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Michigan State gymnastics defeats WMU for their last home meet of the season

March 7, 2022
<p>Michigan State&#x27;s freshman Skyla Schulte celebrates with Head Coach Mike Rowe after the uneven bars event during Michigan State&#x27;s win over Western on March 5, 2022.</p>

Michigan State's freshman Skyla Schulte celebrates with Head Coach Mike Rowe after the uneven bars event during Michigan State's win over Western on March 5, 2022.

Photo by Rahmya Trewern | The State News

Michigan State celebrated Senior Night with a victory against Western Michigan University for their final home meet of the season.

Seniors Sydney Ewing , Ashley Hofelich, Lea Mitchell, Alaina Raybon and Alyssa Wiedeman were celebrated Saturday night as they wrapped up their careers as Spartans.

The meet began as the senior's family members walked them onto the floor to commemorate their final night at Jenison Fieldhouse, and wrapped up with an individual tribute to each senior.

“Very, very sad,” freshman Skyla Schulte said. “I've created such a strong bond with all of them, and we all get along so well.”

It's evident that this senior class has made a lasting impact on both the team and the entirety of the program. They've been through it all these past four years, and have shown strength through the pandemic.

The women started the night off on vault where they finished with a total score of 49.100. Schulte set a career-best score of 9.925.

The team then moved onto the uneven parallel bars for their second event of the night. The girls ended with their season-high 49.400 total with help from sophomores Baleigh Garcia and Delanie Harkness who secured career-high scores of 9.85 and 9.95.

“I am over the moon about setting my career best,” Harkness said. “I'm really excited because I've been working on sticking those landings, so it feels good to finally stick one in a routine and get the score that I deserve.”

The Spartans then moved onto the balance beam where Schulte set a career-high score of 9.95.

The team wrapped up their meet on the floor, where they finished off the meet with a bang. Ewing left it all on the floor as she tied her career-best score of 9.90 for her final floor routine, followed by junior Nyah Smith setting a career best of 9.925, Schulte with a career-high score of 9.95 and Hofelich with a career high of 9.975.

“It was so bittersweet to have (set my career high on floor) here at Jenison Fieldhouse,” Hoeflich said. “I've been on a straight line of 9.925s, so to be able to beat that after last week and really honing in on ... everything I need t work on and finally being awarded for, it's really special.”

When it came down to the award ceremony, the Spartans made themselves heard. Not only did Schulte place first on vault and bars, but she made MSU program history and set an all-around high score of 39.675. This broke MSU gymnastic's alumni, Kristen Coleman's, score of 39.625. The celebration continued as MSU broke their program's high score of 197.45 set on Feb. 13, and replaced it with a score of 197.575.

“It feels incredible,” Schulte said. “I don't even have the words to describe how I'm feeling, but I feel very grateful for this team, my coaches, the program.”

The Spartans will be away at the University of Kentucky for their last meet of the season on March 11 before heading to Columbus, Ohio for the Big Ten Championship meet.

“(Kentucky's) good so we have to stay right where we are without making any extreme changes in what we do back in the gym,” Michigan State gymnastics Head Coach Mike Rowe said. “Getting towards the end of the season the lineup starts solidifying a little bit, but there's still some kids that are coming up that can still be impact players. ... Consistency is always the most important and that's what we're looking at now: who can be the most consistent, ... and that's who we will go with next weekend.”

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