The Pioneer gymnastics team posted a season-high meet score of 195.650 on Saturday, defeating Alaska-Anchorage and Iowa State in the Burnsley Invitational in Hamilton Gymnasium and moving up to No. 17 in the lastest GymInfo Poll.
Iowa State finished 2nd with a 194.375, leaving Alaska-Anchorage in 3rd with a score of 188.05.
This weekend marked the second victory for the Pioneers in the 2012 season and increases the team’s overall average to 194.92. Despite suffering several injuries on the team, Denver was able to claim victory for the second time in as many weeks.
Sophomore Melodie Pulgarin-Linero, who recently won the all-around against Missouri, was out due to a back injury.
Freshman Ellese Sakai-Hart was kept out of her regular events–vault, beam and floor–with a toe injury, but still managed to set a new career high score of 9.75 on bars. The number of injuries meant that untried gymnasts such as freshmen Alix Angelopulo and Kayla Carlsen were called to perform, which, according to head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart, they did admirably.
Carlsen, who posted a 9.725, and Angelopulo, who scored a 9.750, did not pass up their opportunity to make an impression.
“I’m so proud. We had a lot of sicknesses and injuries, one of our best all-arounders happened later in the week. We had people that have never competed before, except exhibitions, but we just got our season high,” said gymnast Moriah Martin.
In addition to the freshman victories, sophomore Martin set a new all-around season high score at 39.175. In addition to Martin, both junior Simona Castro and sophomore Jorie Hall had successful nights. Castro matched her career high on bars and floor with a 9.775 and 9.850, respectively, and Hall set a new career high with a 9.875 on floor.
“I think this really shows the character of the team. With a season of steady improvement and an incredible 100 percent performance despite setbacks, the girls really just went out and gave it their all,” said Kutcher-Rinehart.
It was also Pink Night this Saturday for the gymnastics team as the entire crowd showed their support for breast cancer with pink beanies and a coordinated pink-gloved wave. This annual demonstration is intended to show support in honor of breast-cancer survivor and former chairman Joy Burns.
Next week, the gymnastics team heads to Provo, Utah, to compete against Brigham Young University on Friday at 7 p.m.
