Spartans Fall to Rival Michigan in First Away Meet

The Michigan State gymnastics team is still in search of their first victory after Friday night’s effort against No. 4 Michigan. This was the team’s first away meet of the season. The final score of the meet was 196.800 – 193.900 and was a 1.15 increase from the Spartan’s previous meet.

The Spartans started out on the uneven bars for the first time this season. It turned out to be to MSU’s advantage as they posted a 48.675, which was their highest score of the season. Spartan Lisa Burt led the event with a season-high 9.8. Also, Ashley Noll posted her career high score of 9.750 and Michigan’s Joanna Sampson won the event with a 9.975.

Sophomore Alina Cartwright led the team in the vault with a score of 9.875. MSU scored a 48.150 in the vault and Michigan’s Austin Sheppard won the event with a score of 9.975. The Wolverines were dominant on the vault placing second through seventh.

MSU scored a 48.375 in the floor exercise, which was a .625 decline compared to last week. Alina Cartwright led the team in this event with a score of 9.800. Freshmen Elena Lagoski recorded her season-low with a score of 9.650. The Wolverines team scored a 48.900 and Nicole Artz and Joanna Sampson tied for first with a score of 9.875.

The Spartans finished the night strong with a beam score of 48.700, a .900 increase from their previous performance. Alina Cartwright tied her career-best score of  9.850, which earned her a second place finish in the event. The Wolverines scored a 49.125 in the event, led by Joanna Sampson with a 9.925.

Joanna Sampson won the all-around with a score of 39.650. Alina Cartwright scored a 39.275 in the event. Both girls were the lone competitors in this event.

Looking towards next week, MSU will be facing off against the Iowa Hawkeyes. This also will be the eighth annual Jan Howard Memorial Breast Cancer Meet. It will take place Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in Jenison Field House.


Jalen Walker is the host of A-Score for Impact Sports.

Photo: Jonathan Yales/Impact Sports