University of Minnesota Athletics
Women's Gymnastics Team Heads to Ohio State This Weekend
1/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team will face its second road trip of the season against Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 2. The Buckeyes are ranked 18th in the country, while the Gophers are ranked 11th.
Gophers in the National Rankings
According to the GymInfo national ranking released Jan. 28, the Golden Gophers are now ranked 11th in the nation. The rankings are based upon total season averages for each school. Currently, Minnesota averages 194.858 as a team. The Gophers' team high this season is a 195.800. Minnesota ranks higher than three other Big Ten schools, Ohio State (18th), Iowa (22nd), Penn State (24th).
About the Gophers
Utah defeated the Golden Gophers, 197.475-194.900, last Friday at Utah. The Gophers recorded a season-high on vault with a 48.925. However, Utah managed to top Minnesota in every event. Sophomore Annie Laatsch (Lakeville, Minn./Burnsville) earned the highest individual score for Minnesota by tying for second on unparallel bars with a 9.900. Utah All-American Theresa Kulikowski scored a 10.00 to lead Utah to a 49.225 on bars.
Junior Leigh Dixon (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./The Bishop's School) tied for third place on vault with a 9.850.
MaryAnne Kelley (Barrington, Ill./Fremd) scored a 9.825 on floor exercise to finish in third place.
Gophers Looking Good on Floor Exercise
According to the GymInfo regional ranking, Minnesota ranks third on floor exercise. The Gophers average 48.867 in the event. Minnesota's highest team score on floor this season was a 49.200 against Stanford, where the Gophers were led by MaryAnne Kelley's 9.925. Minnesota's school record on floor exercise is a 49.500 scored versus Iowa State on March 11, 2000.
Laatsch Continues to Shine
Sophomore Annie Laatsch has been putting up some good scores for the Gophers this season. In the last three meets, Laatsch has scored at least 9.80 on balance beam. She is having a standout season on bars. Just last weekend against Utah, she scored a season high 9.90 to earn the highest score for Minnesota at the meet. In the first three meets, she scored 9.825 or better on floor exercise.
Gophers to Compete in Williams Arena
The annual Best of Minnesota held on Saturday, Feb. 9, has been moved from the Sports Pavilion to Williams Arena due to a water pipe burst that flooded the Pavilion before the Gophers' competition against Michigan. The start time remains 7 p.m.
Sidelined
Senior Catie Christensen 's (Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) condition is still listed as day-to-day after suffering a concussion before the beginning of the season. Jenny Alf (Ripon, Wis./Ripon) suffered a 3rd degree ankle sprain before Thanksgiving and is recovering slowly. She has been doing exhibition beam, but most likely will not be expected to compete until some time next month.
About Ohio State
The Buckeyes enter Saturday's meet with an 0-4 record on the season. Ohio State is coming off a 196.175-193.575 loss to Michigan. Ohio State tied a school record on floor exercise, but it wasn't enough to overcome several falls on balance beam and uneven bars as the Buckeyes dropped the decision to Michigan in the Buckeyes' first home meet of the season.
Last Time Against Ohio State
Three Minnesota gymnasts tied for first place on the floor exercise to lead Minnesota to a win over Ohio State, 194.275-192.250, the last time the two teams met during a regular season competition on Jan. 6, 2001.
MaryAnne Kelley and Annie Laatsch each scored a 9.85 on floor. All five Minnesota scorers recorded at least 9.80, leading to a team score of 49.175, Minnesota's highest event total of the meet.
Laatsch also tied for first on balance beam, scoring a 9.80, and tied for second on uneven bars with a 9.75.
Minnesota outscored the Buckeyes on three of four events. Ohio State edged Minnesota on bars, 48.4-48.3.
Up Next
Minnesota will host the annual Best of Minnesota meet on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m in Williams Arena. The meet will feature Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline and Winona State.
