The Denver gymnastics team showed why they are ranked no. 8 in the nation after scoring 196.175 to win their home opener, beating no. 22 Central Michigan (193.250), Texas Woman’s (190.200) and Sacramento State (190.150). The Pioneers scored a new program record on bars with a 49.525 and swept all five individual event titles.
“Overall, there were extreme highs and lows. Bars was outstanding. Obviously, it was not a good night for us on beam,” Head-Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. “I don’t think we could have ever counted a full point worth of falls on beam and still gone above a 196 overall without the beam line up we have. But I was incredibly proud of the refocusing ability on floor.”
Denver started the meet on the vault, where junior Maddie Karr (Stillwater, Minn.) won the vault title with a 9.850. Sophomore Mia Sundstrom (Boulder, Colo.) and sophomore Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.) were close behind, tying for second overall with a 9.800. Senior Diana Chesnok (Charlotte, N.C.) scored a 9.750, freshman Alexandria Ruiz (Lake Mary, Fla,) and senior Kaitlyn Schou (Orlando, Fla) both added 9.725’s.
On the bar, the student-athletes broke the program record with a 49.525. Karr took the event title again, scoring a career-high 9.975. She was followed by Sundstrom, who also set a new personal high with a 9.925. Brown earned a 9.900, sophomore Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.) scored 9.875, and senior Claire Kern (Charlotte, N.C.) earned a 9.850 to finish out the rotation.
Despite having to count two falls on beam, Denver was still able to sweep the podium after Schou tied her career-high score of 9.950. Freshman Alexis Vasquez (Arcadia, Calif.) was right behind her with a 9.875, followed by Brown with a 9.850.
The Pioneers came back strong on the floor, earning a team score of 49.425. Brown won the event with a 9.925. Schou tied another career-record in this event, her 9.900 tying her with Karr for second in the event. Sundstrom scored a 9.875, Kern scored a 9.800, and Ruiz scored a 9.825 in her collegiate debut on the floor.
There were several standout performances tonight. Kaitlyn Schou had a phenomenal night with two personal bests on beam and floor.” Kutcher-Rinehart said after the meet. “This is a tremendous opportunity for us to grow and improve.”
Brown won her second all-around title with a cumulative score of 39.475, Karr took second with a 39.050, and Sundstrom took third with a 38.900 at the opening meet of the season with more than 2,300 fans in attendance.
The Denver gymnastics team travels next to Fort Worth, Texas, for the Metroplex Challenge on Saturday, Jan. 26. They will return to Magness Arena to face Big 12 rivals, Oklahoma, on Sunday, Feb. 10.
