By Diana Ly, SDA Media Relations Student Assistant
TEMPE, Ariz. – Having recorded the highest all-around tally of any freshman in collegiate gymnastics through two weeks of competition, Cairo Leonard-Baker has garnered Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Week honors, as announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon. The conference recognition marks the first for the Gym Devil program since January 2013, when Natasha Sundby netted Special Performance of the Week.
Leonard-Baker shined in Arizona State's meet with No. 16 West Virginia on Sunday, improving her scores on each event from her Gym Devil debut on Jan. 6. Posting an all-around score of 39.425 the newcomer helped propel No. 14 Arizona State to a 196.475-195.875 victory over the hosting Mountaineers. In the effort, the Oakland, Calif. native also captured the bars (9.925) and floor (9.900) crowns. Her 39.425 mark constitutes the best all-around score for Arizona State since Mary Atkinson notched a 39.500 on Feb. 19, 2010.
Led by the efforts of Leonard-Baker, Arizona State recorded an exceptional 196.475, marking the program's best team tally since March 2, 2007 when the Gym Devils recorded a 196.525 in a victory over Washington in Tempe. Sunday's total also accounted for the 26th best team total in program history.
Utah's MyKayla Skinner was named Gymnast of the Week and UCLA's Christine Peng-Peng Lee nabbed Specialist of the Week honors.
The Gym Devils returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 20, opening their Pac-12 slate at No. 20 Stanford.
Also Nominated:
Gymnast of the Week: Sabrina Gill, OSU; Kyla Ross, UCLA; Cairo Leonard-Baker, ASU; Elizabeth Price, STAN.
Specialist of the Week: Alma Kuc, CAL; Ashley Szafranski, ASU; Alma Kuc, CAL; Dani Dessaints, OSU; Kaylee Cole, STAN.
Freshman / Newcomer of the Week: Nia Dennis, UCLA; Kaitlyn Yanish, OSU; Kyla Bryant, STAN.
TEMPE, Ariz. – Having recorded the highest all-around tally of any freshman in collegiate gymnastics through two weeks of competition, Cairo Leonard-Baker has garnered Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Week honors, as announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon. The conference recognition marks the first for the Gym Devil program since January 2013, when Natasha Sundby netted Special Performance of the Week.
Leonard-Baker shined in Arizona State's meet with No. 16 West Virginia on Sunday, improving her scores on each event from her Gym Devil debut on Jan. 6. Posting an all-around score of 39.425 the newcomer helped propel No. 14 Arizona State to a 196.475-195.875 victory over the hosting Mountaineers. In the effort, the Oakland, Calif. native also captured the bars (9.925) and floor (9.900) crowns. Her 39.425 mark constitutes the best all-around score for Arizona State since Mary Atkinson notched a 39.500 on Feb. 19, 2010.
Led by the efforts of Leonard-Baker, Arizona State recorded an exceptional 196.475, marking the program's best team tally since March 2, 2007 when the Gym Devils recorded a 196.525 in a victory over Washington in Tempe. Sunday's total also accounted for the 26th best team total in program history.
Utah's MyKayla Skinner was named Gymnast of the Week and UCLA's Christine Peng-Peng Lee nabbed Specialist of the Week honors.
The Gym Devils returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 20, opening their Pac-12 slate at No. 20 Stanford.
Also Nominated:
Gymnast of the Week: Sabrina Gill, OSU; Kyla Ross, UCLA; Cairo Leonard-Baker, ASU; Elizabeth Price, STAN.
Specialist of the Week: Alma Kuc, CAL; Ashley Szafranski, ASU; Alma Kuc, CAL; Dani Dessaints, OSU; Kaylee Cole, STAN.
Freshman / Newcomer of the Week: Nia Dennis, UCLA; Kaitlyn Yanish, OSU; Kyla Bryant, STAN.