DENVER – The No. 8-ranked University of Denver women's gymnastics team tallied a team score of 196.175 on Saturday night to win its home opener. The Pioneers topped visiting No. 22 Central Michigan (193.250), Texas Woman's (190.200) and Sacramento State (190.150).
The Pioneers posted a 49.525 on bars, which becomes a new program record on the event.
DU swept the event podiums, capturing all five individual event titles.
"Overall, there were extreme highs and lows," head coach
Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "Bars was outstanding. Obviously, it was not a good night for us on beam. I don't think we could have ever counted a full point worth of falls on beam and still gone above a 196 overall without the beam line up we have. But I was incredibly proud of the refocusing ability on floor."
Denver opened the meet on vault, earning a 48.925 to start the evening. Junior
Maddie Karr (Stillwater, Minn.) captured the vault title with her 9.850. Sophomore
Mia Sundstrom (Boulder, Colo.) and sophomore
Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.) tied for second overall with a 9.800. Senior
Diana Chesnok (Charlotte, N.C.) added a 9.750. Freshman
Alexandria Ruiz (Lake Mary, Fla.) and senior
Kaitlyn Schou (Orlando, Fla.) each earned 9.725s to close out the rotation.
The Pioneers broke the program record on bars, scoring a 49.525 led by a near-perfect 9.975 from Karr, which is a new career high for the junior. Sundstrom, too, earned a new personal best with a 9.925. Brown added a 9.900, sophomore
Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.) a 9.875 and senior
Claire Kern (Charlotte, N.C.) a 9.850 to wrap up DU's counted scores.
Schou's career-tying 9.950 anchored Denver's beam lineup. Her score ties the fifth-best mark in program history on the event. Freshman
Alexis Vasquez (Arcadia, Calif.) improved on her collegiate debut, earning a 9.875. Brown's 9.850 completed the podium sweep for DU.
The Pioneers regrouped for a strong floor rotation, earning a 49.425, highlighted by Brown's event-winning 9.925. Schou and Karr tied for second with their 9.900 – Schou's tying her personal best. Sundstrom posted a 9.875 while Kern added a 9.800. Ruiz improved on her collegiate debut on floor as well, scoring a 9.825.
Brown captured her second-consecutive all-around title with a 39.475. Karr was second with a 39.050, and Sundstrom completed DU's sweep with a 38.900.
After the meet, Kutcher-Rinehart said, "There were several standout performances tonight.
Kaitlyn Schou had a phenomenal night with two personal bests on beam and floor.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for us to grow and improve."
About the more than 2,300 fans in attendance, Kutcher-Rinehart added, "I want to thank our fans and supporters, too. It was just shy of a sellout – on a holiday weekend – they were loud and gave us great energy."
The University of Denver women's gymnastics team, presented by Your Hometown Toyota Stores, competes on the road for the next two weekends, starting with the Metroplex Challenge on Saturday, January 26, in Fort Worth, Texas. The Pioneers return home next on Sunday, February 10, against Oklahoma in Magness Arena.
Single meet tickets are now on sale, beginning at $9. Tickets can be
purchased online or by calling the Ritchie Center Box Office at 303-871-4625.
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