TEMPE, Ariz.—The Arizona State women's gymnastics team (2-3) will open Pac-12 play this weekend when they travel to Berkeley, Calif. to face the No. 15 California Bears (7-0, 2-0 Pac-12) on Saturday, Jan. 28 in Haas Pavilion.
The meet is slated for a 7 p.m. MT start and will be televised on the Pac-12 Network. Jim Watson and Amanda Borden will be on the call.
Fans can follow along on Twitter by following @ASUGymnastics. Fans are encouraged to tweet with #WeWill in support of the 2017 Gym Devils.
ABOUT CAL
The then-No. 13 Bears stayed undefeated last weekend with a season high 196.300, besting then-No. 17 Washington (195.325) and San Jose State (193.875) in a tri-meet at Haas Pavilion.
The Bears scored a 49.125 on vault, topping a 49+ for the second time this season. Junior Toni-Ann Williams earned the vault crown and led the way for Cal with a 9.875 while junior Arianna Robinson added a 9.850. Cal combined for a season-high 49.100 on bars which included all six scores at a 9.775 or more. Senior Emily Richardson's career high 9.900 on bars earned her a second place finish and Williams posted a season best 9.875 on the event.
On beam the Bears recorded a season high 49.175 led by senior Desiree Palomares' third consecutive beam title and career high 9.900. Cal scored a total 48.900 on floor to wrap up the meet. Williams took her third event title of the year with a 9.900 and freshman Alexandra Dudschus contributed a career high 9.825.
LAST TIME OUT
Debuting sparkly new leotards in front of a home crowd, the Gym Devils competed in Wells Fargo Arena for the first time in 2017 against UC Davis, hitting six floor sets and posting a season best on the event. ASU posted a 193.225 to the visiting Aggie's 194.000.
Freshman Mekayla Jones posted a career-high and meet-best 9.775 on floor to lead the Gym Devils to a season high 48.675. Sophomore Corinne Belkoff scored her own season best 9.750 while freshmen Averie Brook and Morgan Hart posted a pair of 9.725s.
On vault, sophomore Morgan Wilson returned to the line-up with a 9.750, pacing the Gym Devils to a 48.350 on the event. Belkoff contributed another season high, this time with a 9.700.
The Gym Devils struggled on bars, but junior Nichelle Christopherson was a bright spot in the line-up with a 9.800, her second consecutive score of 9.8+ on the event this season. Sophomore Eileen Imbus tied her career high with a 9.775.
Christopherson led the way again on beam for the team with a 9.800 contributing to the total event score of 48.125. Sophomores Heather Udowitch and Belkoff added a pair of 9.675s.
Christopherson took home her first two titles of the season on bars and beam.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils will host Pac-12 foe, No. 8 UCLA in Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday, Feb. 4.
The meet is slated for a 1:30 p.m. MT start and will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
ASU'S 2017 EVENT LEADERS
Vault
Freshman Jessica Ginn scored a career high 9.800 in the Denver Quad Meet to lead the Gym Devils. Sophomores Katelyn Lentz and Morgan Wilson share the second highest team scores of the season with a pair of 9.750s.
Bars
Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson holds the two highest bar scores for the Gym Devils. She recorded a season high 9.825 in Denver and followed with a 9.800 the next week at home against UC Davis. Sophomore Eileen Imbus and freshman Ashley Szafranski have season highs of 9.775.
Beam
Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson once again leads the Gym Devils with the two highest beam scores. She scored a career high 9.850 on beam at Denver and then added a 9.800 the next week at home against UC Davis. Senior Beka Conrad posted a season best 9.775 in the Denver Quad Meet.
Floor
Freshman Morgan Hart scored a career best 9.800 in Denver to hold the highest floor score for the Gym Devils. Freshman Mekayla Jones posted a career high 9.775 in the home opener against UC Davis.
THE 2017 RETURNERS
ASU returns seven gymnasts from last year's lineup, with senior Beka Conrad ready to lead the program. Also back are six sophomores who made immediate impact in last season's squad: Corinne Belkoff, Justine Callis, Eileen Imbus, Katelyn Lentz, Heather Udowitch, and Morgan Wilson.
