Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Week 4 Recap: Michigan State posts top score on back of Nikki Smith’s perfect 10
Week 4 of Big Ten women’s gymnastics saw a historic perfect 10, a heartbreaking injury, and steady strength at the top of the conference.
At the top of this week’s highlights is Nikki Smith’s perfect 10 on floor. The sophomore’s 10.0 marks the first perfect score on floor in Michigan State history and led the Spartans to the conference’s best score for the second week in a row.
Iowa lost all-arounder Adeline Kenlin to injury after the senior landed short on her vault versus Southern Utah and was pulled from the remaining three lineups. The team’s grittiness amid adversity pushed them through the weekend and will hopefully sustain them moving forward.
As we march towards the midpoint of the season, stories continue to unravel. Read below to learn more about the best – and the worst – of Week 4 in Big Ten women’s gymnastics.
#10 Michigan @ #22 Nebraska
Final score: Michigan: 196.900 – Nebraska: 195.275
Michigan
While it wasn’t their highest score this season, coach Plocki’s squad fought hard in front of a sizable Nebraska crowd to capture a win over the Huskers.
The Wolverines started on bars, sticking two out of six landings. Naomi Morrison tied her season high in the leadoff spot with a 9.825, and Sierra Brooks nailed her full-twisting double layout for an event-winning 9.9.
Reyna Guggino was spectacular on vault, executing her Yurchenko 1.5 to perfection and receiving a 9.9. While Guggino’s score earned her the win, it generated controversy on social media. Morrison hit her 1.5 cleanly for a 9.8 and Brooks earned a 9.825, while the rest of the lineup struggled with landing errors.
Michigan was conditioned and determined on floor to claim a decisive lead. Carly Bauman led off with a 9.9 followed by meet-winning 9.925s from both Morrison and Brooks.
Jenna Mulligan was reliable once again in the leadoff spot on beam (9.8), and Guggino and Bauman tied with strong 9.875s. Brooks’ meet-best 9.925 to end the rotation sealed her all-around win (39.575) and the team victory.
Nebraska
The Huskers dropped their second home meet to Michigan after beam struggles bogged down their score. Nonetheless, the team saw multiple career highs and improvements versus the Wolverines.
Vault was solid, with Kinsey Davis sticking her Yurchenko full for the third time this season (9.8). Emma Spence led the way for the Huskers, earning a 9.85 for her big Yurchenko 1.5 with a small hop forward.
On bars, Csenge Bácskay started the Huskers off with a career-high 9.85 after a stuck double layout. After a fall from Emma Simpton and a stumble from Clara Colombo, the Huskers had to count a 9.5. Nonetheless, Spence and Davis finished off the rotation strong with two 9.875s.
Trailing by just under three-tenths after two rotations, the Huskers incurred falls on beam from two of their top beamers, Spence and Ayzhia Hall. Bácskay added a career-high 9.8, and Sophia McClelland led the lineup with a 9.85.
The team finished on floor, with Bácskay earning a team-best 9.90 for her stuck double pike and impeccable form. Freshman Whitney Jencks also came up big with a career-high 9.825.
#25 Illinois @ #11 Ohio State
Final score: Ohio State: 197.100 – Illinois: 196.175
Ohio State
Payton Harris led Ohio State over Illinois, earning the all-around title for the third meet in 2024 with a 39.525. The Buckeyes started on vault with exceptional landings and personal highlights.
Nicole Riccardi nailed her near-perfect Yurchenko full for a 9.875. Fans also saw the debut of Mallory Gregory, adding a second 1.5 to the Buckeyes’ repertoire for a 9.875. Tori Vetter earned the vault title for her Yurchenko full with a massive block (9.9).
Bars saw a three-way tie with 9.9s. Emma Pritchard claimed a share of the title for her leadoff routine. Pritchard shared the win with teammate Harris, who showcased a huge Ray and stuck dismount.
Beam saw hit routines until a fall from anchor Courtney McCann on her difficult roundoff to two-footed layout. Ella Hodges earned the apparatus title (9.925), showcasing stunning toe point and a unique standing Gainer layout stepout.
The Buckeyes clinched the meet on floor, posting their highest event total (49.375). Hodges notched her second event title of the day with a 9.925 for her spectacularly elegant routine, featuring a Rudi to immediate layou stepout.
Illinois
The Fighting Illini fell to Ohio State by almost a point, posting a 196.175 – their third 196+ score this season.
