EAST LANSING, Mich. – A flawless performance on the floor exercise from senior Nikki Smith propelled the No. 11 Michigan State gymnastics team to a 197.500-194.750 victory over Brown University on Sunday afternoon. The win, celebrated as Senior Day inside Jenison Field House, marked the Spartans’ highest home score of the season and their third-highest overall. Michigan State’s record now stands at 10-5, while Brown falls to 13-7-1.
Smith’s exceptional routine wasn’t the only highlight of the afternoon. The Spartans demonstrated dominance across the board, sweeping the podium in all events except for the balance beam and securing the top three spots in the all-around competition. This performance underscores a consistent upward trajectory for the program, according to head coach Mike Rowe.
“I think what’s great about this team is they’ve just stayed the course,” Rowe said. “They’ve believed in our process and everything that we’ve been trying to get the program to do. Continue raising the bar. Not backing off. And we’re still doing that to this day. We’re particularly proud of what they did tonight. We know there’s a lot of fuel in the tank. We can make some good corrections and maybe get a little more focused and honed in for next week.”
The Spartans started strong, posting a 49.400 on vault – their third-best team score on that event this season – to establish an early lead of 49.400-48.550. Senior Sage Kellerman and Smith tied for the event title with matching scores of 9.950, marking Kellerman’s team-leading fourth vault title and Smith’s third. Senior Olivia Zsarmani contributed a 9.850 for third place, while sophomores Cady Duplissis and junior MaKayla Tucker each scored 9.825 in the leadoff and second positions, respectively. Redshirt sophomore Retoshia Halsell debuted a Yurchenko 1.5, earning a 9.775.
MSU continued its momentum on the uneven bars, setting a season-high score of 49.425 to extend their lead to 98.825-97.125 at the halfway point. Kellerman anchored the event with a season-high-tying 9.925, securing her second event title of the day and fourth bars title of the season. Junior Kendall Abney matched her season-high of 9.900 for second place, while Tucker and Zsarmani tied for third with scores of 9.875. Smith added a 9.850, and freshman Lilia Cosman earned a 9.775 in the leadoff spot.
A score of 49.125 on the balance beam gave MSU a commanding lead of 147.950-145.725 after three rotations. Tucker and Cosman each scored 9.875, sharing the event title with Brown’s Emily Ford. This marked Tucker’s third beam title of the season and Cosman’s second. Zsarmani contributed a 9.825, Smith posted a 9.800, and Abney led off with a 9.775.
The Spartans sealed the victory with an impressive 49.550 on floor exercise, with all six routines finishing in the top six. Smith’s perfect 10.000, her second career perfect score on the event and fourth was the highlight of the afternoon. The historic moment was captured and shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Michigan State Gymnastics. It helped her secure her fifth floor title of the season. Junior Gabi Ortiz finished second with a career-high 9.925, and Tucker completed the podium sweep with a 9.900 for third, earning her seventh score of 9.900 or better on the event this season. Senior Stephanie Lebster led off with a 9.875, and freshman Korynne Marquart and Zsarmani each scored 9.850. Zsarmani’s routine marked her season debut on the event.
In the all-around competition, Smith led the way with a score of 39.600, while Tucker finished second with a 39.475. Zsarmani, making her season all-around debut, finished third with a 39.400.
Looking ahead, MSU will compete in the third session of the Big Ten Championships against UCLA, Michigan, and Minnesota on Saturday, March 21, at 6 p.m. ET inside Illinois’ State Farm Center. The meet will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. More details about the upcoming championship can be found on the official Michigan State Athletics website.
The Spartans’ performance on Sunday showcased not only individual brilliance but also the team’s resilience and dedication. As they prepare for the Big Ten Championships, the momentum from this victory will undoubtedly serve as a powerful motivator.
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