TEMPE – Sun Devil Gymnastics opened the 2024 season with a victory, scoring a 195.725 en route to a win over Central Michigan on Monday night in Desert Financial Arena.
Notable Stats
Quotes
Arizona State Head Coach Jay Santos:
Opening Statement:
"It's one of those that we were close to putting it together. First meet of the year, there were definitely some nerves, some things that changed a little bit from what we've been doing in the gym and practicing. Those first two rotations were good but a little shaky, we left a lot out there. I thought we settled in on beam really well and that was pretty strong. Then a couple mistakes on floor, and we didn't quite finish that meet. I think if we had that one more hit and put together a nice start and things like that. To me, it's still a good start and it could've been a really good start. We just have to go from here, keep working, clean up a few more things and hit a meet."
On his takeaways today going into their first away meet:
"I want them to settle in, especially on vault and bars. They got a little tentative and changed a little bit from how they were practicing. We had some really sharp practices last week. So I think they have to trust their training that they've been doing and all the work they've put in and really get after the routines they're capable of doing and I think we'll see some great stuff there. We've got to be able to close out the meet and finish. You prepare forever, you get here and aren't exactly sure what you're going to get, but we came really close so I think there's plenty of positives but a lot of room to build on."
On the performance in the exhibitions and today's meet and how it affects the early part of the season:
"It's great information. Some of them were there to see how things went and see how this routine goes. A lot of those routines are going to be in the mix whether it's sooner or later. Some of those routines did a really nice job, and they'll work their way in. It was great to see Halle's floor routine and things like that. We'll see them."
Graduate Hannah Scharf
On how it felt to be out there in the start to her final season:
"It felt really great. I was just really trying to soak in every moment of it and just have fun with the girls. This was the last first one for me. So, it just felt really good to be in front of the crowd again and having fun with the girls."
On what was going through her mind all the way through her floor routine:
"I was just trying to stay in the moment. The person in front of you doesn't necessarily affect your own routine. So, just focusing on my keywords, trying to do how I would do in practice and as if we didn't have any mistakes in the beginning of the lineup."
On what she's most looking forward to now that the season has started:
"Building off of each meet and just getting better every weekend. I want us to get back to where we were at the end of last season at regionals. I think that was probably our peak. I believe we will get back to where we were and I'm just really excited to show everybody our hard work and what we do in practice."
Senior Cassi Barbanente
On the feeling of being able to compete after missing time due to injury over the last couple seasons:
"To be honest, I was so nervous going into it, but it was more excitement, I think, than nerves. Competing is a feeling like no other. It brings you so much joy and my team had my back. Obviously, they're so excited for me and I was just so excited to be out there representing my team again."
On how her energy impacts her teammates:
"I'm so lucky to be surrounded by, honestly, one of the best groups of girls I think in NCAA gymnastics. And it's easy to keep the energy high when you're surrounded by your best friends. And giving pep talks and just trusting in your teammates and telling them that they got this goes a really long way."
On refocusing the team going into practice after the meet:
"I think it definitely starts with taking the good from the meet today. There was so much good and so much to build off of, especially on those first three events. We had some really strong routines out there. Some freshmen put out really good routines… Building off of that and focusing on finishing the meet stronger and wrapping up the meet."
Final Results
Rotation One: Vault, 49.125
Kicking off the Gym Devils' home opener, Mangahas put up a strong performance on vault with a score of 9.825. Following closely behind in the second and third position, Gregoire scored a 9.775 in her debut and Scharf brought in a 9.850. Following a stumble, Alex Theodorou and Smith put up solid scores to close out the rotation. Theodorou's 9.825 came in clutch while Smith's 9.850 tied the highest score on vault with Scharf for Arizona State.
Rotation Two: Bars, 49.175
In the second rotation, Gracie Reeves opened up on bars with a 9.825. With the highest score for the Sun Devils in the second position, Barbamente's 9.875 propelled the Sun Devils forward. Mangahas and Emily White also put up great performances with Mangahas earning a 9.850 and White putting up a 9.825.
Rotation Three: Beam, 49.100
Clark and Scharf led the Sun Devils on beam when it was most needed. Clark's 9.875 and Scharf's 9.850 were the highest scores for Arizona State. Reeves and White both put up 9.800s to help push the Devils along.
Rotation Four: Floor, 48.325
In her collegiate debut, Purler posted a 9.750 in the lead-off position for the Sun Devils. It was also Kimberly Smith's first time competing on floor and she earned a 9.825. Mangahas and Scharf both finished strong for the Devils after a pair of falls. Mangahas' 9.850 in the fifth position and Scharf's 9.875 anchor performance rounded out the meet for Arizona State.
Up Next
The Gym Devils will hit the road to compete at No. 6 Denver on Sunday at 2 p.m. MST.
Notable Stats
- Arizona State (1-0) opened up the season with a 195.725. The team extended streaks of 49-plus on vault (11), bars (10) and beam (4), dating back to last season.
- Graduate Hannah Scharf started her final season strong, winning event titles on vault (9.850) and floor (9.875). She also added a 9.850 on beam.
- Seniors Anaya Smith and Sarah Clark won event titles as well. Smith matched Scharf's score on vault with a 9.850 and Clark notched a 9.875 on beam.
- Making her first appearance on bars since 2021, senior Cassi Barbanente scored a 9.875 to lead all Sun Devils on that event.
- Senior Jada Mangahas had a solid outing, scoring at least a 9.825 on all three of her events. She had a 9.825 on vault and then 9.850s on bars and floor.
- Freshmen Halle Gregoire and Lilia Purler made their collegiate debuts. Gregoire scored a 9.775 on vault and Purler earned a 9.750 on floor.
