On Feb. 3, Denver posted its second-highest score of the season, 196.750, to win the quad meet against Ball State (195.450), No. 18, BYU (194.875) and Bowling Green (194.525). This meet was the second consecutive sell-out, setting a new record in Hamilton Gymnasium for DU Gymnastics.
The Pioneers opened on vault, with six student-athletes competing for the first time all season. DU scored a 49.275, the highest team score on vault all season. Sophomore Maddie Karr (Stillwater, Minn.) tied for the event title with a score of 9.925. Freshman Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.) and junior Diana Chesnok (Charlotte, N.C.) each posted 9.850, with Chesnok tying her best score on the event. Senior Nikole Addison (Fort Myers, Fla.) and freshman Mia Sundstrom (Boulder, Colo.) each had 9.825, matching Sundstrom’s personal best. Junior Kaitlyn Schou (Orlando, Fla.) competed on the vault for the first time, scoring a 9.725.
In the second rotation, DU competed six gymnasts, after competing only five gymnasts last meet. Karr tied her personal best of a 9.900 for the third straight meet, and finished second overall. Brown tied her personal best with a 9.875, and tied for third overall. Sundstrom scored a new career-high of 9.850, and freshman Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.) returned after missing two meets with an injury and scored a 9.850.
On the beam, DU swept the podium with Karr and Sundstrom sharing first place with scores of 9.925. This was a new career-best for Sundstrom, and tied Karr’s personal best. Schou completed the sweep with a 9.900, placing her in third. Addison scored a season-best 9.825, and Brown scored a 9.800. Denver’s score of 49.375 was the fifth-best mark in program history.
Denver competed only five student-athletes on floor, scoring a 49.350. Brown had a career-high and event-winning 9.950, Addison placed second with a score of 9.900, and Karr was third with with a 9.875. Schou scored a 9.825, and Sundstrom finished with a 9.800.
Denver swept the top spots in the all-around for the second straight meet. Karr placed first with a score of 39.635, which was the sixth-highest score in DU gymnastics. Brown earned a 39.475, placing second, and Sundstrom placed third with a new personal-best of 39.400.
“I’m impressed with the character of the team. I’m pleased with the performance, and we just need to stay patient as we work to get back to full strength,” Head Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said following the meet. “Once again, we want to thank our fans and friends for our second straight sell out. The atmosphere was electric, and we’re so pleased to watch the sports of collegiate women’s gymnastics grow and the visibility increase. We hope to continue the momentum from the last two meets, and we’re very blessed to have this support.”
The Pioneers will finish their three-meet home stand on Feb. 10, against Big 12 Conference team, West Virginia, starting at 6 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium.
