TEMPE, Ariz.—The Arizona State women's gymnastics team (2-7, 0-4 Pac-12) stays home this weekend to face the No. 5 Utah Utes (8-1, 3-1 Pac-12) on Saturday, Feb. 25 in Wells Fargo Arena.
The meet is slated for a 5:00 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 UTAH
The Utes bested then-No. 4 UCLA last weekend, 197.875-197.500, in front of a sellout home crowd of 15,558. Freshman MyKayla Skinner remained unbeaten in the all-around as she defeated UCLA's Madison Kocian with her total 39.675.
Utah's 49.400 on vault was highlighted by Skinner's 9.925 to keep her unbeaten on the event as well. The Utes hit the same event score on bars for a season high. Skinner and senior Baely Rowe both posted scores of 9.925 while junior Tiffani Lewis hit a 9.900. An identical 49.400 on beam was paced by Rowe's 9.925 while three additional Utes posted a trio of 9.875s.
The Utes posted a huge 49.675 on floor to conclude the meet, counting all five scores at 9.900 or better. Skinner, Rowe and sophomore MaKenna Merrell all recorded 9.950s.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gym Devils hit another season high over the weekend but fell short to the Stanford Cardinal, 195.775-195.200 in Wells Fargo Arena.
The Gym Devils recorded a season high 48.950 on bars in the second rotation, led by freshmen Ashley Szafranski and Morgan Hart who posted scores of 9.850 and 9.825, respectively, earning second and third place on the event behind Stanford's Elizabeth Price. Hart's 9.825 and fellow freshman Graycee Rushton's 9.775 were career-highs for the pair.
On floor, all six Gym Devils hit scores of 9.725 or higher to contribute to the team total 48.950, besting Stanford's 48.625. Sophomore Corinne Belkoff led the team on the event and tied a season-high 9.850 to win the event. Sophomore Katelyn Lentz scored a 9.825 and freshman Mekayla Jones tied her career-high with a 9.800, her second consecutive 9.8 this season.
Senior Beka Conrad recorded a career-high 9.850 on beam to tie for first and help the Gym Devils earn a 48.800 total. Szafranski hit her own career-high 9.825 while sophomores Justine Callis and Lentz added a pair of 9.725s.
The Gym Devils scored a total 48.500 on vault, led by freshman Jessica Ginn and her 9.750. Sophomores Morgan Wilson and Lentz both posted scores of 9.725.
Junior Nichelle Christopherson won the all-around competition for the first time in her career with a 38.675.
UP NEXT
The Gym Devils travel south to face in-state rivals the Arizona Wildcats for the Territorial CupÒ point on Sunday, March 5 at 1:00 p.m. MT.
The meet will be televised live on the Pac-12 Network.
ASU'S 2017 EVENT LEADERS
Vault
Sophomore Morgan Wilson and freshman Jessica Ginn share the highest vault scores for the Gym Devils, each with a 9.800 and their respective career highs. Ginn also holds the second highest score for ASU with a 9.775 at Washington.
Bars
Freshman Ashley Szafranski holds the two highest beam scores for the Gym Devils including a career-high 9.875 which she scored against UCLA and a 9.850 against Stanford. Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson and freshman Morgan Hart each have posted a 9.825 this season for the next best score.
Beam
Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson holds the highest beam score for the Gym Devils with a career-high 9.875. Senior Beka Conrad has the next best score with a career-high 9.850 while freshman Ashley Szafranksi posted a career-high 9.825 against Stanford for the third highest score.
Floor
Sophomores Corinne Belkoff, Justine Callis and Katelyn Lentz hold the highest floor scores for the Gym Devils each with a 9.850. Lentz also has scored a 9.825 against Stanford for the number-two spot. Freshman Morgan Hart, junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson, and freshman Mekayla Jones all share scores of 9.800 for the third best scores.
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 5:00 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 UTAH
The Utes bested then-No. 4 UCLA last weekend, 197.875-197.500, in front of a sellout home crowd of 15,558. Freshman MyKayla Skinner remained unbeaten in the all-around as she defeated UCLA's Madison Kocian with her total 39.675.
Utah's 49.400 on vault was highlighted by Skinner's 9.925 to keep her unbeaten on the event as well. The Utes hit the same event score on bars for a season high. Skinner and senior Baely Rowe both posted scores of 9.925 while junior Tiffani Lewis hit a 9.900. An identical 49.400 on beam was paced by Rowe's 9.925 while three additional Utes posted a trio of 9.875s.
The Utes posted a huge 49.675 on floor to conclude the meet, counting all five scores at 9.900 or better. Skinner, Rowe and sophomore MaKenna Merrell all recorded 9.950s.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gym Devils hit another season high over the weekend but fell short to the Stanford Cardinal, 195.775-195.200 in Wells Fargo Arena.
The Gym Devils recorded a season high 48.950 on bars in the second rotation, led by freshmen Ashley Szafranski and Morgan Hart who posted scores of 9.850 and 9.825, respectively, earning second and third place on the event behind Stanford's Elizabeth Price. Hart's 9.825 and fellow freshman Graycee Rushton's 9.775 were career-highs for the pair.
On floor, all six Gym Devils hit scores of 9.725 or higher to contribute to the team total 48.950, besting Stanford's 48.625. Sophomore Corinne Belkoff led the team on the event and tied a season-high 9.850 to win the event. Sophomore Katelyn Lentz scored a 9.825 and freshman Mekayla Jones tied her career-high with a 9.800, her second consecutive 9.8 this season.
Senior Beka Conrad recorded a career-high 9.850 on beam to tie for first and help the Gym Devils earn a 48.800 total. Szafranski hit her own career-high 9.825 while sophomores Justine Callis and Lentz added a pair of 9.725s.
The Gym Devils scored a total 48.500 on vault, led by freshman Jessica Ginn and her 9.750. Sophomores Morgan Wilson and Lentz both posted scores of 9.725.
Junior Nichelle Christopherson won the all-around competition for the first time in her career with a 38.675.
UP NEXT
The Gym Devils travel south to face in-state rivals the Arizona Wildcats for the Territorial CupÒ point on Sunday, March 5 at 1:00 p.m. MT.
The meet will be televised live on the Pac-12 Network.
ASU'S 2017 EVENT LEADERS
Vault
Sophomore Morgan Wilson and freshman Jessica Ginn share the highest vault scores for the Gym Devils, each with a 9.800 and their respective career highs. Ginn also holds the second highest score for ASU with a 9.775 at Washington.
Bars
Freshman Ashley Szafranski holds the two highest beam scores for the Gym Devils including a career-high 9.875 which she scored against UCLA and a 9.850 against Stanford. Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson and freshman Morgan Hart each have posted a 9.825 this season for the next best score.
Beam
Junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson holds the highest beam score for the Gym Devils with a career-high 9.875. Senior Beka Conrad has the next best score with a career-high 9.850 while freshman Ashley Szafranksi posted a career-high 9.825 against Stanford for the third highest score.
Floor
Sophomores Corinne Belkoff, Justine Callis and Katelyn Lentz hold the highest floor scores for the Gym Devils each with a 9.850. Lentz also has scored a 9.825 against Stanford for the number-two spot. Freshman Morgan Hart, junior transfer Nichelle Christopherson, and freshman Mekayla Jones all share scores of 9.800 for the third best scores.
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.