GYM v Ohio State & Air Force (7 MAR 15) - Senior Tribute

DENVER - The No. 17 ranked University of Denver women's gymnastics team honored seniors Alix Angelopulo (Burlingame, Calif.) and Ellese Sakai-Hart (Aptos, Calif.) with a 196.925 tri-meet win in Magness Arena, a new season high and tying the seventh-highest teal total in program history. Ohio State finished second with a 194.775, and Air Force finished third with a 193.450.

DU gymnasts swept the event titles, led by an all-around win from Nina McGee (Cincinnati, Ohio) with a 39.625, shattering her previous career high. She also won the bars and floor titles.

"I am really pleased with the performance tonight," said head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart. "It was a tremendous atmosphere, and we were really solid on every event--but still have room for improvement. I was pleased to see the overall mental toughness of the team tonight, and I think we're starting to peak at the right time.

"I'm super proud of Nina. She just had a spectacular night and honestly deserved it. It's exciting to watch her hard work from practice pay off in a meet."

DU posted its second highest vault total this year--and tied for fourth highest in program history--to start the meet with a 49.400, highlighted by a career-high 9.950 from sophomore Rachel Fielitz (Walden, N.Y.), earning her the event title. Junior Katie Menhinick (Paramus, N.J.) started the rotation with a 9.825, matched later by junior Maggie Laughlin (Scottsdale, Ariz.). Junior Emily Barrett (Norman, Okla.) added a 9.850. McGee tallied a 9.900 to finish second on the night. Sophomore Julia Ross (Henderson, Nev.) completed the podium sweep for DU with a 9.875.

The Pioneers tied their season high on bars with a 49.050, led by McGee's 9.875, earning her the event title. Menhinick started the rotation with a 9.725, which was followed by a personal-best 9.825 from freshman Nikole Addison (Lehigh Acres, Fla.). Addison would finish in a tie for second place with teammate junior Rachel Feeken (Tampa, Fla.). Barrett struggled on her release, scoring 9.350, but Ross got the rotation back on track with a 9.800.

The third rotation ended with DU tying the second highest beam total in program history with a 49.325. The Pioneers again swept the podium with Ross in first with a career-high 9.925, Fielitz in second with a personal-best 9.900 and McGee in third with a 9.875. Sakai-Hart earned a 9.625 in her first routine on the night. Menhinick and sophomore Leah Lomonte (Katy, Texas) each matched or set their second best beam scores of the season with a 9.800 and 9.825, respectively.

Denver finished the night on floor with a 49.150 and McGee's third 9.975 of the season, finishing her on top of the podium. Laughlin's 9.925 earned her second on the night, and Fielitz completed the event sweep for DU with career-high 9.875. Addison and Sakai-Hart each opened with too much power on their first passes, stepping out of bounds but earning a 9.550 and 9.650, respectively. Menhinick scored the Pioneers' sixth tally with a 9.725.

Angelopulo added two exhibition routines for DU in honor of Senior Night, including her first ever collegiate bars routine.

"This is why I'm so proud of those seniors," Kutcher-Rinehart said. "It's rewarding to watch Alix go out and compete on bars, and for Ellese to compete a triple full on floor. One thing I'm most proud of is that they don't want to be done. They want to continue to upgrade their gymnastics and are completely invested from beginning to end. I credit them for why this team continues to perform at this level. They have left a legacy and culture that will continue on even when they graduate."

Denver will compete against Air Force again in two days when DU heads to Colorado Springs, Colo., for a Monday night meet. The Pioneers will return one more time to Magness Arena when they host the 2015 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Championships on March 21 at 6 p.m. Tickets are still available for $9. For ticket information, visitdenverpioneers.com/ticketsor call the Ritchie Center Box Office at 303-871-2336.

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