THE 2017 NEWCOMERS
The Gym Devils will field another young roster in 2017 with seven freshman expected to contribute to the lineup: Averie Brook (Houston, Texas/World Champions Centre), Jessica Ginn (Chandler, Ariz./Desert Lights Gymnastics), Morgan Hart (Las Vegas, Nev./Browns Gymnastics), Mekayla Jones (Birmingham, Ala./JamJev Gymnastics), Graycee Rushton (Gilbert, Ariz./Arizona Dynamics Gymnastics), Ashley Szafranski (Orefield, Pa./Parkettes), and Alex Wilson (Denver, Colo./Tigar Gymnastics). The 2017 squad will also feature junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson (Michigan), who brings high-level experience from both club and college.
THE 2017 SCHEDULE
ASU is set for another rigorous schedule this year, which will include nine teams that finished in the top-25 in 2016.
The Gym Devils open the 2017 season on the road for the first two weeks at Iowa State on Friday, Jan. 6 and at Denver on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. MT.
The Sun Devils will compete at home five times this season, opening on Saturday, Jan. 21 against UC Davis. ASU will also host meets against three Pac-12 foes in February: reigning conference champion UCLA on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m. MT, Stanford on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. MT, and Utah on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. MT.
Other 2017 road matches include the Pac-12 opener at California on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. MT, at Washington on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. MT, and the annual rivalry match at Arizona on Sunday, March 5 at 1 p.m. MT.
ASU will cap the home slate and the regular season on Friday, March 10, hosting a tri-meet with Bridgeport and Sacramento State before traveling to Stanford, Calif. for the 2017 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships on March 18.
GYM DEVILS ON THE PAC-12 NETWORK
Each of ASU's six conference match-ups during the regular season (at California, vs. UCLA, at Washington, vs. Stanford, vs. Utah, at Arizona) will air on the Pac-12 Network. The sessions of the 2017 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships in Stanford, Calif. will also be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
THE 2016 CAMPAIGN
Despite injuries through most of the 2016 season, the Gym Devils finished their season at the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships. Their season-high team score of 194.725 was posted against then-No. 15 California on Feb. 16.
Following the conference championship, the then-senior duo of Taylor Allex (vault, floor) and Allie Salas (all-around) qualified to compete as individuals at the NCAA Regional championships. Allex won the vault NCAA Regional title and finished her career at the NCAA Championship.
The meet is slated for a 7 p.m. MT start and will be televised on the Pac-12 Network. Jim Watson and Amanda Borden will be on the call.
Fans can follow along on Twitter by following @ASUGymnastics. Fans are encouraged to tweet with #WeWill in support of the 2017 Gym Devils.
ABOUT CAL
The then-No. 13 Bears stayed undefeated last weekend with a season high 196.300, besting then-No. 17 Washington (195.325) and San Jose State (193.875) in a tri-meet at Haas Pavilion.
The Bears scored a 49.125 on vault, topping a 49+ for the second time this season. Junior Toni-Ann Williams earned the vault crown and led the way for Cal with a 9.875 while junior Arianna Robinson added a 9.850. Cal combined for a season-high 49.100 on bars which included all six scores at a 9.775 or more. Senior Emily Richardson's career high 9.900 on bars earned her a second place finish and Williams posted a season best 9.875 on the event.
On beam the Bears recorded a season high 49.175 led by senior Desiree Palomares' third consecutive beam title and career high 9.900. Cal scored a total 48.900 on floor to wrap up the meet. Williams took her third event title of the year with a 9.900 and freshman Alexandra Dudschus contributed a career high 9.825.
LAST TIME OUT
Debuting sparkly new leotards in front of a home crowd, the Gym Devils competed in Wells Fargo Arena for the first time in 2017 against UC Davis, hitting six floor sets and posting a season best on the event. ASU posted a 193.225 to the visiting Aggie's 194.000.
Freshman Mekayla Jones posted a career-high and meet-best 9.775 on floor to lead the Gym Devils to a season high 48.675. Sophomore Corinne Belkoff scored her own season best 9.750 while freshmen Averie Brook and Morgan Hart posted a pair of 9.725s.
On vault, sophomore Morgan Wilson returned to the line-up with a 9.750, pacing the Gym Devils to a 48.350 on the event. Belkoff contributed another season high, this time with a 9.700.
