OSU Gymnasts Take Third at Washington

The Beavers’ vaulters made a valiant comeback attempt just missing their season-high scoring 49.150.

Salem-News.com

SEATTLE, Wash. - Oregon State, ranked No. 9, finished third at No. 24 Washington in a quadrangular meet. The Beavers finished with a score of 195.800 while the Huskies won the meet with a season-high score of 196.000. No. 14 Illinois finished with a score of 195.900 and Eastern Michigan scored 191.475. Mandi Rodriguez tied her career-high in the all-around with a 39.500 to win the event.

The Beavers began the night on the uneven bars and appeared to be headed for a stellar night posting a season-high team score of 49.300. Matching season-highs by Laura-Ann Chong and Mandi Rodriguez followed by a 9.825 from Jami Lanz set the tone. Leslie Mak performed an outstanding 9.9 routine and Jen Kesler capped the scoring in the opening rotation with a 9.875.

Oregon State had an uncharacteristically tough second rotation on the balance beam. Entering the week, OSU ranked sixth in the nation on the beam, but suffered a pair of falls knocking the Beavers into third place. Chong led the Beavers on the event with a career-best 9.9 and Rodriguez tied her career-high for the second week in a row with a 9.85.

Looking to steady the course, the Beavers may have pressed too hard at the beginning of the third rotation with two out of bounds deductions. Performing in the fourth spot in the floor lineup, Mak scored 9.825 to help get the Beavers back on track. Lanz followed with a 9.85 and Rodriguez, who entered the night as the No. 1-ranked gymnast in the country on the floor, scored 9.875.

The Beavers’ vaulters made a valiant comeback attempt just missing their season-high scoring 49.150. Stephanie McGregor and Becky Colvin posted scores of 9.75, while Whitney Watson and Brooke Barclay added a 9.8 and 9.825 respectively. Lanz scored 9.85 and Rodriguez finished with a 9.925 to win the event.

The Beavers return to the friendly confines of legendary Gill Coliseum next week when they host No. 3 UCLA, Friday, Feb. 27. The meet will be OSU’s Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night and the gymnastics program will honor three OSU staff members. The dual meet is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.

NOTE: Freshman Olivia Vivian (foot) performed in exhibition on the bars, seeing action for the first time in over a month ... Senior Tasha Smith also performed an exhibition on the vault. It was her first time on the competition floor since the birth of her daughter in December.

Team Scores: No. 24 Washington 196.000; No. 14 Illinois 195.900; No. 9 Oregon State 195.800; Eastern Michigan 191.475.

All-Around: 1. Mandi Rodriguez (OSU) 39.500; 2. Nicole Cowart (ILL) 39.200; 3. Haley Bogart (WASH) 39.125. Other OSU Scores: Jami Lanz 38.700.

Vault (49.150): 1. Mandi Rodriguez (OSU) 9.925; T2. Ashley Houghting (WASH), Allison Buckley (ILL) 9.875. Other OSU Scores: Jami Lanz 9.850; Brooke Barclay 9.825; Whitney Watson 9.800; Becky Colvin 9.750; Stephanie McGregor 9.750.

Uneven Bars (49.300): 1. Leslie Mak (OSU) 9.900; 2. Jen Kesler (OSU) 9.875; T3. Laura-Ann Chong (OSU), Mandi Rodriguez (OSU), Nicole Cowart (ILL) 9.850. Other OSU Scores: Jami Lanz 9.825; D’Anna Piro 9.675.

Balance Beam (48.475): 1. Laura-Ann Chong (OSU) 9.900; T2. Ashley Houghting (WASH), Haley Bogart (WASH) 9.875, Kelsey Joannides (ILL), Julie Crall (ILL) 9.875. Other OSU Scores: Mandi Rodriguez 9.850; Jen Kesler 9.775; Leslie Mak 9.700; Brooke Barclay 9.250; Jami Lanz 9.175.

Floor (48.875): 1. Ashley Houghting (WASH) 9.900; 2. Mandi Rodriguez (OSU) 9.875; 3. Jami Lanz (OSU) 9.850. Other OSU Scores: Leslie Mak 9.825; Jereme Bigelow 9.750; Johnnie Rae Schmelzer 9.675; Stephanie McGregor 9.575.

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