ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan State Spartans defeated the University of Michigan Wolverines in a tightly contested gymnastics meet Sunday afternoon, 197.525-197.425. This marks the Spartans’ fourth consecutive dual meet victory over their in-state rivals.
Michigan State, now 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten, achieved a season-high team score. The Wolverines fell to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The Spartans demonstrated significant improvement, recording season-best performances on every event.
A Day of Personal Bests
The Spartans’ performance was highlighted by numerous individual achievements. Junior MaKayla Tucker secured her first-career all-around title with a score of 39.500. Senior Nikki Smith followed closely behind, posting a season-high 39.475 to finish second.
Senior Sage Kellerman played a crucial role, earning a share of the event title on bars with a score of 9.925, and later securing another event title on vault with a near-perfect 9.975 – a score that included a 10.000 from one judge. Senior Olivia Zsarmani also contributed significantly, achieving season-high scores on both bars and vault.
“We feel amazing,” said head coach Mike Rowe. “We always have a good time here and always have one of our best meets here. We’re back. We had some struggles at the beginning of the season and now things are starting to settle in. We’ve still got more fuel in the tank, so we’re happy it happened like it did. Our motto for this week of practice was to be undeniable and they carried it through with them to every event. I’m so proud of them.”
The Spartans continued their momentum on floor, posting a third season-high event score of 49.475. Nikki Smith anchored the event with a season-high 9.950, while MaKayla Tucker tied her career-high with a 9.925. The team finished strong on beam, securing a final season-high score of 49.350, with Tucker and Zsarmani sharing the event title.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Michigan State’s overall record now?
Michigan State’s overall record is now 2-4.
How many consecutive dual meet victories does MSU have over Michigan?
The Spartans have earned four straight dual meet victories over the Wolverines.
Who won the all-around title for Michigan State?
Junior MaKayla Tucker won the all-around title with a score of 39.500, the first all-around title of her career.
As the Spartans continue their season, they could build on this momentum and further improve their standing in the Big Ten. Their next challenge will be on the road against Penn State on February 8th. Will they be able to maintain this high level of performance as they face new competition?
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