AMES, Iowa – The University of Denver women's gymnastics team recorded the second-highest season opening score in program history on Friday, posting a 196.600 to defeat Big 12 conference opponent Iowa State (195.500) on the road.
 
COACH'S NOTES:
From head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart: "First, I want to thank Julie Campbell and our athletic administration. The team and staff are so grateful for all of the hard work that's gone in to give us this opportunity to compete.
 
"It sounds cliché, but I am incredibly proud of these young ladies. Once again, they have demonstrated their mental toughness and competitive abilities, especially opening on the road and during a worldwide pandemic. Our first-year student-athletes stepped up and excelled under pressure. Even through the inconsistency of training in the fall, the team increased their difficulty, and they look strong and competitive. I believe this is only the start.
 
"I'm so incredibly proud of our captains. This would not be possible without their dedication, commitment and leadership. I want to give a special shout out as Lynnzee Brown returned to competition. In addition to her leadership, she remained dedicated to her training even with COVID, and she had a great performance in the all-around on the road."
 
BARS RECAP
Denver opened competition on bars, landing a 49.300 team score, which is a new program record for highest score on the event in a season opener. Senior Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.) led the team's scoring with a 9.925. Three freshmen made their collegiate debuts during the rotation: Rylie Mundell (Parker, Colo.) with a 9.875, Jessica Hutchinson (Gilbertsville, Pa.) with a 9.850 and Rosie Casali (Weddington, N.C.) with a 9.800. The final counted score was a 9.850 from senior Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.).
 
VAULT RECAP
Senior Mia Sundstrom (Boulder, Colo.) highlighted DU's vault rotation, scoring a 9.875 – just .025 off her career best – in her return to competition following a season-ending injury in 2019. Hutchinson and Mundell made their Denver debuts on the event.
 
FLOOR RECAP
Brown's 9.875 led the Pioneers on floor, marking her return to competition nearly 11 months since a season-ending injury last year. Freshman Abbie Thompson (Sanford, Fla.) made her first collegiate lineup appearance, tallying a 9.850, which fellow freshman Hutchinson matched. Junior Alexandria Ruiz (Lake Mary, Fla.) competed an upgraded first pass with a pike full-in, scoring a 9.825. Casali made her collegiate floor debut, and Glynn closed out the scoring with a 9.775.
 
BEAM RECAP
Denver finished with its strongest rotation of the meet with a 49.350 on beam, which became the second-highest opening score in DU history. Junior Alexis Vasquez (Arcadia, Calif.) anchored the rotation with a 9.925 while freshman Mundell debuted with a 9.900 – immediately following a fall in the previous routine. Thompson added a 9.875 and Hutchinson a 9.800 in their first collegiate beam routines, and Brown had the team's final counted score with a 9.850.
 
SIGNIFICANT STATS

• Freshmen accounted for almost half of DU's routines, finishing 11-for-11.
• Hutchinson's 39.150 in the all-around is the third-highest score for a DU gymnast in her collegiate debut.
• Mundell's 9.900 on beam is the highest score on the event for a DU freshman in her first meet. Her 9.875 on bars also matches the second-highest score on the event for a DU freshman in her debut.
• Thompson's 9.875 on beam ties the second-highest score for a Denver gymnast in her collegiate debut.
• DU's vault rotation featured three 10.0 start values, and five of the team's floor routines included an E pass.

PODIUM FINISHES
All-Around
Brown: First Place – 39.450
Hutchinson: Second Place – 39.150
 
Vault
Sundstrom: Second Place – 9.875
 
Bars
Brown: First Place – 9.925
Mundell: Second Place (tie) – 9.875
 
Beam
Vasquez: First Place – 9.925
Mundell: Second Place – 9.900
Thompson: Third Place – 9.875
 
Floor
Brown: First Place – 9.875
Thompson: Second Place (tie) – 9.850
Hutchinson: Second Place (tie) – 9.850
 
NEXT UP:
The University of Denver gymnastics team, presented by Your Front Range Toyota Stores, hosts in-state opponent Air Force for the Pioneers' home opener on Sunday, January 24, at 2:00 p.m. MT in Hamilton Gymnasium.
 
VIRTUAL SEASON TICKET: Activate exclusive virtual benefits for the 2021 season! Denver Athletics & Recreation is committed to making the best out of an unprecedented situation and, if we are not able to be together in person at the Ritchie Center, then we will do our very best to bring Denver Gymnastics to you! When you opt-in to be a Virtual Season Ticket Holder you gain access to exclusive season-long benefits including:

• 5280 TOGETHER limited-edition commemorative poster
• Access to individual home meet tickets (based upon availability and guidelines set forth by the NCAA, DU, and local and state health officials)
• Exclusive invitation to the weekly coaches "chalk talk" (virtual)
• Virtual meet notes/program for home and away meets
• Post-meet recap and downloadable stats package

For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.
 
SHOP PIONEERS
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Fans interested in making a donation to the gymnastics program can do so online. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.
 
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