TEMPE – Behind a season-high 196.600 team score, Sun Devil Gymnastics earned the win over Texas Woman's University's 195.225 in Desert Financial Arena on Friday night.
Notable Stats
Final Results
Rotation One: Vault, 48.975
The Gym Devils kicked off the meet with a solid start on vault. Two of the five scores were a 9.800 or better, generating a 48.975 final score for ASU. Mangahas led the way in scoring, finishing with a 9.850 to win the title. She was followed by Smith's 9.825, a career high.
Rotation Two: Bars, 49.325
Arizona State turned it up a notch and set its best all-around score this season with a 49.325. There were five Gym Devils who recorded a score of 9.850 or better, with Mangahas, White and Clark all finishing with a 9.875. Lee and Kiberly Smith both finished with a 9.850.
Rotation Three: Beam, 49.050
The Sun Devils matched their season high on beam from the last meet with a 49.050. Three Gym Devils reached a score of 9.800 or higher, with White's 9.875 leading the way to secure the event title. Clark finished with a 9.850, followed by Lee who started off first with a 9.800.
Rotation Four: Floor, 49.250
Wrapping off the meet, four Sun Devils reached a score of 9.850 or higher to generate a total 49.250. Purler and White finished with a 9.875, while Braaflat and Smith recorded a 9.850.
Up Next
Arizona State is back home next Friday, hosting No. 4 Utah at 7 p.m. MST. It will be live on ESPN+ and it is on Valentine's Day, encouraging fans to bring their Valentine.
Quotes
Arizona State Head Coach Jay Santos
Opening statement:
"I'm pretty pleased. It's definitely the most complete meet we've had so far this year. We've really been trying to work on being a little more confident, finishing routines and not giving things away. I think we did a better job of that today. We gave away a little bit but not a lot. We didn't have any breaks, and that was another issue we've had. Having a break in the middle of the lineup, kind of breaking that energy down. We were able to hit routines and continue to build today. A lot of the things we wanted to do this week, we were able to do. We still have to continue to finish a little more confidently in a couple of spots, but overall I'm pretty pleased."
On continuing to make progress as the season rolls on:
"We have to keep making progress from week to week. There's always going to be something to work on. There's always going to be something we can improve, and I think we just have to be really honest and diligent with what we're doing in the gym. Really get after those issues and do anything we can do to make that progress. Not just accepting where we're at, but constantly trying to make progress. We can do the next meet a little bit stronger here, a little bit stronger there. We need to find ways to deliver on that and make that happen and not just talk about it."
On the importance of mental health:
"I just think it's important in general in this day and age. But with these athletes, they're put through a lot. There's a lot of pressure, a lot of stress and there's a lot of demands. They are pulled in so many different directions. Everybody needs some help, everyone needs to get picked up sometimes. Everyone needs to be not okay sometimes and just work through it. We have a really great staff. The administration has done a great job of putting a lot more resources into that over the recent years. We have several counselors that work with the group and work with the team, whether it's on just life stuff, performance or whatever it is. We lean into it because it helps them be more confident and it helps them be better."
Junior Kimberly Smith
On being able to mentor the freshman gymnasts:
"Our team is super close, so it's really nice. We're all on the same level, so just being able to talk to them and be vulnerable, it helps a lot. And just using your experience is a big thing because you learn a lot as you go through the years. So being able to relate and look back on your freshman year and just know where they are and use that."
On facing new competition in the Big 12 Conference:
"Our preparation is the same every meet. Jay (Santos) tells us to go in there with confidence and just do our gymnastics. We don't have to reinvent it, he always says. But it's been really fun getting to see new competitors, new schools, new faces, and to show them what ASU is about."
Graduate Jada Mangahas
On the importance of mental health in sports:
"Gymnastics is such a mental sport and people don't realize that. It's cool to spread awareness through gymnastics. A lot of us have gone through mental struggles in our lives and to celebrate the fact that we can be vulnerable once in a while is cool and an honor to be part of mental health awareness."
On how she guides the freshman through mental struggles as a veteran gymnast:
"I use my experience in college as a way to guide them through what they're experiencing right now. I've been here for four years and I have experienced a lot of different things, especially when it comes to mental health struggles and even physical ones. I try to do my best to relate to them in any way I can and show them the way and tell them they're not alone…we're in this together."
On her overall performance:
"I felt really good about it. I have been trying to go out with more confidence. My season started a bit rocky with injuries and everything. It was cool to feel excited and I felt ready today. To have that mindset and that excitement has helped me grow. I'm happy with how I performed on vault and glad everything is clicking and coming together."
Notable Stats
- Arizona State (6-4, 1-1 Big 12) earned its second win in a row by beating Texas Woman's (4-3). ASU has scored a higher team total in every meet this season, building on previous meets each week. This was the first time eclipsing 196 for the team this year.
- The Gym Devils recorded their highest event total this season with a 49.325 on bars. They also matched their season best on floor with a 49.250.
- ASU swept all of the event titles in the win. Emily White won all-around (39.400) and beam (9.875). Jada Mangahas won vault with a 9.850. On bars, Mangahas, White and Sarah Clark tied with a 9.875. On floor, White tied with Lilia Purler, both notching a 9.875.
