No. 10 Beavers Notch Big Score in Win at Arizona

Four out of five counting scores for OSU scores tied season-highs.

Mandi Rodriguez and Jami Lanz Courtesy: OSU Athletics

TUCSON, Ariz. - Mandi Rodriguez and Jami Lanz each set season-highs in the all-around leading the Beavers to a season-high 196.450. Oregon State broke the 196-point barrier and scored over 49 points on all four events accomplishing both for the first time in 2009.

Mandi Rodriguez

“This meet really tested the mental strength of our team,” head coach Tanya Chaplin said. “We fought through some unusual circumstances and overcame our mistakes to get the win. Scoring over 49 points on all four events on the road is quite an accomplishment.”

The night got off to a strange start when one of the Wildcats’ gymnasts was injured during her vault warm-ups delaying the three-minute touch warm-up period. When things finally got underway, the Beavers’ first gymnast on the uneven bars, Olivia Vivian, took a bad step prior as she prepared to mount the bars aggravating a foot injury. Vivian was unable to continue forcing the Beavers to substitute Kera Bolen into the lineup.

With the odd beginning out the way, the Beavers settled in and scored their season-high on the bars, eclipsing the 49-point mark for the first time this year (49.075). Laura-Ann Chong and Jami Lanz provided back-to-back scores of 9.775 followed by Mandi Rodriguez’s 9.8. Freshman Leslie Mak tied her career-high of 9.85 with a beautiful routine to set up OSU’s anchor Jen Kesler. Kesler, who has been OSU’s top scorer on the event in all four of its meets in 2009, did so once again tallying a score of 9.875 to tie for the event title.

The season-high scoring continued in the second rotation as the Beavers moved to the vault. Four out of five counting scores for OSU scores tied season-highs. Stephanie McGregor started OSU off with a score of 9.75 which Brooke Barclay followed with a score of 9.825 to tie her career-high. Finishing the scoring for the Beavers was Lanz (9.85) and Rodriguez (9.9) giving OSU the season-high score of 49.075 on the event.

The Beavers floor crew kept the momentum going reaching the 49-point plateau for the second time this season (49.050). McGregor and Bolen supplied routines of 9.675 and 9.75 respectively to start the event. Following OSU’s first fall of the night, Mak tallied a career-best score of 9.825 followed by Lanz’s 9.875. Floor anchor Mandi Rodriguez, who scored 9.975 last week to beat then-No. 5 Arkansas on the final routine of the night, followed with another impressive performance and a score of 9.925.

Holding a .800 lead going into the final rotation, the Beavers added yet another season-high score of 49.250 on the balance beam. All five counting scorers set or broke their season-high scores and exceeded a 9.8 or better. Kesler scored 9.825 followed by Rodriguez’s 9.8 and Chong’s 9.85. Mak shattered her previous high of 9.675 by negotiating her way to an impressive 9.9 and Lanz finished with a 9.875.

The Beavers return their home floor next Friday to face No. 3 Utah Friday, Jan. 30 at legendary Gill Coliseum. The meet is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Season and individual tickets can be purchased online, by calling 1-800-GO-BEAVS or in person at the OSU Ticket Office located in room 107 of Gill Coliseum.

Team Scores: No. 10 Oregon State 196.450; Arizona 195.250.

All-Around: 1. Mandi Rodriguez (OSU) 39.425; 2. Jami Lanz (OSU) 39.375; 3. Colleen Fisher (ARIZ) 39.050.

Vault: 1. Mandi Rodriguez (OSU) 9.900; T2. Jami Lanz (OSU), Breanne Workman (ARIZ) 9.850. Other OSU Scores: Brooke Barclay 9.825; Whitney Watson 9.750; Stephanie McGregor 9.750; Johnnie Rae Schmelzer 9.000 (Exhibition – Kera Bolen 9.550).

Bars: T1. Jen Kesler (OSU) 9.875, Briana Bergeson (ARIZ); 3. Leslie Mak (OSU) 9.850. Other OSU Scores: Mandi Rodriguez (.800; Jami Lanz 9.775; Laura-Ann Chong 9.775; Kera Bolen 9.675.

Beam: 1. Leslie Mak (OSU) 9.900; 2. Jami Lanz (OSU) 9.875; 3. Laura-Ann Chong (OSU) 9.850. Other OSU Scores: Jen Kesler 9.825; Mandi Rodriguez 9.800; Whitney Watson 9.300 (Exhibition – Johnnie Rae Schmelzer 9.700).

Floor: 1. Mandi Rodriguez (OSU) 9.925; T2. Jami Lanz (OSU), Sarah Tomczyk (ARIZ) 9.875. Other OSU Scores: Leslie Mak 9.825; Kera Bolen 9.750; Stephanie McGregor 9.675; Jereme Bigelow 9.200.

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