The Illini started off with a season high on bars (49.225) despite a fall from anchor Mia Takekawa. Freshman Lyden Saltness shined, earning a 9.875 in her first collegiate routine. Destiny Denning was also a highlight, claiming a career-best 9.9 to tie for the bars title.
Vault saw a fluke fall from Ruthuja Nataraj after the junior missed her block. The rest of the lineup was solid, with Arielle Ward leading the way. Ward continues to improve, executing her cleanest Yurchenko 1.5 this season for a 9.85.
The floor squad put forward a solid effort, highlighted by a beautiful debut routine from Columbus-native Allie Morgan (9.825).
Mia Townes got the beam lineup off to a triumphant start with a calm and confident 9.825, tying her season high. Despite another fall from Nataraj, Takekawa closed the meet on a high note, earning her fourth-straight 9.9 of the season.
Southern Utah @ #20 Iowa
Final score: Iowa: 195.800 – Southern Utah: 195.425
The Hawkeyes notched a close comeback over Southern Utah amid adversity. After all-arounder Adeline Kenlin suffered an injury on vault, the squad rallied to win with modified lineups. Despite an emotional vault rotation, freshman Eva Volpe notched a then-career-high 9.775 (which she would improve on two days later). Karina Muñoz tallied the highest Iowa vault score (9.825).
With Kenlin out of the remaining lineups, Kaia Vanney stepped in and hit on bars (9.725). Volpe continued her stellar outing, earning the bars title for her career-high 9.85.
Beam saw a fall from late addition Aubrey Nick but key hits from Volpe (9.75), Alexa Ebeling (9.7), and Muñoz (9.775). Ilka Juk was exceptional, emotionally saluting to the judges for a season-high 9.90 and the beam title.
Iowa sealed the comeback on floor, posting its best event score of the day. Ebeling claimed a personal best (9.8), and freshman Alyse Karenbauer set a career high for her high-flying tumbing (9.875). Bailey Libby closed the meet with a 9.9 for a career high and the event title.
Reflecting on her team’s triumph, coach Larissa Libby said: “I am filled with pride for how we came back..without winning, I would’ve been just as thrilled…as a team they are pretty amazing at what they are capable of doing for each other and with each other.”
#20 Iowa @ #14 Michigan State
Final score: Michigan State: 197.400 – Iowa: 195.700
Michigan State
The Spartans posted their second mid-197 score en route to a win over the Iowa Hawkeyes. The meet ended emphatically with Nikki Smith earning the program’s first perfect 10 on floor.
The team got off to a great start, posting their best vault score this season (49.375) thanks to improved landings. Gabi Stephen nailed her Yurchenko full for a meet-winning 9.925, followed closely by the current best vaulter in the nation, Sage Kellerman (9.9).
On bars, Skyla Schulte tied Delanie Harkness, both with 9.9s, to share the event title. Harkness wowed the crowd (and the judges) with her floaty Gienger and stuck full-twisting double back. Beam brought the Spartans’ lowest score of the day (49.1). Nonetheless, Schulte was wonderful again, tallying her second 9.9 for the event title.
The back end of the floor lineup, headed by Harkness, Smith, and Schulte, was of championship caliber. All three athletes tumbled exceptionally, but Smith’s effort was flawless. Smith lit up Jenison Field House with a two-foot stick on her full-twisting double back, notching a 10.0, the event win, and sealing the second-highest floor total in program history (49.625).
Iowa
The Hawkeyes fell to Michigan State in their second meet without star Adeline Kenlin.
Starting on bars, freshman Eva Volpe continued to be a rock for Iowa, earning a 9.8, only to be eclipsed by Gianna Masella’s 9.825. The majority of the lineup was lovely on the bars, only to struggle on their landings.
The Hawkeyes posted their best vault total of the season (49.100). Avery Chambers was lights-out, nailing her Yurchenko full with a beaming smile and a career-high 9.875.
Volpe led the Hawkeyes off on floor with a solid 9.775, followed by highlights from Bailey Libby (9.875) and Emily Erb. Erb’s 1.5 to punch front full earned her a career high 9.9.
Though beam is typically strong for Iowa, the Hawkeyes felt Kenlin’s absence, tallying their lowest event total of the day (48.775). Alexa Ebeling and Eva Volpe led the way, both earning 9.8s. Despite the loss, coach Larissa Libby had high praise for her squad’s “mentality” over the past two meets.