- Another event debut came from sophomore Kimberly Smith, who competed on floor for the first time in her career. She scored a 9.825.
????#GymDevils /// #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/wbP9NAOFBW
— Sun Devil Gymnastics (@SunDevilGym) January 9, 2024
Quotes
Arizona State Head Coach Jay Santos:
Opening Statement:
"It's one of those that we were close to putting it together. First meet of the year, there were definitely some nerves, some things that changed a little bit from what we've been doing in the gym and practicing. Those first two rotations were good but a little shaky, we left a lot out there. I thought we settled in on beam really well and that was pretty strong. Then a couple mistakes on floor, and we didn't quite finish that meet. I think if we had that one more hit and put together a nice start and things like that. To me, it's still a good start and it could've been a really good start. We just have to go from here, keep working, clean up a few more things and hit a meet."
On his takeaways today going into their first away meet:
"I want them to settle in, especially on vault and bars. They got a little tentative and changed a little bit from how they were practicing. We had some really sharp practices last week. So I think they have to trust their training that they've been doing and all the work they've put in and really get after the routines they're capable of doing and I think we'll see some great stuff there. We've got to be able to close out the meet and finish. You prepare forever, you get here and aren't exactly sure what you're going to get, but we came really close so I think there's plenty of positives but a lot of room to build on."
On the performance in the exhibitions and today's meet and how it affects the early part of the season:
"It's great information. Some of them were there to see how things went and see how this routine goes. A lot of those routines are going to be in the mix whether it's sooner or later. Some of those routines did a really nice job, and they'll work their way in. It was great to see Halle's floor routine and things like that. We'll see them."
STICK from @hannahscharf_ for a 9.850!
— Sun Devil Gymnastics (@SunDevilGym) January 9, 2024
???: Pac-12 Insider#GymDevils /// #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/WegsCvnKkn
Graduate Hannah Scharf
On how it felt to be out there in the start to her final season:
"It felt really great. I was just really trying to soak in every moment of it and just have fun with the girls. This was the last first one for me. So, it just felt really good to be in front of the crowd again and having fun with the girls."
On what was going through her mind all the way through her floor routine:
"I was just trying to stay in the moment. The person in front of you doesn't necessarily affect your own routine. So, just focusing on my keywords, trying to do how I would do in practice and as if we didn't have any mistakes in the beginning of the lineup."
On what she's most looking forward to now that the season has started:
"Building off of each meet and just getting better every weekend. I want us to get back to where we were at the end of last season at regionals. I think that was probably our peak. I believe we will get back to where we were and I'm just really excited to show everybody our hard work and what we do in practice."
STICK from @hannahscharf_ for a 9.850!
— Sun Devil Gymnastics (@SunDevilGym) January 9, 2024
???: Pac-12 Insider#GymDevils /// #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/WegsCvnKkn
Senior Cassi Barbanente
On the feeling of being able to compete after missing time due to injury over the last couple seasons:
"To be honest, I was so nervous going into it, but it was more excitement, I think, than nerves. Competing is a feeling like no other. It brings you so much joy and my team had my back. Obviously, they're so excited for me and I was just so excited to be out there representing my team again."
On how her energy impacts her teammates:
"I'm so lucky to be surrounded by, honestly, one of the best groups of girls I think in NCAA gymnastics. And it's easy to keep the energy high when you're surrounded by your best friends. And giving pep talks and just trusting in your teammates and telling them that they got this goes a really long way."
On refocusing the team going into practice after the meet:
"I think it definitely starts with taking the good from the meet today. There was so much good and so much to build off of, especially on those first three events. We had some really strong routines out there. Some freshmen put out really good routines… Building off of that and focusing on finishing the meet stronger and wrapping up the meet."
Final Results
- Arizona State, 195.725
- Central Michigan, 195.125
Rotation One: Vault, 49.125
Kicking off the Gym Devils' home opener, Mangahas put up a strong performance on vault with a score of 9.825. Following closely behind in the second and third position, Gregoire scored a 9.775 in her debut and Scharf brought in a 9.850. Following a stumble, Alex Theodorou and Smith put up solid scores to close out the rotation. Theodorou's 9.825 came in clutch while Smith's 9.850 tied the highest score on vault with Scharf for Arizona State.
Rotation Two: Bars, 49.175
In the second rotation, Gracie Reeves opened up on bars with a 9.825. With the highest score for the Sun Devils in the second position, Barbamente's 9.875 propelled the Sun Devils forward. Mangahas and Emily White also put up great performances with Mangahas earning a 9.850 and White putting up a 9.825.
Rotation Three: Beam, 49.100
Clark and Scharf led the Sun Devils on beam when it was most needed. Clark's 9.875 and Scharf's 9.850 were the highest scores for Arizona State. Reeves and White both put up 9.800s to help push the Devils along.
It's a 9.875 for @saarahclark ??
— Sun Devil Gymnastics (@SunDevilGym) January 9, 2024
???: Pac-12 Insider#GymDevils /// #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/MMdJkhs09z
Rotation Four: Floor, 48.325
In her collegiate debut, Purler posted a 9.750 in the lead-off position for the Sun Devils. It was also Kimberly Smith's first time competing on floor and she earned a 9.825. Mangahas and Scharf both finished strong for the Devils after a pair of falls. Mangahas' 9.850 in the fifth position and Scharf's 9.875 anchor performance rounded out the meet for Arizona State.
Huge opening pass from Kimmy ?? She scores a 9.825 in her first collegiate appearance on floor!
— Sun Devil Gymnastics (@SunDevilGym) January 9, 2024
???: Pac-12 Insider#GymDevils /// #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/9qCA3gOVQX
Up Next
The Gym Devils will hit the road to compete at No. 6 Denver on Sunday at 2 p.m. MST.