energy consumption by 75%. Exceeds the 125-vertical foot candle measurement needed for NCAA broadcast standards, and will factor into championship selections for ASU. The total 10-year savings with the new lighting is $357,000.
•LEED Certification of Weatherup Practice Facility (Basketball)/Sun Devil Stadium: Weatherup is the first athletic practice facility in the nation to become LEED-certified (v2+ Gold), solar panels provide 45% of energy, and the facility is made with renewable wood flooring and recycled/locally manufactured products.
•Sun Devil athletics worked with concessionaire Sodexo on sustainable practices and since February 2013, the majority of products sold by SDA are recyclable and compostable.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gym Devils hit a new season-high, but fell short to the No. 15 California Bears Saturday night in Haas Pavilion by a total 193.575 to Cal's 196.025.
Sophomore Morgan Wilson hit a career high of 9.725 on vault to lead the Gym Devils to a total 48.375. Freshman Jessica Ginn posted the same score as Wilson, while sophomore Katelyn Lentz recorded a 9.700 for her vault. Junior Nichelle Christopherson posted a career high 9.625.
The Gym Devils were led on bars by sophomore Eileen Imbus with a score of 9.750. Freshman Ashley Szafranski recorded a 9.725. Christopherson had a clean bar routine for a 9.700. ASU posted a total 48.450 on the event.
Four Gym Devils recorded scores of 9.700 or better on floor leading to an event total 48.550. The sophomore duo of Corinne Belkoff and Lentz paced the Gym Devils on floor as they hit a pair of 9.750s for new season highs. Christopherson posted a 9.725 while freshman Mekayla Jones scored a 9.700.
On beam, Szafranski tied her career high of 9.750 to help lead the Gym Devils along with Lentz who posted an identical score and a season high on the event. Sophomore Heather Udowitch hit a 9.725 and senior Beka Conrad recorded a 9.700 to add to the team event total of 48.200.
In the all-around, Lentz won her first title of the season with a season-high 38.575. Christopherson posted her own season high in the all-around with a 38.375.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil will travel to Seattle, Wash. to face the No. 18 Washington Huskies in Alaska Airlines Arena on Saturday, Feb. 11.
The meet is slated for a 3:00 p.m. MT start and will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
ASU'S 2017 EVENT LEADERS
Vault
Freshman Jessica Ginn scored a career high 9.800 in the Denver Quad Meet to lead the Gym Devils. Sophomores Katelyn Lentz and Morgan Wilson share the second highest team scores of the season with a pair of 9.750s.
Bars
Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson holds the two highest bar scores for the Gym Devils. She recorded a season high 9.825 in Denver and followed with a 9.800 the next week at home against UC Davis. Sophomore Eileen Imbus and freshman Ashley Szafranski have season highs of 9.775.
Beam
Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson once again leads the Gym Devils with the two highest beam scores. She scored a career high 9.850 on beam at Denver and then added a 9.800 the next week at home against UC Davis. Senior Beka Conrad posted a season best 9.775 in the Denver Quad Meet.
Floor
Freshman Morgan Hart scored a career best 9.800 in Denver to hold the highest floor score for the Gym Devils. Freshman Mekayla Jones posted a career high 9.775 in the home opener against UC Davis.
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.