No. 17 Arizona State at NCAA University Park Regional | State College, Pa.
Saturday, April 7 | 1 p.m. PT | Rec Hall
Regional Central Page: https://bit.ly/2GRBVZP
Watch: Vault; Bars; Beam; Floor
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/2pXZypE
Purchase Tickets: https://bit.ly/2uMBTNW
No. 17 Gym Devils Set to Make First Regional Appearance Since 2014
The No. 17 Gym Devils will make their first NCAA regional appearance since 2014, slated to venture on a 2,200-mile trek across the country to State College, Penn. for the NCAA Northeast Regional, Saturday, April 7. Slated for a 1 p.m. PT start time, the meet boasts an impressive field including No. 5 Florida, No. 8 Washington, West Virginia, Penn State, and New Hampshire. The region's top two team and all-around (not from an advancing team) performers will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA National Championships. Event winners will advance if they do not qualify as a team or an individual all-arounder.
Regional Seeding | Rotation Order
1. Florida | Floor, Vault, Bye, Bars, Beam, Bye
2. Washington | Beam, Bye, Floor, Vault, Bye, Bars
3. Arizona State | Bye, Floor, Vault, Bye, Bars, Beam
4. West Virginia | Bye, Bars, Beam, Bye, Floor, Vault
5. Penn State | Bars, Beam, Bye, Floor, Vault, Bye
6. New Hampshire | Vault, Bye, Bars, Beam, Bye, Floor
Raising The Bar
• Arizona State has ranked in the Top-20 nationally for 12th consecutive weeks, positioned at No. 17 (RQS) in the regular season final Road to Nationals standings. The Gym Devils currently rank sixth among Pac-12 squads. ASU also ranks in the Top-30 nationally in each event, sitting at 23rd on beam, 24th on vault and bars, and 27th on floor. Prior to the 2018 season, the Gym Devils had not ranked in the Top- 25 since the 2013 season (No. 24) and had not appeared in the Top-15 since 2006 (No. 9).
• The Gym Devils have knocked off four ranked opponents this season — No. 14 Auburn, No. 20 Iowa, No. 14 West Virginia, and No. 20 Stanford — marking the first time since 2006 that the squad has accomplished the feat.
• Arizona State is one of six Pac-12 programs ranked nationally — the No. 17 Gym Devils are joined in the rankings by No. 3 UCLA, No. 4 Utah, No. 8 Washington, No. 9 California, and No. 14 Oregon State.
• Recording team totals of 196.475 at No. 16 West Virginia on Jan. 14, 196.250 at No. 20 Stanford on Jan. 20 and 196.800 vs. California on Jan. 28, the Gym Devils surpassed the 196+ mark in three consecutive meets for the first time since 2006. After recording a 196.575 vs. No. 10 Washington on Feb. 17, a 196.725 vs. Arizona on Feb. 24, a 196.525 at Minnesota on Mar. 3, and a 196.425 at the Pac-12 Championships, the team has now recorded seven 196+ marks in a season for the first time since 2006.
• After eclipsing the mark only four times in 2017, Arizona State has scored 49.000+ in 31 event rotations on the season.
• Arizona State's 196.800 effort in its Pac-12 home opener against California on Jan. 28 constitutes the program's best team tally since the Gym Devils recorded a 197.750 vs. Iowa State on March 10, 2006. It also accounts for the 19th best team total in Gym Devil history.
• Recently crowned Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year and Second-team All-American, Cairo Leonard-Baker, currently ranks in the top-30 nationally on three events including the all-around (15th, 39.470), bars (20th, 9.905), and floor (26th, 9.905). Her RQS in the all-around and on bars mark third overall among freshmen. On a conference basis, Leonard-Baker sits sixth in the all-around and ties for fifth on bars with Cal's Freshman Nina Schank and eighth on floor with Oregon State's Isis Lowery.
• French Olympian Anne Kuhm has made great strides this season and made an immediate impact to the team. She currently ranks in the top-40 nationally in the all-around, jumping to 36th with a 39.330 (RQS).
University Park (Northeast) Regional: Scouting The Opposition
No. 5 Florida (13-4, 5-2 SEC): Jenny Rowland enters her third season as the Florida Gators head coach… Last season, the three-time national and 10x SEC champions qualified to the Super Six Team Final session and placed third overall… Florida's deep roster is led by veterans, Alex McMurtry (15x All-American), Kennedy Baker (11x All-American), Rachel Slocum (two-time All-American), and Alicia Boren (8x All-American). Their roster also includes sophomore stadnouts Amelia Hundley (3x All-American), Rachel Gowey, and Maegan Chant. The Gators welcome a trio of newcomers and former international elites, Alyssa Baumann, Jazmyn Foberg, and Megan Skaggs.
No. 8 Washington (15-9, 4-1 Pac-12): The Washington Huskies are led by head coach, Elise Ray-Statz, who is entering her second season as
head coach and seventh season overall... In her first season (2016-17) at the helm, Ray-Statz led the Huskies to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1998, where their eighth-place overall finish was the program's second-highest ever... Washington's deep roster is led by veterans, Hailey Burleson (All-American), Zoey Schaefer, and Monica Riley. Sophomore sensations also include Maya Washington, Madison Copiak, Evanni Roberson, and Haley Roy. The Huskies welcome a pair of newcomers Geneva Thompson and Hannah Willmarth.
