High marks fall short vs. U-M

The MSU gymnastics team is looking at a weekend loss to Michigan as a chance to improve its performance. The No. 23-ranked Spartans lost to the No. 6 Wolverines with a final score of 196.750 to 194.550.

But with an entire season in front of them, head coach Kathie Klages said she feels there’s plenty of time for her team members to shape up.

“They fought for every tenth of a point,” Klages said. “We’re pleased with the performance, but we’ll continue to improve.”

Rhiannon Banda-Scott held the team’s highest score of the night. She tied U-M’s Kari Pearce for second place on the vault with a score of 9.850.

Banda-Scott said this meet was an improvement from those earlier in the season.

“I think our chemistry as a team is getting better as the season progresses,” Banda-Scott said, noting the score from this competition has been the highest of the season even though the meet was away.

Banda-Scott said she felt the team’s confidence needed a boost.

“We’re capable of such great things. We’re physically ready, but we need to do what we do in the gym on the competition floor,” Banda-Scott said.

Calling this weekend’s competition a “peak meet,” Banda-Scott said she and her teammates use competitions against U-M to evaluate where they need to make improvements to their performances.

Sophomore Rochelle Robinson returned to the balance beam this weekend for the first time all season after suffering an ankle injury. She scored a 9.225 in the event.

“I obviously wanted to do well, but when I figured out my series wouldn’t work, I tried to just stay on the beam,” Robinson said.

Robinson said a lack of confidence played a major factor in her performance.

“(I need) to become more confident and think more on cue,” she said.

Robinson would like to return to her all-arounder status and compete in all four events within the next two weeks.

But instead of focusing on the team’s weaknesses, the coaches are looking to the positive side of things.

“I’m so proud of the team for staying on the beam,” said assistant coach Katie Teft, adding that seven out of the eight girls who competed on the balance beam managed to stay on throughout their performances. All six of the girls whose performances counted toward the final score completed their routines without falling off.

Going into the meet, Klages called the competition at Crisler Arena a “warm-up” for Big Ten tournaments, which will be held at the end of March in Ann Arbor. Despite the loss, Klages said she still thinks the weekend helped the team get ready for the future.

“It’s exciting to get into the arena you’re going to compete in and get under the lights,” Klages said.