#21 Maryland @ #17 Minnesota
Final score: Minnesota: 196.725 – Maryland: 195.625
Minnesota
The Gophers started off solid on vault, earning three-straight 9.8+ scores followed by a massive stuck Yurchenko 1.5 from Mya Hooten. Hooten’s 9.95 marked her second consecutive stuck vault and earned the vault title.
On bars, freshman Jordyn Lyden matched her career-high 9.85, and Gianna Gerdes won the event with a 9.925. Gerdes showcased impeccable form and a stuck full-twisting double back dismount.
Ella Sirjord led the way on beam with a career-high 9.875 for her candlestick mount and gainer full. Sarah Moraw also matched a career high (9.85), led by her elegant lines and confident acrobatic series.
Minnesota rested floor star Hooten and recorded a 49.175 in her absence. Emily Koch earned the highest score (9.875) for her three twisting passes to tie for the title. Though her score was ultimately dropped, freshman Leah Gonsiorowski should be one to watch, debuting with a full-twisting double back and a huge double tuck.
Maryland
Maryland suffered its first loss of the season after posting their lowest score of 2024.
The Terps struggled to hit their landings on bars, recording only two 9.8+ scores, including a season-high 9.85 from Sierra Kondo. Rhea LeBlanc, typically a top-scoring bars worker, incurred a fluke “fall” to open her routine, missing the bar on her jump from the springboard.
Maryland posted a 48.900 on vault, bolstered by a pair of 9.825s from freshman Natalie Martin and junior Josephine Kogler.
The team cracked the 49 mark on floor (49.05). Alexa Rothenbuescher came up big, notching a 9.875 to lead the team and tie for the title. LeBlanc redeemed her bars fluke with a lovely routine featuring a perfect Rudi for a 9.825.
Beam provided Maryland another 49.05 but was far from the Terps’ best. Martin continued to be stellar for the Terps, earning a 9.85. Maddie Komoroski stood out with exquisite toe point and artistry, tying Martin’s 9.85 – good for second on the event.
Penn State @ Rutgers
Final score: Penn State: 196.075 – Rutgers: 195.800
Penn State
The Nittany Lions left Piscataway with a nail-biting win over Rutgers’ best effort of 2024. In addition to the team win, Ava Piedrahita led the way, claiming the all-around (39.45) and bars (9.9) titles along with a share of vault (9.9) and floor (9.875).
The team started off slow on bars with Jessica Johanson clipping the bar mid-Tkatchev, followed by a fall from anchor Cassidy Rushlow. However, Piedrahita helped salvage the event score with a career-high 9.9.
Vault was exceptional. The team set a season-high event score (49.225), bolstered by a career high from Bella Salcedo (9.875) and a 9.9 from Piedrahita.
Floor was uncharacteristically weak, with multiple athletes landing short for Penn State’s second-lowest floor score of 2024. Nonetheless, Piedrahita and Amani Herring were both excellent, tying for the event title with 9.875s.
Leading by three-tenths heading to beam, the team needed an exceptional rotation to hold off the Scarlet Knights’ floor effort. The squad delivered with career highs from Kalea McElligott (9.875) and Maddie Johnston (9.9). Johnston came in clutch, flying through her sheep jump and 1.5 twisting dismount to seal the Nittany Lions’ first Big Ten win (and the beam title).
Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights dropped their Big Ten home opener despite setting a season-high score. Emily Leese claimed a portion of the vault and floor titles, the latter which teammate Emily Wood also shared.
Rutgers earned a slight lead after a solid start on vault (49.025), thanks to a career-high 9.85 from Gabrielle Dildy and an event-winning 9.9 for Leese’s Yurchenko 1.5.
However, bars proved to be their lowest event total of the day after a fall from Olivia DiNovi and form errors from much of the lineup. Avery Balser was immune to the issues, earning a team-best 9.85.
Beam saw 9.8+ scores from multiple athletes coupled with two in the 9.5s. Both Leese and Dildy stayed on the beam but lost credit due to missed connections. Jackie Manifold led off with an impressively confident routine for 9.8, followed by a personal best from Rachael Riley (9.85).
Rutgers did its best to make up ground on floor, notching their sixth-best floor score in program history (49.300). Leese and Wood led the way with a pair of 9.875s, followed by career-high 9.85s from Stephanie Zannella and Harmony Webster.