- A few career highs were earned in the win. Junior Kayla Lee's 9.875 on bars was a personal best. Additionally, freshman Halle Braaflat and junior Lilia Purler had career highs on floor with a 9.850 and 9.875, respectively. On vault, junior Kimberly Smith had a 9.825 for a new career high en route to her all-around career high of 39.250.
- Graduate Mangahas had a strong outing. Her 9.875 on bars is a new season best for her. Additionally, she won the vault title with a 9.850.
- Junior Isabella Kowan made her collegiate debut, competing on beam and earning a 9.775.
Final Results
- Arizona State, 196.600
- Texas Woman's University, 195.225
Rotation One: Vault, 48.975
The Gym Devils kicked off the meet with a solid start on vault. Two of the five scores were a 9.800 or better, generating a 48.975 final score for ASU. Mangahas led the way in scoring, finishing with a 9.850 to win the title. She was followed by Smith's 9.825, a career high.
Rotation Two: Bars, 49.325
Arizona State turned it up a notch and set its best all-around score this season with a 49.325. There were five Gym Devils who recorded a score of 9.850 or better, with Mangahas, White and Clark all finishing with a 9.875. Lee and Kiberly Smith both finished with a 9.850.
Rotation Three: Beam, 49.050
The Sun Devils matched their season high on beam from the last meet with a 49.050. Three Gym Devils reached a score of 9.800 or higher, with White's 9.875 leading the way to secure the event title. Clark finished with a 9.850, followed by Lee who started off first with a 9.800.
Rotation Four: Floor, 49.250
Wrapping off the meet, four Sun Devils reached a score of 9.850 or higher to generate a total 49.250. Purler and White finished with a 9.875, while Braaflat and Smith recorded a 9.850.
Up Next
Arizona State is back home next Friday, hosting No. 4 Utah at 7 p.m. MST. It will be live on ESPN+ and it is on Valentine's Day, encouraging fans to bring their Valentine.
Quotes
Arizona State Head Coach Jay Santos
Opening statement:
"I'm pretty pleased. It's definitely the most complete meet we've had so far this year. We've really been trying to work on being a little more confident, finishing routines and not giving things away. I think we did a better job of that today. We gave away a little bit but not a lot. We didn't have any breaks, and that was another issue we've had. Having a break in the middle of the lineup, kind of breaking that energy down. We were able to hit routines and continue to build today. A lot of the things we wanted to do this week, we were able to do. We still have to continue to finish a little more confidently in a couple of spots, but overall I'm pretty pleased."
On continuing to make progress as the season rolls on:
"We have to keep making progress from week to week. There's always going to be something to work on. There's always going to be something we can improve, and I think we just have to be really honest and diligent with what we're doing in the gym. Really get after those issues and do anything we can do to make that progress. Not just accepting where we're at, but constantly trying to make progress. We can do the next meet a little bit stronger here, a little bit stronger there. We need to find ways to deliver on that and make that happen and not just talk about it."
On the importance of mental health:
"I just think it's important in general in this day and age. But with these athletes, they're put through a lot. There's a lot of pressure, a lot of stress and there's a lot of demands. They are pulled in so many different directions. Everybody needs some help, everyone needs to get picked up sometimes. Everyone needs to be not okay sometimes and just work through it. We have a really great staff. The administration has done a great job of putting a lot more resources into that over the recent years. We have several counselors that work with the group and work with the team, whether it's on just life stuff, performance or whatever it is. We lean into it because it helps them be more confident and it helps them be better."
Junior Kimberly Smith
On being able to mentor the freshman gymnasts:
"Our team is super close, so it's really nice. We're all on the same level, so just being able to talk to them and be vulnerable, it helps a lot. And just using your experience is a big thing because you learn a lot as you go through the years. So being able to relate and look back on your freshman year and just know where they are and use that."
On facing new competition in the Big 12 Conference:
"Our preparation is the same every meet. Jay (Santos) tells us to go in there with confidence and just do our gymnastics. We don't have to reinvent it, he always says. But it's been really fun getting to see new competitors, new schools, new faces, and to show them what ASU is about."
Graduate Jada Mangahas
On the importance of mental health in sports:
"Gymnastics is such a mental sport and people don't realize that. It's cool to spread awareness through gymnastics. A lot of us have gone through mental struggles in our lives and to celebrate the fact that we can be vulnerable once in a while is cool and an honor to be part of mental health awareness."
On how she guides the freshman through mental struggles as a veteran gymnast:
"I use my experience in college as a way to guide them through what they're experiencing right now. I've been here for four years and I have experienced a lot of different things, especially when it comes to mental health struggles and even physical ones. I try to do my best to relate to them in any way I can and show them the way and tell them they're not alone…we're in this together."
On her overall performance:
"I felt really good about it. I have been trying to go out with more confidence. My season started a bit rocky with injuries and everything. It was cool to feel excited and I felt ready today. To have that mindset and that excitement has helped me grow. I'm happy with how I performed on vault and glad everything is clicking and coming together."