Michigan Dominates Denver, Washington on Senior Night

Saturday, March 9

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

197.775

194.300

Denver

Michigan Dominates Denver, