DENVER - Despite competing with only five gymnasts on three of the four events, the No. 13-ranked University of Denver women's gymnastics team tallied a 196.675 in front of a sellout crowd in Hamilton Gymnasium on Saturday. DU topped visiting Utah State, which scored a 195.000.
Sophomore Maddie Karr (Stillwater, Minn.) claimed the all-around title with a 39.600 to lead a DU sweep in the event. Freshman Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.) finished second with a personal-best 39.550 while fellow freshman Mia Sundstrom (Boulder, Colo.) was third with a 39.275, also a career high.
Denver also earned a sweep of the event titles. Karr earned at least a share of the bars, beam and floor titles. Brown won on vault and shared the beam title with Karr. Senior Nikole Addison (Fort Myers, Fla.) tied with Karr for the win on floor.
"It was a total team performance tonight," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "We're still using five student-athletes on three events, but I continue to be impressed with the mental and physical toughness of this team.
"Everyone plays a role. We had some outstanding performances tonight and still have room for growth, and we're going to continue to get better especially as we increase our depth."
DU began the meet with only five gymnasts on vault, scoring a 49.150 as a team. Brown's personal-best 9.925 was tops in the meet, while Karr was second overall with a 9.900. Addison scored a 9.825 to tie for third overall. Sundstrom posted a 9.775 while junior Diana Chesnok (Charlotte, N.C.) scored a 9.725.
For the first time this season, Denver competed five-up, five-count on bars and posted the meet's top two scores. Karr tied her career high and won the bars title for the second meet in a row with her 9.900. Brown set a new personal best with a 9.875 to finish second overall. DU's remaining three student-athletes--Chesnok, Sundstrom and junior Claire Kern (Charlotte, N.C.)--each scored 9.775 to complete DU's line-up.
Brown won the first beam title of her career after setting a new personal best, tying with Karr at the top each with a 9.875. Sundstrom was tied for third overall with her 9.850, and junior Kaitlyn Schou (Orlando, Fla.) was right behind with a 9.825.
The Pioneers finished on floor with their highest team score on any event this season, earning a 49.475 with only five competitors. All five DU gymnasts earned spots on the podium, tying for either first or third overall. Karr and Addison shared the title with matching 9.925s--both only .025 off their career bests. Denver's three remaining floor competitors--Sundstrom, Schou and Brown--all scored 9.875s.
After the meet, Kutcher-Rinehart added, "I want to give a special thank you to our fans and friends. It was great to have sellout and continue the momentum from our January 14 meet in Magness Arena. They provided energy and an electric atmosphere."
The University of Denver women's gymnastics team, presented by Your Hometown Toyota Stores, returns to Hamilton Gymnasium next weekend when Denver hosts BYU, Bowling Green and Ball State on Saturday, February 3, at 6 p.m.
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