The Gym Devils struggled on bars, but junior Nichelle Christopherson was a bright spot in the line-up with a 9.800, her second consecutive score of 9.8+ on the event this season. Sophomore Eileen Imbus tied her career high with a 9.775.
Christopherson led the way again on beam for the team with a 9.800 contributing to the total event score of 48.125. Sophomores Heather Udowitch and Belkoff added a pair of 9.675s.
Christopherson took home her first two titles of the season on bars and beam.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils will host Pac-12 foe, No. 8 UCLA in Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday, Feb. 4.
The meet is slated for a 1:30 p.m. MT start and will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
ASU'S 2017 EVENT LEADERS
Vault
Freshman Jessica Ginn scored a career high 9.800 in the Denver Quad Meet to lead the Gym Devils. Sophomores Katelyn Lentz and Morgan Wilson share the second highest team scores of the season with a pair of 9.750s.
Bars
Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson holds the two highest bar scores for the Gym Devils. She recorded a season high 9.825 in Denver and followed with a 9.800 the next week at home against UC Davis. Sophomore Eileen Imbus and freshman Ashley Szafranski have season highs of 9.775.
Beam
Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson once again leads the Gym Devils with the two highest beam scores. She scored a career high 9.850 on beam at Denver and then added a 9.800 the next week at home against UC Davis. Senior Beka Conrad posted a season best 9.775 in the Denver Quad Meet.
Floor
Freshman Morgan Hart scored a career best 9.800 in Denver to hold the highest floor score for the Gym Devils. Freshman Mekayla Jones posted a career high 9.775 in the home opener against UC Davis.
THE 2017 RETURNERS
ASU returns seven gymnasts from last year's lineup, with senior Beka Conrad ready to lead the program. Also back are six sophomores who made immediate impact in last season's squad: Corinne Belkoff, Justine Callis, Eileen Imbus, Katelyn Lentz, Heather Udowitch, and Morgan Wilson.
THE 2017 NEWCOMERS
The Gym Devils will field another young roster in 2017 with seven freshman expected to contribute to the lineup: Averie Brook (Houston, Texas/World Champions Centre), Jessica Ginn (Chandler, Ariz./Desert Lights Gymnastics), Morgan Hart (Las Vegas, Nev./Browns Gymnastics), Mekayla Jones (Birmingham, Ala./JamJev Gymnastics), Graycee Rushton (Gilbert, Ariz./Arizona Dynamics Gymnastics), Ashley Szafranski (Orefield, Pa./Parkettes), and Alex Wilson (Denver, Colo./Tigar Gymnastics). The 2017 squad will also feature junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson (Michigan), who brings high-level experience from both club and college.
THE 2017 SCHEDULE
ASU is set for another rigorous schedule this year, which will include nine teams that finished in the top-25 in 2016.
The Gym Devils open the 2017 season on the road for the first two weeks at Iowa State on Friday, Jan. 6 and at Denver on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. MT.
The Sun Devils will compete at home five times this season, opening on Saturday, Jan. 21 against UC Davis. ASU will also host meets against three Pac-12 foes in February: reigning conference champion UCLA on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m. MT, Stanford on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. MT, and Utah on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. MT.
Other 2017 road matches include the Pac-12 opener at California on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. MT, at Washington on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. MT, and the annual rivalry match at Arizona on Sunday, March 5 at 1 p.m. MT.
ASU will cap the home slate and the regular season on Friday, March 10, hosting a tri-meet with Bridgeport and Sacramento State before traveling to Stanford, Calif. for the 2017 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships on March 18.
GYM DEVILS ON THE PAC-12 NETWORK
Each of ASU's six conference match-ups during the regular season (at California, vs. UCLA, at Washington, vs. Stanford, vs. Utah, at Arizona) will air on the Pac-12 Network. The sessions of the 2017 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships in Stanford, Calif. will also be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
THE 2016 CAMPAIGN
Despite injuries through most of the 2016 season, the Gym Devils finished their season at the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships. Their season-high team score of 194.725 was posted against then-No. 15 California on Feb. 16.
Following the conference championship, the then-senior duo of Taylor Allex (vault, floor) and Allie Salas (all-around) qualified to compete as individuals at the NCAA Regional championships. Allex won the vault NCAA Regional title and finished her career at the NCAA Championship.