Senior Rhiannon Banda-Scott lands a vault while competing against Michigan on Jan. 26 at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor. Banda-Scott landed a perfect 10 on Sunday at Jenison Field House, which propelled MSU to victory against New Hampshire.
Eighteen years of gymnastics paid off for senior Rhiannon Banda-Scott as she scored a perfect 10 on the vault at Sunday’s Senior Day, leading the Spartans to a 196.350-193.475 victory against New Hampshire.
The perfect 10 was the last time Banda-Scott would perform at Jenison Field House.
“I wasn’t really thinking of getting a 10 or anything,” Banda-Scott said, who was named Co-Big Ten Gymnast of the Week on Tuesday. “I just wanted to make sure it was a good vault because it was going to be my last.”
The feeling afterward was indescribable, she said.
“I don’t think you can really understand what it’s like until it actually happens,” Banda-Scott said.
Gymnastics head coach Kathie Klages told Banda-Scott to focus on doing well on Senior Day instead of focusing on accomplishing a perfect 10 score.
“Before the competition, I mentioned to Rhiannon that some people have magical days and some people have the worst day of their career,” Klages said.
“I told her don’t let it be either, just go out there and do your gymnastics.”
Banda-Scott’s big finish will be memorable for everyone, Klages said.
“It’s something we’ll all be able to remember for the rest of our lives,” she said.
If there’s one other gymnast on the team who can relate to the feeling Banda-Scott had after landing her perfect 10, it’s sophomore Rochelle Robinson.
Robinson received a perfect 10 in 2007 and was there to see it happen for the second time in the program’s history on Sunday.
Scoring the perfect 10 on a special night as Banda-Scott did is something Robinson strives to accomplish, she said.
“I hope I can repeat what she did on her senior night,” Robinson said.
“That’s got to be the best self-confidence booster.”
Two perfect 10s in the span of two seasons is more than unusual, Klages said.
“It hadn’t happened all those years,” Klages said, who has been head coach for 18 years. “Then to have it happen last year and this year, it’s pretty special.”
Banda-Scott is currently the only senior on the team who competes, after seniors Megan McNally and Bethany Little were unable to finish the season because of injuries.
While this was the last home meet for Banda-Scott, the Spartans have their final regular season meets coming up at Auburn Friday and Arkansas March 21. Regionals and nationals also also up for grabs, and Banda-Scott said she believes the team has a good chance of competing.
“If we just keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’re going to give the other teams a run for their money,” she said.
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After this season Banda-Scott, who will graduate in December, has summer and fall semesters to focus on being a student instead of a student athlete.
“I’ll have a couple semesters to adjust to not having gymnastics in my life,” Banda-Scott said.
Banda-Scott, journalism major, has an internship this summer.
“I get to do something for once that has to do with what I want to do for the rest of my life,” she said.
As for the perfect 10, Banda-Scott will carry the memory with her.
“Things like that happen and it’s like everything I ever worked for is worth it now,” she said.
Banda-Scott will miss being part of the gymnastics team when it’s over, but said that’s part of life.
“It’s been a pretty cool journey,” she said.
