The University of Denver women’s gymnastics team earned a 196.600 in Saturday’s meet to defeat opponent Iowa State, recording the second-highest opening score in program history.
After facing an abrupt end to their 2020 season, the team was grateful and excited to be back on the mat. DU had strong performances from freshmen and returning competitors. Freshmen accounted for almost half of the team’s routines, and senior Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.) took home the all-around title.
Denver opened the competition on the bars where they scored a team total of 49.300, the highest event score in a season opener that DU has ever recorded. Brown won this event with a 9.925 and was closely followed by freshmen Rylie Mundell (Parker, Colo.), Jessica Hutchinson (Gilbertsville, Pa.) and Rosie Casali (Weddington, N.C) who all made their college debuts in this rotation. The first-year athletes earned a 9.875, 9.850 and 9.800, respectively. Senior Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.) brought in the final counted score with a 9.850 to help Denver defeat Iowa’s 48.975.
As DU moved to the vault, senior Mia Sundstrom (Boulder, Colo.) led the team with a 9.875, the second-best score in this rotation. This was Sundstrom’s first competition back after a season-ending injury in 2019, and she was just 0.025 off her career-best on the vault. Hutchinson and Mundell also made their collegiate debuts in this event, and they helped the team to a final score of 48.755. However, Iowa State took the vault title with a team score of 49.175.
Brown continued her impressive performance by scoring a 9.875 on the floor, leading all the athletes in this event. Hutchinson and freshman Abbie Thompson (Sanford, Fla.) followed Brown with each athlete earning a 9.850. Junior Alexandria Ruiz (Lake Mary, Fla.) and Glynn posted the final two counted scores with a 9.825 and 9.775 respectively, and the team recorded a final score of 49.175 to defeat Iowa State in this event.
However, the DU gymnasts had their best performance of the night on the beam with a team score of 49.350. Junior Alexis Vasquez (Arcadia, Calif.) led this event with a 9.925 while freshman Mundell recorded a second-place score of 9.900, the highest score in this event for a DU freshman in her debut performance. Thompson, Hutchinson and Brown had the final three counted scores in this event to lead the team to victory.
Although Brown earned the all-around title with a 39.450, Hutchinson was a close second with a 39.150. Hutchinson’s score is the third-highest all-around score for a Denver gymnast in her debut competition.
The University of Denver gymnastics team continues their season on Sunday, Jan. 24 when they host Air Force at home. The competition begins at 2 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium.
