University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Fourth at Big Ten Championships
3/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Michigan won it’s fifth consecutive Big Ten title, scoring 196.60. Penn State was second with a 196.375. Illinois was third (196.075), Minnesota was fourth (195.325), Ohio State was fifth (194.90), Iowa was sixth (194.85) and Michigan State was seventh (194.425).
Minnesota had a bye in the opening rotation, and competed on floor in the second rotation. The Gophers tallied their best event score of the afternoon, earning a 49.20. The score tied the second-best floor score of the season. Kayla Slechta was the top scorer for the Gophers, earning a career-best 9.90 to tie for fourth place. Freshman Dusti Russell and sophomore Shannon Golich each scored 9.85. Janell Campbell had a 9.825, and Amber Hammerschmidt scored 9.775 to round out the counting scores for the Gophers. The floor champion was Michigan’s Kylee Botterman, the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, with a 9.95.
After another bye, the Gophers competed on vault and scored 48.80. Once again, Kayla Slechta was the top scorer for Minnesota, earning a 9.875 to place third. Kendra Elm and Shannon Golich each earned scores of 9.775. Janell Campbell scored 9.70, while Lucy Ennis earned a 9.675 to round out the five counting scores for the Gophers. Amber See of Illinois and Sharaya Musser of Penn State tied for first place on vault, each earning scores of 9.90.
On the uneven bars, the Gophers scored 48.850, led by Janell Campbell and Kristin Furukawa who each scored 9.85 to tie for third place. Kendra Elm, after missing last week’s competition with a lower leg injury, earned a 9.80. Kayla Slechta and Lucy Ennis completed the counting scores with marks of 9.725 and 9.625, respectively. Penn State’s Natalie Ettl was the bars champion, earning a 9.925.
The Gophers were on a bye in rotation six, and finished the meet on the balance beam. The team compiled a score of 48.475. Minnesota’s beam leader was senior Ana Balboa, with a 9.75. Shannon Golich earned a 9.725 while Dusti Russell had a 9.70. Amber Hammerschmidt, with a 9.675 and Kristin Furukawa, with a 9.625, completed the counting scores. Jordan Sexton, from Michigan, won the beam title with a 9.875.
In the all around competition, Sharaya Musser of Penn State took the conference crown. Minnesota’s Kayla Slechta finished in seventh place, earning a 39.075.
The Gophers will await word on NCAA Regional selections, which will be announced on Monday.
Players Mentioned
