NORMAN, Okla. – The No. 8-ranked University of Denver women's gymnastics team posted a record-setting performance at the 2024 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship on Saturday night.
 
Denver posted new program road and postseason records with its 197.975 performance, which also became the fourth-highest overall score in program history.
 
DU finished behind No. 1 Oklahoma (198.950, an all-time NCAA record score) but ahead of BYU (197.050), Iowa State (196.350) and West Virginia (195.125).
 
Following the meet, freshman Madison Ulrich was announced as the 2024 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and senior Rylie Mundell was named the 2024 Big 12 Event Specialist of the Year.
 
COACH'S NOTES:
From Joy S. Burns Head Women's Gymnastics Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart: "I'm so incredibly proud of their performance tonight. It was a testament of their teamwork, and they are bringing their best when their best is needed. They continue to prove that they are building toward being one of the best teams in the country.
 
"They did their job and focused on each other. They blocked out distracting factors and stayed in their bubble from beginning to end, and closed out the meet. It was a total team effort."
 
SIGNIFICANT STATS

• Denver's 197.975 became one of the top scores in school history by multiple measures:
  • Highest road score (previous: 197.774 at Illinois on March 1, 2019)
  • Highest Big 12 Championship score (previous: 197.350 in 2021)
  • Highest postseason score (previous: 197.875 at 2023 NCAA Regional Final)
• On the four events, Denver also posted scores that are now among the best in program history:
  • DU's 49.400 on vault tied its 10^th-highest overall score, became its second-highest postseason score and became a new program record at a Big 12 Championship.
  • DU's 49.475 on bars tied its fourth-highest postseason score and tied its third-highest at a Big 12 Championship.
  • DU's 49.500 on beam tied the fourth-highest postseason score and became the third-highest in DU history at a Big 12 Championship.
  • DU's 49.600 on floor tied the fourth-highest overall score in program history, matched the program-record in the postseason and became its highest score at a Big 12 Championship.
• Senior Jessica Hutchinson scored a 39.675 in the all-around is now the fifth-highest postseason score in Denver history and the second-highest at a Big 12 Championship.
  • Her near-perfect 9.975 on floor became the second-highest single-routine score by a DU gymnast at the Big 12 Championship, behind only Lynnzee Brown's 10.0 on bars in 2021.

BARS RECAP
After beginning the meet on a bye, Denver finally began competition in the second rotation with six scores of at least 9.850 on bars. Four DU gymnasts scored 9.900s, starting with sophomore Kiley Rorich in the leadoff. Ulrich followed her with a 9.875 before junior Mia Hebinck and Hutchinson each added a 9.900. Mundell had a 9.850 before junior Momoko Iwai completed the lineup for the third time in her career, scoring another 9.900.
 
BEAM RECAP
Denver again saw six scores at or above the 9.850 mark in the third rotation on its way to a 49.500 on bars, highlighted by a season high-tying 9.950 from senior Bella Mabanta. In just her third competitive beam lineup appearance, Hebinck had her best showing yet with a big 9.925. Hutchinson anchored the lineup with her 10^th-straight score of 9.9+ on the event with a 9.900. Fellow senior Abbie Thompson went 9.875 for the second meet in a row while Iwai and Ulrich each tallied a 9.850.
 
FLOOR RECAP
For the third rotation in a row, all six of DU's scores were at least 9.850s – five of them in the 9.9+ range. Rorich continued as the floor leadoff performer and equaled her career best of 9.900. Thompson made her fourth-straight floor lineup and added a 9.850 in the No. 2 spot. Iwai was just a quarter tenth from her personal best with a 9.925 before Mabanta and Ulrich both scored 9.900s. Hutchinson anchored the rotation with her second-straight 9.975 on the event.
 
VAULT RECAP
DU capped the meet with its second-best vault rotation of the season so far, counting five scores at or above 9.850. Sophomore Mila Brusch began with a career high-tying 9.900 for her near-stuck Yurchenko full. Mabanta returned to the lineup for the first time since January 21, scoring a 9.825. Freshman Amanda Hargraves stuck her Yurchenko full cold for a 9.875, which Ulrich would match in the next slot. Mundell and Hutchinson rounded out the meet with their Yurchenko 1.5s, going 9.850 and 9.900, respectively.
 
All-BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM (Podium Finishes)
Vault
Brusch: Third Place (tie) – 9.900
Hutchinson: Third Place (tie) – 9.900
 
Beam
Mabanta: Second Place (tie) – 9.950
 
Floor
Hutchinson: Third Place – 9.975
 
NEXT UP:
Denver has secured a spot at NCAA Regionals and will await final seeding and placement, which will be announced during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, March 25, at 12 p.m. ET/10 a.m. MT on NCAA.com.
 
TICKETS:
Season ticket deposits for the 2025 University of Denver gymnastics season are now on available and can be purchased online, by calling 303-871-4625 or by visiting the Ritchie Center Box Office.

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