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Preview: MSU prepares for senior night matchup against Northern Illinois

March 11, 2023
<p>Senior All-Around Nikki Smith after finishing her dismount at the MSU vs. Penn State meet at the Jenison Field House on Feb. 4, 2023. The Spartans beat the Nittany Lions 197.450 - 195.475.</p>

Senior All-Around Nikki Smith after finishing her dismount at the MSU vs. Penn State meet at the Jenison Field House on Feb. 4, 2023. The Spartans beat the Nittany Lions 197.450 - 195.475.

The No. 10 Michigan State gymnastics team (13-2) will take to the floor one last time this season in Jenison Field House for a senior night celebration against Northern Illinois (8-4) on Saturday night.

The Spartans are coming into Saturday off an incredible, record-breaking tri-meet against Long Island University and Bowling Green State University last Sunday. In the tri-meet, Michigan State set five new program records including new high scores on vault, bars, and beam, the first-ever perfect 10.000 on bars from senior Jori Jackard, and a program-high 198.255 final score. On top of all the broken records Sunday afternoon, freshman Nikki Smith also hit a perfect 10.000 on vault.

Scoring above a 198.000 in collegiate gymnastics is no small feat. The Spartans became just the eighth team to score above that benchmark this season with amazing performances on every apparatus. MSU swept all four event titles—Smith on Vault, Jackard on Bars, junior Baleigh Garcia on beam and junior Delanie Harkness on floor.

Sunday afternoon’s performance also handed MSU a sweep of the Big Ten weekly awards. Smith was named the co-gymnast and freshman of the week, and Jackard was named co-event specialist of the week.

Looking ahead, Northern Illinois puts up final scores averaging 195.165—their highest of the season being a 195.950 at Ball State. On the other hand, Michigan State averages a final score of 197.113, and has only scored below NIU’s highest score once this season (195.725 at Iowa).

Sophomore Isabella Sissi is the only Husky that typically competes in the all-around. Sissi recently tied her career high 39.325 against Western Michigan, and has some nice improving score to show for it.

The senior night festivities on Saturday will take place following the conclusion of the meet. Michigan State will be bidding farewell to three seniors this year before they head on the road to the Big Ten Championship—Jackard, Tori Loomis and Nyah Smith.

The meet will take place on Saturday, March 11 at 7 p.m. at Jenison Field House, and will also be streaming on BTN+.

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