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Gymnastics rides three-meet win streak

February 12, 2012
Redshirt sophomore Taira Neal prepares to compete on the uneven parallel bars at the gymnastics meet against Pittsburgh on Saturday night at Jenison Field House. The Spartans defeated Pittsburgh 193.875-193.475. Jaclyn McNeal/The State News
Redshirt sophomore Taira Neal prepares to compete on the uneven parallel bars at the gymnastics meet against Pittsburgh on Saturday night at Jenison Field House. The Spartans defeated Pittsburgh 193.875-193.475. Jaclyn McNeal/The State News —
Photo by Jaclyn McNeal | and Jaclyn McNeal The State News

It wasn’t pretty, but thanks to a late swing in MSU’s favor, the Spartan gymnastics team pulled out its third straight win, 193.875-193.475 over Pittsburgh.

When the Spartans headed to the floor and the Panthers to the balance beam for the final rotation of the night, MSU trailed 146.325-145.350. But strong performances on the floor routine combined with Pittsburgh’s low score on the balance beam put the Spartans ahead for the win.

“I think it should give our athletes some confidence that we can come from behind and win, so that’s a real positive thing,” head coach Kathie Klages said. “We didn’t quit, and unfortunately Pitt had some trouble on balance beam, so we had to count a fall, and they had to count a couple. But that’s the name of the game. It’s basically who stays on beam, and from that point on, it’s a battle.”

The Spartans had their own problems with the balance beam to start, when sophomore Dani Levy fell hard near the end of her routine, which landed her with a score of 8.700. However, the rest of the team stepped up to the challenge and led by sophomore Alex Pace pulled together for a composite team score of 47.950, just shy of MSU’s top mark on beam this season.

The Spartans’ ability to salvage the beam event ended up being difference maker in the final score when it was all said and done.

“Obviously after a fall, it’s the next teammate’s responsibility to pick up whatever we lost,” Pace said. “We’re all team oriented, so whatever happens, happens, and you can’t let it affect your performance and what you have to do. You always have to be there for your team to fall back on, and that’s what we did today.”

After her fall on beam, Levy was scratched from the lineup on the floor rotation, and sophomore Gillian Carr was shuffled into the mix. Klages said Levy had been sick all week, and after the fall, she decided to pull the sophomore from the competition.

Although the loss of Levy likely hurt MSU in the event, the Spartans stepped up once again, and behind senior Alyssa Brennan’s personal best score of 9.800, pulled together for a score of 48.525.

“It feels really good, after we struggled on beam, to get some good floor routines and come away with the win,” Brennan said. “I’m really proud of our team. We still have some work to do, but we’re on our way.”

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