West Virginia (13-13, 0-3 Big 12): Jason Butts enters his fifth year as the head coach for the West Virginia Mountaineers... Last season, West Virginia finished with three consecutive high scores capped by a 196.325 in front of its home crowd at the NCAA Morgantown Regional... The Mountaineers' talented roster features returning veterans Zaakira Muhammad (All-American), Kirah Koshinski (3x All-American), Jordan Gillette, Robyn Bernard, and Jaquie Tun. Underclassmen and newcomers include McKenna Linnen, Abby Kaufman, and Chloe Cluchey.
Penn State (13-14, 1-7 Big Ten): Sarah Brown is entering her first season as the head coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions… Last season, Penn State capped off the year with a fourth place finish (195.325) at the Gainesville Regional in a tough field that included SEC powerhouses, No. 3 Florida, No. 10 Georgia, and No. 15 Missouri. Penn State's talented roster features returning veterans, Briannah Tsang, Mason Hosek, and Sabrina Garcia. Underclassmen include Lauren Bridgens, Kristen Politz, and Tess McCracken.
New Hampshire (15-7, 3-3 EAGL): Gail Goodspeed enters her 39th season as the head coach of the New Hampshire Wildcats… Last season, New Hampshire finished runner-up at the EAGL Championship for the third straight year with a score of 195.075… New Hampshire's seasoned roster includes veterans Casey Lauter, Makenzie Kerouac, Danielle Mulligan, and Danielle Doolin. Underclassmen include Lauren Diggan, Emma Winer, and Riley Freehling.
Field Comparisons (RQS)
Vault: Arizona State (49.065) | Florida (49.445) | Washington (49.105) | West Virginia (49.145)| Penn State (49.030) | New Hampshire (48.910)
Bars: Arizona State (49.165) | Florida (49.470) | Washington (49.220) | West Virginia (48.920) | Penn State (49.275) | New Hampshire (49.045)
Beam: Arizona State (49.135) | Florida (49.440) | Washington (49.345) | West Virginia (49.010) | Penn State (48.855) | New Hampshire (49.170)
Floor: Arizona State (49.185) | Florida (49.420) | Washington (49.350) | West Virginia (49.180) | Penn State (49.170) | New Hampshire (49.065)
All-Around: Arizona State (196.545) | Florida (197.390) | Washington (196.960) | West Virginia (196.070) | Penn State (195.985) | New Hampshire (195.940)
Leonard-Baker and Santos Garner Pac-12 Postseason Awards
As announced by the Conference at the conclusion of the 2018 Pac-12 Championships, the Gym Devils earned two conference recognitions as Freshman standout Cairo Leonard-Baker was named Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, while second-year head coach Jay Santos earned Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors. As voted on by conference coaches, Leonard-Baker became the first gymnast in program history to garner the recognition. She also became the second Gym Devil in program history to earn yearly honors, joining Katie Freeland who netted Gymnast of the Year recognition in 1996. Santos became the 89th head coach in Sun Devil Athletics history to garner Pac-12 honors, while joining Arizona State legend and four-time honoree John Spini in Gym Devil lore. The recognition also marks his second award of his coaching career, after earning the NCAA Central Regional Head Coach of the Year honors at Eastern Michigan in 2016.
Freshman Standout Leonard-Baker Garners Regular Season Second-Team All-American Honors
Fresh off earning Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year honors, Cairo Leonard-Baker garnered regular season All-America second team honors in the all-around, as announced by the National Association of College Gymnastics Coaches (NACGC), Monday, March 28. The Oakland native became the first Gym Devil to earn regular season honors since they were instituted in 2013. She also joined a prestigious list of 27 other Sun Devil gymnasts in program history who have earned All-American honors, including the most recent honoree, Mary Atkinson (first team; vault) in 2010.
Gym Devils Place Program-Best Nine Student-Athletes on Pac-12 All-Academic Teams
The No. 17 Arizona State gymnastics team placed a program-best nine student-athletes on Pac-12 All-Academic teams, as per an announcement made by Commissioner Larry Scott in conjunction with the conference Thursday, March 29. The Gym Devils proved well represented, notching a conference-best four first-team honorees — Nichelle Christopherson, Jessica Ginn, Katelyn Lentz and Heather Udowitch, while receiving a pair of second-team nods from Ashley Szafranski and Morgan Hart. Rounding out the list were honorable mention honorees Justine Callis, Morgan Wilson and Graycee Rushton. Last season, the Gym Devils were one of seven Sun Devil programs recognized as an APR (Academic Progress Report) Top-10 percent performer in 2017 with a perfect score of 1000.
