TEMPE, Ariz. – With a season-best performance on display and ASU wrestling on the mat next to them in Wells Fargo Arena, No. 20 Arizona State gymnastics battled back and forth with No. 12 Oregon State on Friday night, ultimately losing by a slim margin, 196.650 to 196.625.
From start to finish, the meet was a tight race. ASU trailed after the first rotation, tied it after the second and took the lead after the third. However, the Beavers clinched the narrow win with a 49.150 on beam.
"We finally put a meet together," Arizona State head coach Jay Santos said. "We were finally able to put it all together. They did a great job from start to finish tonight. They were very aggressive right from the first vault they went after it. There was no let down like we've had a couple of weeks in the past. We've been talking about doing this for a month now and we finally put it together and thankfully we got a good result."
This was the first time this season the Gym Devils (6-7) scored a 49.000 or better in each event. The best score came on floor with a 49.200, but the vault score of 49.150 was a season-high in that event. The team score is the best ASU has reached since a 196.725 against Arizona last season.
Cairo Leonard-Baker scored a season-high 39.550 in the all-around, taking the title over her teammate Anne Kuhm. Leonard-Baker scored a 9.850 or better in every event, her best score coming on bars with a 9.925 that earned her the individual title. She had the best scores in vault, bars and floor.
Following the meet, the six seniors were celebrated: Corinne Belkoff, Justine Callis, Anne Kuhm, Katelyn Lentz, Kaitlyn Szafranski and Heather Udowitch. Aside from Lentz who is not competing due to injury, all five seniors contributed to tonight's strong team score.
With wrestling happening at the same time as gymnastics, the environment in Wells Fargo Arena was a unique experience.
"I thought it was great," Santos said. "Between 942 Crew and the crowd in general, I thought the energy was really good and we had a fun environment tonight."
Final Results:
Rotation One – Vault | 49.150
The meet got started on the right foot for the Sun Devils, scoring a season-best 49.150 in this event. All five scores that counted were a 9.800 or better. Leonard-Baker led the way with a 9.875, followed by a strong 9.850 from Morgan Wilson.
Rotation Two – Bars | 49.125
Leonard-Baker earned a 9.925 in the anchor spot on bars, her third-straight meet with that score. She won the individual title for bars with that score. Kuhm scored a 9.875, continuing her trend of strong bars scores. She has scored a 9.800 or better in the last seven meets.
Rotation Three – Beam | 49.150
Like vault, beam saw all five scores that counted go for 9.800-plus. Senior Justine Callis led the way with her 9.875. Back in the lineup for the first time in three weeks, Heather Udowitch scored a 9.800 in her triumphant return.
Rotation Four – Floor | 49.200
Three seniors brought some of their best to the floor in the final rotation with the meet on the line. Callis scored a season-high 9.825, followed by Kuhm's strong 9.875 routine. Kaitlyn Szafranski earned a 9.825 to set up Leonard-Baker for the last routine. The sophomore scored a 9.900, her fourth score reaching that mark or better this year.
The Gym Devils are back on the road next week. They will travel to Pennsylvania to compete in a quad meet with Penn State, Cornell and Yale.
From start to finish, the meet was a tight race. ASU trailed after the first rotation, tied it after the second and took the lead after the third. However, the Beavers clinched the narrow win with a 49.150 on beam.
"We finally put a meet together," Arizona State head coach Jay Santos said. "We were finally able to put it all together. They did a great job from start to finish tonight. They were very aggressive right from the first vault they went after it. There was no let down like we've had a couple of weeks in the past. We've been talking about doing this for a month now and we finally put it together and thankfully we got a good result."
The #GymDevils scored a SEASON-HIGH 1??9??6??.6??2??5?? in a narrow loss to No. 12 Oregon State. #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/PINFnptKpQ
— Sun Devil Gymnastics (@SunDevilGym) February 23, 2019
This was the first time this season the Gym Devils (6-7) scored a 49.000 or better in each event. The best score came on floor with a 49.200, but the vault score of 49.150 was a season-high in that event. The team score is the best ASU has reached since a 196.725 against Arizona last season.
Cairo Leonard-Baker scored a season-high 39.550 in the all-around, taking the title over her teammate Anne Kuhm. Leonard-Baker scored a 9.850 or better in every event, her best score coming on bars with a 9.925 that earned her the individual title. She had the best scores in vault, bars and floor.
Following the meet, the six seniors were celebrated: Corinne Belkoff, Justine Callis, Anne Kuhm, Katelyn Lentz, Kaitlyn Szafranski and Heather Udowitch. Aside from Lentz who is not competing due to injury, all five seniors contributed to tonight's strong team score.
With wrestling happening at the same time as gymnastics, the environment in Wells Fargo Arena was a unique experience.
"I thought it was great," Santos said. "Between 942 Crew and the crowd in general, I thought the energy was really good and we had a fun environment tonight."
Final Results:
- No. 12 Oregon State, 196.650
- No. 20 Arizona State, 196.625
Rotation One – Vault | 49.150
The meet got started on the right foot for the Sun Devils, scoring a season-best 49.150 in this event. All five scores that counted were a 9.800 or better. Leonard-Baker led the way with a 9.875, followed by a strong 9.850 from Morgan Wilson.
WHAT A START??
— Sun Devil Gymnastics (@SunDevilGym) February 23, 2019
Five scored a 9.800 or better for a season-best vault score of 49.150!!#GymDevils | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/DVKJAdVqz6
Rotation Two – Bars | 49.125
Leonard-Baker earned a 9.925 in the anchor spot on bars, her third-straight meet with that score. She won the individual title for bars with that score. Kuhm scored a 9.875, continuing her trend of strong bars scores. She has scored a 9.800 or better in the last seven meets.
Another meet, another fantastic bars score for Cairo! ??
— Sun Devil Gymnastics (@SunDevilGym) February 23, 2019
She scored a team-best 9?.9?2?5?, her third-straight meet with that score! #GymDevils | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/TtiWginVAO
Rotation Three – Beam | 49.150
Like vault, beam saw all five scores that counted go for 9.800-plus. Senior Justine Callis led the way with her 9.875. Back in the lineup for the first time in three weeks, Heather Udowitch scored a 9.800 in her triumphant return.
Senior night shine! ?
— Sun Devil Gymnastics (@SunDevilGym) February 23, 2019
Justine Callis scored a 9?.8?7?5? on beam to cap off the third rotation! #GymDevils pic.twitter.com/Ze9H8KEemH
Rotation Four – Floor | 49.200
Three seniors brought some of their best to the floor in the final rotation with the meet on the line. Callis scored a season-high 9.825, followed by Kuhm's strong 9.875 routine. Kaitlyn Szafranski earned a 9.825 to set up Leonard-Baker for the last routine. The sophomore scored a 9.900, her fourth score reaching that mark or better this year.
Ending the meet with a BANG. ??
— Sun Devil Gymnastics (@SunDevilGym) February 23, 2019
CLB scored a 9?9?0?0? on floor to finish the night for the #GymDevils! pic.twitter.com/R4xmWY3BdI
The Gym Devils are back on the road next week. They will travel to Pennsylvania to compete in a quad meet with Penn State, Cornell and Yale.