DENVER – The No. 13-ranked University of Denver gymnastics team posted the fifth-highest score in program history on Sunday, scoring a 197.650 to top No. 20 Utah State (196.775) and No. 15 Southern Utah (195.125) in DU's final home meet of the season.
 
COACH'S NOTES
From head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart: "You can see the results from today's competition from the quality and attention to detail we have in practice. As we maintain a championship mentality and excellence in practice, we'll continue see the results in competition.

"We're still building toward our full lineup and even with lineup changes, they responded with a high level of competitiveness."
 
SIGNIFICANT STATS

• DU set a new program record on bars (49.625) and tied the second-highest floor score in school history (49.600).
• Senior Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.) set a new school record in the all-around with her 39.825 performance. It breaks the previous record of 39.775 that Brown shared with Maddie Karr and Nina McGee.
• For the second week in a row, the vault squad turned in a new season's best, finishing with a 49.300.
• DU swept the event titles with wins from Brown and freshman Rylie Mundell (Parker, Colo.).

VAULT RECAP
DU started the meet with its strongest vault rotation of the season off three 9.9+ scores, led by Brown's event-winning 9.950. Freshman Jessica Hutchinson (Gilbertsville, Pa.) set a new personal best with a 9.900, which fellow freshman Rylie Mundell (Parker, Colo.) also earned after returning to her Yurchenko one-and-a-half. Senior Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.) added a 9.825, and junior Alexandria Ruiz (Lake Mary, Fla.) returned to the lineup with a 9.725 after not competing on vault last week.
 
BARS RECAP
Denver carried momentum to bars, breaking the school record with a team tally of 49.625. Brown matched her career high with her first near-perfect 9.975 of the day, and fellow senior Glynn placed second after also tying her personal best with a 9.950. Freshman Abbie Thompson (Sanford, Fla.) added a career-high 9.925 while fellow freshmen Hutchinson scored a new personal best with a 9.900, and Mundell added a 9.875.
 
BEAM RECAP
Mundell's almost-perfect 9.975 on beam helped lead the Pioneers to a podium sweep on the event. Junior Alexis Vasquez (Arcadia, Calif.) had a 9.950 while Brown and Ruiz added matching 9.925s – both tying their career highs. Freshman Isabel Mabanta (Frisco, Texas) had the team's final counted score, a 9.350 after an unfortunate fall on her dismount.
 
FLOOR RECAP
Brown's second-consecutive 9.975 on floor sealed Denver's 49.600 team score. Hutchinson and Glynn improved on their career highs by .025 each, scoring 9.950 and 9.925, respectively. Thompson again returned the lineup and also increased her personal best by .025 for a 9.875. Mabanta competed in the lineup for the third-straight meet, scoring a career-high 9.850 and matching the lead-off score from Ruiz.
 
SENIOR SUNDAY
Denver celebrated its three seniors: Brown, Glynn and Mia Sundstrom (Boulder, Colo.). After the meet, Kutcher-Rinehart said, "Congrats to our wonderful seniors. They are leaving a legacy of competitive excellence, and they've demonstrated character, teamwork and excellence throughout their careers. They've reinforced standards of excellence that will continue with the future of Denver Gymnastics."
 
PODIUM FINISHES
All-Around
Brown: First Place – 39.825
Ruiz: Third Place – 38.725
 
Vault
Brown: First Place – 9.950
Hutchinson: Second Place (tie) – 9.900
Mundell: Second Place (tie) – 9.900
 
Bars
Brown: First Place – 9.975
Glynn: Second Place – 9.950
Thompson: Third Place – 9.925
 
Beam
Mundell: First Place – 9.975
Vasquez: Second Place – 9.950
Brown: Third Place (tie) – 9.925
Ruiz: Third Place (tie) – 9.925
 
Floor
Brown: First Place – 9.975
Hutchinson: Second Place – 9.950
Glynn: Third Place – 9.925
 
NEXT UP:
The University of Denver gymnastics team, presented by Your Front Range Toyota Stores, wraps up its regular season with a trip to BYU with Illinois State on Thursday, March 11.
 
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
Get dressed for game day! Get your Pioneers gear at ShopPioneers.com, the official online store of University of Denver Athletics.
 
DONATE 
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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