“Next weekend in Ann Arbor, the reigning national champions who are looking like they're (scoring) almost 198 sometimes,” Michigan State Head Coach Mike Rowe said. “We can be better with better competitors.”

Rowe said it's important of going up against high-ranked teams like Michigan in order to learn and improve for the future.

“Today helped solidify that we belong with the teams at the top,” Rowe said. “Not that going against a non-conference opponent like we did last week didn't validate what we can do, but this certainly helps naysayers settle in and understand what we're capable of and we're certainly not done. These kids are hungrier, if anything, to prove it.”

The Spartans made some slip-ups on beam that affected the team's overall score, but desperately need to overcome that challenge if they want to compete with the Wolverines on Sunday afternoon.

“Where we are this early in the season, still going over 196 and feeling confident about what we're doing,” Rowe said. “We've been working on what we have considered our weakest event which was bars at the time and we've come back. Not sure if we calmed down for some of the beam ‘oopsies’ that happened but we're much stronger than that and we know what we have to do back in the gym.”

The team's energy is high and they're ready to take the necessary steps toward improvement as they venture into their first Big Ten away meet of the 2022 season. They plan to spend the week practicing and getting ready for what's to come as one unit.

“I love the team, I love the energy,” freshman Gabrielle Stephen said. “Everyone wants it and everyone's all into the team. It's great to be apart of and we're doing some amazing things this year. I can't wait to see what we do.”

The Spartans will be traveling to Ann Arbor Sunday at 2 p.m. for their annual rivalry meet.

“We need to continue training like we have been,” senior Sydney Ewing said. “Every single day it blows me away by the talent this team has. I want all of us to enjoy it, have fun out there and show what we have been working for. We're going to be proud of what we do when we do that.”