March 21, 2009
The Arizona State women's gymnastics team placed sixth at the 2009 Pac-10 Championships. The Sun Devils scored 194 points. Beaté Jones earned a 38.925 in the all-around while Nicole Harris scored 38.775. All-arounder Francesca Mercurio was out due to mononucleosis. UCLA won the meet with 196.725 points.
"I just wanted this to be a good practice for regionals," said 29th year head coach John Spini. "With how young we are, I think this was good for them. Only one of our freshmen [Kahoku Palafox] did not hit tonight and she has been our most consistent freshman all year."
The Sun Devils began the meet on floor. Jones tabbed the highest score for the Sun Devils with a 9.8. Freshman Stephanie Hangartner put up a solid 9.725 while Brittany Schuett scored 9.675. Harris tallied a 9.65. The Sun Devils had to count Tiana Jean's uncharacteristic fall. The team combined for 48.1 in the first rotation.
The team found success on vault, compiling a 49. Jones, one of the nation's top vaulters, garnered a 9.9 to tie for fourth. Mary Atkinson and Nicole Harris each put up scores of 9.85. Freshman Callie Price hit for a 9.725. Kelly Reilly, filling in for Mercurio, scored a 9.675 while Hangartner scored a 9.625.
On bars, the Sun Devils had to count another fall. Jean led the Sun Devils with a 9.775. Hangartner, in the bars lineup for only the second time this season, hit for a 9.7. Kaitlynn Bormann finished with a 9.675 while Jones scored a 9.625. Harris stumbled on her dismount to score a 9.375. The team tallied 48.15
The Sun Devils ended the meet on their best event beam. Harris rocked her set with a 9.9 to tie for second. Bormann also put up a strong routine, earning a 9.8. Jean finished her night with a 9.775. Reilly, again filling in the lineup for Mercurio, stepped up for a 9.65. Amber Hammerschmidt scored a 9.625 while Jones scored a 9.6.
The Sun Devils await to hear regional seedings.