(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
Coming off a winning streak, the now No. 12 Gym Devils (5-1, 2-o Pac-12) returned home to the Wells Fargo Arena for their conference home opener after competing two weeks on the road. The Gym Devils were impressive yet again as they knocked off the No. 29 California Bears (4-3, 1-2 Pac-12) 196.800-194.850.
It was an exciting afternoon as the Gym Devils picked up right where they left off earning the ninth-highest team score in the country and their highest team score since 2006. ASU went 49.000+ on every event and took the event win on uneven bars (49.325-48.625), balance beam (49.125-47.775), and floor (49.250-49.200).
“We’re having fun, and we’re continuing to build every week,” said head coach Jay Santos. “I think we are finally getting to a point where we are starting to worry less about the scores and beginning to enjoy it a lot more. This whole team is really raising their level, and I think we just need to keep doing what we are doing and continue working on the small details.”
Cairo-Leonard Baker lived up to her back-to-back Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors as she scored two career-highs on bars and floor and tied with Cal’s senior superstar Toni-Ann Williams in the all-around with an impressive 39.575.
“Everything has been going so well so far, but I definitely look to improve on vault and beam, so each event is even and leveled with each other,” said Leonard-Baker.
The Gym Devils began on vault where they hit six for six to score a 49.100 in the first rotation. Sophomore Jessica Ginn started things off with an explosive Yurchenko full, tying her career-high with a 9.825 while junior Anne Kuhm also set a new career-high of 9.800. Leonard-Baker and junior Morgan Wilson scored a pair of 9.850s to tie their career-highs and take home second for the individual event titles.
The Bears had a rocky start on the uneven bars after they had to count a fall from Alma Kuc after the second fall from Kyana George. However, after clean routines from Toni-Ann Williams and Nina Schank, the Bears were still in it. Williams had high-flying releases skills and a stuck dismount to earn a season-high 9.850. Schank had clean lines, hit handstands, and a stuck double layout to earn a 9.900 and a second-place finish.
Heading into the second rotation, the Gym Devils recorded a season-high bars rotation, despite a fall from their lead-off Wilson. Sophomore Morgan Hart and Kuhm got the ball rolling with a pair of 9.850s to tie and earn season-highs, respectively. Ashley Szafranski followed suit showing off gorgeous lines and hit handstands to tie her career-high of 9.800. Senior Nichelle Christopherson also tied her career-high of 9.875, but it was Leonard-Baker’s high-flying releases that put the exclamation mark on an excellent bars rotation to earn an impressive career-high of 9.950 and take a first-place finish on the event.
The Golden Bears also ended their second rotation with a season-high 49.250 on vault with a pair of 9.825s from Rachel Mastrangelo and Arianna Robinson as well as a pair of 9.850s from George and Williams. Sylvie Seilnacht capped off the rotation with a 9.900, tying her career-high to win the event.
ASU continued to hold its lead into the third rotation where it earned 49.125 on the balance beam. Justine Callis led the Gym Devils off with a solid 9.825 showing off her unique mount and artistry. Leonard-Baker’s jam-packed routine and Christopherson’s stuck one and a half dismount earned a pair of 9.850s. Ashley Szafranski capped off the lineup with her signature routine, recording a 9.875.
The Bears had a solid floor rotation with their second season-high of the night scoring a 49.200. Robinson’s powerful tumbling notched a season-high of 9.850, and Sofie Seilnacht tied her season-high of 9.825. Williams was phenomenal on floor, earning a perfect 10 from one judge and 9.950 from the other to match her career high of 9.975.
Continuing their lead into the final rotation, the Gym Devils had another impressive floor rotation filled with multiple career-highs. Christopherson, Ginn and Lentz led things off with three 9.825s matching or tying career-highs for all three. Kaitlyn Szafranski also tied her career-high of 9.850. These four scores along with Leonard-Baker’s spectacular career-high 9.925 was enough for Arizona State to win the meet. The Devils put up a 49.250 total on the apparatus.
Cal crumbled in the final rotation with three falls and was forced to count a disappointing 9.125 and 9.150. Despite the falls, Williams had an outstanding beam routine notching a 9.900 and the first-place event title.
“I’m so proud of how this team did today. Everyone went out and attacked each event, and we had so much energy which really helped,” said Christopherson. “We’ve worked so hard this season, and we’ve had the preparation to do well. Jay always says do your job and do your job well. If you do your job well, then the scores will come naturally.”
The Gym Devils hit the road again next week to head to Corvallis to take on the Oregon State Beavers. The meet will begin at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, and will air on Pac-12 Networks.
