Michigan
Michigan State
Flip for Chip Inspires Another Great Michigan Performance
2/10/2018 6:55:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
» Michigan posted six scores of 9.900 or better.
» Lauren Farley's and Polina Shchennikova's first career wins highlight season-best beam rotation.
» Five different Wolverines earned event titles.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)
Score: #7 Michigan 197.250, #40 Michigan State 194.950
Records: Michigan (5-1, 4-1 Big Ten), Michigan State (3-5, 1-4 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 17 – at NC State Quad Meet vs. Brown, North Carolina and North Carolina State (Raleigh, N.C.), 6 p.m.
• Results | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- There is something about the University of Michigan's Flip for Chip meets that bring the best out of the women's gymnastics team as they scored a 197.250 on Saturday (Feb. 10) to earn a win over Michigan State.
The 197.250 was the second-highest score of the season for the Wolverines and a great effort after losing junior Olivia Karas to an injury last weekend at home. U-M had the second-highest score in school history last year with a 197.825 in a win over Southern Utah during the Flip for Chip Meet. Two years ago, Michigan scored a 197.225 to beat Michigan State at home.
Perhaps it is the emotions of competing for the late Chip Hills, the father of senior student assistant coach Cailee Hills, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2015. Chip Hills was a tremendous supporter of Michigan women's gymnastics and the team seems to return the favor each season the Flip for Chip meet comes around.
Five different Wolverines earned event and all-around titles and there were six scores of 9.900 or better. It was especially important for the team to step up in place of Karas, who is out for the season. The entire team took a great step forward as head coach Bev Plocki received contributions up and down her roster.
"I especially loved the fact that we went to work immediately after losing Olivia," said Plocki. "We aren't going to replace Olivia, but so many stepped up. I challenged every one of them to find a half tenth in their routine and they rose to the challenge. We were able to come out in the 197s."
The freshman and sophomore classes had their best meet of the season. Sophomore Polina Shchennikova earned the first two event titles of her career, tying for the win on uneven bars (9.875) and balance beam (9.925). Her beam score was a career best as was her vault score of 9.825. She tied for the win on beam with freshman Lauren Farley, who also won for the first time at Michigan. Farley also made her debut on floor exercise and scored a 9.850.
"Everyone was so excited and supportive," said Farley. "I have been working really hard, and when Olivia went out, I knew I had to step up and do it for her and for Chip. It was awesome doing something bigger than myself today."
Freshman Syd Townsend won vault for the first time in her career with a 9.900. She also scored a 9.850 on both bars and floor. Sophomore Lexi Funk scored a 9.900 on floor for the second straight week.
The upperclassmen also had a great meet. Senior Brianna Brown won the all-around for the second straight week with a 39.400, scoring 9.900 on beam and tied for the win on bars with a 9.875. Junior Emma McLean won floor for the fifth straight week with a 9.950.
Michigan scored a season-high 49.425 on beam and scored over a 49.000 on all four events for the third time this season.
The Wolverines will hope to carry the spirit of Chip and the success from this meet into next week when they compete in a quad meet at NC State on Saturday (Feb. 17) at 6 p.m. The Wolverines will face Brown, North Carolina and North Carolina State at Reynolds Coliseum.
Players Mentioned
