2024 Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Championships Preview: Can Michigan State make history?

The 2024 Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Championships take us directly into Michigan State territory. As all ten teams descend on East Lansing, an unprecedented number could challenge for the title.

How to watch

Afternoon Session

• Saturday, March 23 @ 12:00 p.m ET – Live Stats | Video (Fox Sports)
• Teams: Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers, Maryland, Illinois, Iowa

Evening Session

• Saturday, March 23 @ 5:30 p.m ET – Live Stats | Video (Fox Sports)
• Teams: Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State, Michigan State

With 27 conference championships, the defending back-to-back champion Michigan Wolverines have long-dominated this meet. However, the conference is more competitive than ever before. Their (likely) spoiler? Michigan State. The outright regular season champion is hungry for their first championship, looking to make history in their home arena.

We’ve also got our eyes peeled for a Minnesota upset and big scores from the afternoon session. With conference realignment (and the addition of UCLA and Washington) on the horizon, there is no better year for a team to etch their name into the record books.

Here’s what to look for from each team:

#9 Michigan State

2024 feels like the Spartans’ year, but as we know, anything’s possible. Individually, Mike Rowe’s team is immensely talented. Phenom Skyla Schulte is a top contender for the all-around, beam, and floor titles. Look for Sage Kellerman to contend on vault and for Nikki Smith to fight for the vault and floor titles. Delanie Harkness (bars) and Baleigh Garcia (beam) should also vie for hardware. It’s the Spartans championship to lose, but can they pull it off? They’ll start on floor and finish on beam – an interesting draw that could play a role in how this meet shakes up.

#10 Michigan

It’s been Michigan’s conference to lose for a long time. However, this year’s championship will be the toughest to win as they face a formidable Spartan squad. The Wolverines get to rotate in Olympic order, starting on vault. The event has been surprisingly inconsistent for Michigan, and they will need to hit it cleanly to hold off their competitors. Team title or not, multiple Wolverines could leave victorious. Sierra Brooks will vie for the all-around title, and teammate Gabby Wilson should challenge Minnesota’s Mya Hooten for the floor crown. Don’t be surprised if consistency-queen Reyna Guggino sneaks away with the vault win as well.

#15 Minnesota

The Gophers are a sleeper pick for the title. While the Wolverines and Spartans’ rivalry has dominated conference chatter throughout the year, Minnesota appears to be peaking at the right time. Jenny Hansen’s team is coming off two mid-197 performances, including a 197.725 behind Mya Hooten’s 10.0 on floor. To no one’s surprise, Hooten is a front-runner for the floor title (and could contend on vault and bars as well). Fans should also watch for Gianna Gerdes to challenge for the all-around title – Gerdes’ season-high 39.775 stands as the sixth-highest in the country this season. The Gophers start on bars and then will look to gain the advantage on beam, where they’re No. 1 in the conference.

#16 Ohio State

The Buckeyes finished fourth at last year’s championships and will look to improve upon their finish in 2024. However, Coach Paulicivic’s team has trended in the wrong direction as of late, posting their lowest score of the season last week (196.250). With the lowest ceiling of the top four teams (197.350 season high), the Buckeyes will need to be faultless and rely on mistakes to contend. Look for stars Payton Harris and Tory Vetter to contend for titles across the board and for Ella Hodges to steal the show (and potentially the Big Ten title) on floor.

#24 Penn State

The Nittany Lions are threatening underdogs. While a title is unlikely, Penn State could realistically land their best finish in recent years. Individually, the talent is remarkable. Ava Piedrahita, the team’s MVP, should contend for medals on vault and in the all-around. On floor, fans should watch for Amani Herring and Bella Salcedo to give the contenders a run for their money. Salcedo is also one to watch on beam, showcasing some of the best dance in the country.

Nebraska

Ever since their disappointing 195 at Big Fives, the Huskers have been on a roll, going 197+ for three weeks straight, increasing their total each time. Like the Nittany Lions, the Huskers will look to top the afternoon session. Emma Spence is expected to lead the Big Red in addition to contending for the all-around, bars, and floor titles.

Maryland

After a midseason slump, the Terrapins have roared back to life, averaging just short of a 197 in their last four meets (196.950). The team has multiple individual contenders across events. Look for rookie Natalie Martin to vie for the vault title, Alexa Rothenbuescher the bars, and Maddie Komoroski the beam. The road will not be easy; Maryland starts on beam, where they’re rank seventh in the conference.

Illinois

The Illini have shown impressive ability as of late. Led by Mia Takekawa and Mia Townes, the team is fresh off a 197.275 and could leave East Lansing with some individual hardware. While Takekawa is a top contender for the bars and beam titles, watch for freshman Lyden Saltness to finish on the bars podium and Townes to contend on floor.

Iowa

It’s crunch time for the Hawkeyes. Iowa enters this week ranked 37th nationally, needing to move up one spot to qualify to regionals. It’s all or nothing. Larissa Libby’s squad will need to put up a sizable number to jump the standings and keep their season alive. Watch for Karina Muñoz to continue her spectacular sophomore season and vie for the all-around and bars titles.

Rutgers

Rutgers heads to Big Tens having been mathematically-eliminated from regionals contention and will look to close their year on a high note. Individually, Avery Balser has a distant chance to qualify on bars. Emily Leese would be in contention for a vault berth, but she was in a cast after going down on floor during podium training, putting her status up in the air.