Season Event Bests
• Vault: Team - 49.125 vs. Arizona on Feb. 24 (highest since 2/22/14 against Arizona (49.125)) | Individual - 9.900, Anne Kuhm vs. Arizona on Feb. 24
• Bars: Team - 49.325 vs. California on Jan. 28 (highest since 2/24/06 at UNO's Classic (49.500)) | Individual - 9.950, Cairo Leonard-Baker vs. California on Jan. 28 and vs. Washington on Feb. 17
• Beam: Team - 49.325 at Stanford on Jan. 20 (highest since 3/13/09 at UNO's Classic (49.350)) | Individual - 9.900, Justine Callis vs. Arizona on Feb. 24/Katelyn Lentz at Stanford on Jan. 20/Ashley Szafranski at West Virginia on Jan. 14
• Floor: Team - 49.400 vs. Arizona on Feb. 24 (highest since 3/10/2006 against Iowa State (49.425)) | Individual 9.950, Cairo Leonard-Baker vs. Arizona on Feb. 24
• All-Around: Team - 196.800 vs. California on Jan. 28 (highest since 3/10/06 against Iowa State (197.750)) | Individual - 39.575, Cairo Leonard-Baker vs. California on Jan. 28
In The Rankings
Through 12 weeks of competition, Arizona State maintains its RQS ranking of 17. On an event basis, the Gym Devils rank 24th on vault (49.065), 24th on bars (49.165), 23th on beam (49.135) and 27th on floor (49.185). Week 8 marked the squad's highest jump in the rankings since Week 2 as the Gym Devils moved up four spots to No. 13. In Weeks 5-7 of the season, the Gym Devils ranked No. 17. During Week 4 of the collegiate gymnastics season, the Gym Devils ranked No. 12 as they tallied a 196.800 in their Pac-12 home opener against California, constituting the program's best team tally since it recorded a 197.750 vs. Iowa State on March 10, 2006. It also accounts for the 19th-best team total in Gym Devil history. During Week 3 of the season, the Gym Devils ranked at No. 14. Week 2 constituted the team's highest rank of the season, coming in at No. 11 after the Gym Devils defeated then-No. 16 West Virginia. By virtue of their season-opening 194.674, the Gym Devils concluded Week 1 ranked at No. 14. ASU checked in at No. 31 in the NACGC/W preseason coaches poll released in December, jumping 10 slots from its 2017 postseason ranking of No. 41. The 10-spot move constituted the most significant rise in the rankings over that span. Collectively, the Pac-12 Conference proved well-represented in the rankings as six of its eight programs appeared within the Top-25. Exceeding expectations, Arizona State currently sits sixth in the conference and has jumped two spots from its eighth place finish in the preseason Pac-12 women's gymnastics poll.
Last Time Out
The No. 17 Gym Devils opened the postseason, competing in the afternoon session of the 2018 Pac-12 Championships. Slotted as the second seed in the session, the Maroon and Gold placed in second and sixth overall with an impressive 196.425. This effort marked the Maroon and Gold's best finish at conference championships since 2012. ASU earned victories over Stanford and in-state rival Arizona, while placing behind conference champions, UCLA, followed by Utah, California, and Washington. For the fifth time this season, ASU recorded scores of 49+ on all four events, which included a 49.100, 49.125, 49.075, 49.125 on vault, bars, beam and floor, respectively. At the conclusion of the competition, ASU captured a pair of conference recognitions as Gym Devil freshman standout Cairo Leonard-Baker was named Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, while second-year head coach Jay Santos earned Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors.
Season Prospectus
Announced in October, Arizona State's gauntlet of a 2018 slate sees the Gym Devils take on five programs — Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, Denver and Oregon State — who all advanced to compete in the 2017 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships. In addition to the aforementioned teams, the Gym Devils will face off with five other squads that capped the 2017 season ranked nationally in the Top-25 including Auburn, California, Iowa, Arkansas and West Virginia.
Returners
The Gym Devils return 22 routines and 12 letterwinners from 2017. Senior leader Nichelle Christopherson constitutes the lone senior on the roster while juniors Corinne Belkoff, Justine Callis, Heather Udowitch, Katelyn Lentz and Morgan Wilson return for their respective third seasons with the program. The Gym Devils also return six sophomores in Averie Brook, Jessica Ginn, Morgan Hart, Mekayla Jones, Graycee Rushton, and Ashley Szafranski.
Newcomers
The offseason proved generous for the Gym Devils, who welcomed a pair of high-caliber collegiate transfers in Anne Kuhm (University of Paris-Dauphine, junior) and Kaitlyn Szafranski (Louisiana State University, junior), and a pair of freshmen — Cairo Leonard-Baker (Oakland, Calif.) and Maya Williams (Reistertown, Md.) — expected to elevate the program immediately.
Olympic Flair
Junior Gym Devil Anne Kuhm joins the Arizona State program with international competition experience to her credit. A member of the French national team since 2009, she com- peted in the 2012 London Olympics for Team France, which finished in 11th place. Kuhm was selected as a reserve for the all-around final. She participated in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Test Event, helping France qualify a full team to the Olympics on both occasions. Most recently, Kuhm was selected as an alternate for France in the 2016 Rio Olympics. She also earned further international experience competing for France at the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow. Kuhm is a two-time French national all-around champion (2011 and 2012). She also finished second at the national championships on bars and floor. In 2011, Kuhm was the French Junior National Champion in the all-around.