The Crimson and Gold delivered a commanding performance this Sunday at Magness Arena, sweeping Iowa State and showcasing why Denver entered the meet ranked No. 17, while the Cyclones came in at No. 59.
Denver opened the meet on vault with strong momentum. Freshman Shyla Bhatia led the way for Denver, delivering a solid vault with a small step forward on her landing. Her performance earned a 9.850, which led her placing first in the event for the meet.
The rotation momentarily paused for Iowa State’s Frederique Sgarbossa after she took a scary fall off the bars, one of four falls the Cyclones suffered on bars.
She remained on the ground for several moments as coaches and medical staff attended to her. The crowd showed support as she was carried off the gym floor to be further evaluated by medical staff.
Denver stayed composed following the delay. Senior Kiley Rorich followed with a strong vault and controlled landing, drawing cheers from the crowd. She smiled as she received high-fives from her teammates and a congratulatory embrace from assistant coach Mary Rice.
After the first rotation, Denver held a strong lead with a team score of 48.975, while Iowa State trailed with 45.925 points.
Denver continued their momentum on bars. Senior Mila Brusch completed her routine with ease and precision, hitting every skill cleanly. As she swung into her dismount, Brusch let go and landed perfectly, earning a 9.825.
Cecilia Cooley followed with another flawless and captivating routine. Looking strong from start to finish, Cooley stuck her landing and scored a 9.850.
Rorich closed out the rotation, delivering a routine that earned cheers throughout Magness Arena. Teammates rushed in with high-fives as she finished and her 9.900 capped off a dominant second rotation.
Halfway through the meet, Denver extended their lead with a score of 98.125 while the Cyclones posted a score of 94.750.
The Crimson and Gold carried their confidence into beam. Junior Ashley Gallen delivered a fabulous routine, executing each skill flawlessly before sticking her dismount. Following her routine, Gallen was greeted with a hug and smile from head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart.
Freshman Megan Aamold’s performance was filled with confidence and composure. That confidence radiated as she moved through her routine. Aamold stuck her dismount and saluted the judges, further extending Denver’s lead with a 9.875.
Iowa State’s Noelle Adams brought high energy to her floor routine, hoping to keep the Cyclones within striking distance as the meet moved into the final rotation.
Following the third rotation, the Crimson and Gold remained with a comfortable lead with 147.025 and the Cyclones with 143.900.
Denver closed the meet on the floor, feeding off of the crowd’s energy. Junior Amanda Hargarves opened with a fun, fast-paced routine that kept the fans and judges engaged.
Her teammates cheered from the sidelines, and Hargraves looked thrilled as she finished and shared a hug with student assistant coach Ava Mabanta. Her routine earned a 9.875.
Cooley capped off the night with another captivating performance. She executed all her skills flawlessly earning a 9.925 for her routine.
Denver sealed a dominant victory with a score of 196.525 while Iowa State finished with a 192.550.
The Crimson and Gold will compete in Arizona against No. 28 Arizona State in their next meet on Feb. 7.
