MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 14-ranked University of Denver women's gymnastics, presented by your Hometown Toyota Stores, started 2017 with one of their best season openers in program history, tallying a 195.875-the second highest team score in DU's first meet of the season.

Freshman Maddie Karr (Stillwater, Minn.) took home the all-around title with a 39.500 in her debut as a Pioneer, shattering DU's previous record for highest all-around score by a freshman in her first meet. The previous record was 38.600 by Emily Bankhead in 2001.

"Something about this team showed tremendous character, grit and toughness tonight," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "We've dealt with a lot of adversity in the last three weeks, and to see the team come in and handle the pressure of five-up, five-count on two events and to be dominant, consistent and confident was so rewarding. This is truly why you emphasize resiliency and determination and character.

"Of course, there's always room for improvement," she added. "We are going to have to take it one meet at a time, and we are asking a lot of the student-athletes competing right now. But I'm proud of the team overall."

Denver started the night on bars with a 48.925, tying the third-highest total on the event in the first meet of the season. Sophomore Claire Kern (Charlotte, N.C.) led off the rotation with a 9.700, and the scores kept growing from there. Senior Leah Lomonte (Katy, Texas), who missed the 2016 season with injury, returned to competition with a 9.750. Karr and senior Julia Ross (Henderson, Nev.) added matching 9.800s, and freshman Sam Ogden (Allen, Texas) scored a team-high 9.850. Ogden's score was the third-highest bars score by a freshman in her first meet.

Moving to vault, DU posted a 49.050 with a five-up, five-count line up. It is the second highest vault score in a season opener. Karr anchored the rotation with a meet-high 9.925-the highest score for a freshman in her collegiate debut on any event. Three Pioneers added scores of 9.800 or higher: junior Nikole Addison (Fort Myers, Fla.) with a 9.800, and seniors Ross and Rachel Fielitz (Walden, N.Y.) each with a 9.825. This was Fielitz's first meet since missing 2016 with an injury.

Once again, the Pioneers competed five-up, five-count on floor and totaled a 48.950. Freshman Courtney Loper (West Des Moines, Iowa) scored a 9.700 in her collegiate debut while Ross and sophomore Kaitlyn Schou (Orlando, Fla.) each added a 9.750. Addison had a 9.850, and Karr had DU's highest score with a 9.900-another highest score by a freshman in her first college meet at Denver.

The Pioneers finished on beam with a 48.950, which is the third-highest score on the event in the team's first meet of the season. Ogden led off the rotation with a 9.800-the third highest for a freshman in her debut on beam-which was followed by a 9.750 from Schou and a 9.775 from Addison-a new career high. Ross capped her night with a 9.750, and Karr closed out the meet for DU with a 9.875-the highest beam score in a freshman's first meet.

Addison and Ross both competed in the all-around for the first time since the 2015 season and scored within .025 of one another. Addison's 39.150 is a new personal best.

In total, Pioneers earned at least a share of all five individual event titles. Karr took home the titles on vault, beam and the all-around, and shared the floor title. Ogden won the title on bars. Seniors Ross and Fielitz tied for second on vault, and Ross and Karr tied for third on bars. Ogden added a tie for third on beam, as did Addison in the all-around.

"The freshmen did a tremendous job hitting all the routines they competed," Kutcher-Rinehart said after the meet. "The returners showed improvement from last year to this year, even with a lack of depth. And it was great to welcome back Rachel and Leah into the line ups."

Speaking about freshman Karr's all-around win, Kutcher-Rinehart added, "Maddie did an amazing job coming back home to Minnesota. She was solid and composed. She works hard for her success and doesn't take it for granted, and should be rewarded for her competitiveness."

DU will host its home opener next Saturday, January 14, when it hosts Arizona State, Air Force and Texas Woman's at 6 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium. Single-meet tickets are just $9-and $6 for groups of 20 or more-and season tickets for all five home meets are $35. Tickets can be purchased online, at the Ritchie Center Box Office or by calling 303-871-2336.

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