Saturday, March 14, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Gymnastics

SPORTS

Spartans defeat Ball State during 'outstanding' meet

With the Big Ten Championships and NCAA Regionals approaching, the MSU gymnastics team badly needed another high score on Friday at Jenison Field House against Ball State. The Spartans got their wish, when they posted a team score above 195 for the second straight week, toppling the Cardinals 195.025-193.300.

SPORTS

Spartans hope to repeat high scores with Ball State at home

One week removed from its highest score of the season, the MSU gymnastics team is prepared to keep its momentum going when it welcomes Ball State to Jenison Field House on Friday night. The Spartans (3-2-1 overall) are riding a three-meet home winning streak, and last Friday’s mark of 195.175 kicked the season average up to 193.118.

SPORTS

Gymnasts tie Fighting Illini 195.175

For a moment on Friday night, the MSU gymnastics team had upset the No. 18 Illinois Fighting Illini in Champaign, Ill. However, after a brief inquiry, the official score gave the Fighting Illini an extra .025 points; thus, the teams tied at 195.175, and neither team left Huff Hall with the Victory Plank.

SPORTS

Spartans aim for third consecutive win, improved parallel bars scores

As the MSU gymnastics team heads into its final home meet of a three-meet stretch, the Spartans know how important it is to notch a third win over Pittsburgh before they hit the road. To do so, the Spartans have tried to simulate the atmosphere of a meet in their practices this week, which included the team being split into two squads and competing against each other. “When we do our practice routines, we try to get more scoring in to try and create the pressure of being judged and the meet experience,” sophomore Alex Pace said.

SPORTS

MSU aims to improve beam performance

As they look to build on last week’s 194.400-193.625 victory over Illinois State, MSU gymnasts know they still have a long way to go. For the fourth straight week, the Spartans’ struggles on the balance beam were highlighted, and the event continues to see most of the focus in practice.

SPORTS

Gymnast’s passion trumps injury

This time last year, Shanthi Teike had the world in front of her. Then a sophomore on the MSU gymnastics team, Teike was a rising star in the Spartan ranks coming off a freshman season, which made people take notice. As a sophomore, Teike competed as an all-around gymnast in seven of the team’s 12 matches and finished with three first-place, five second-place and three third-place honors leading into the NCAA Corvallis Regional.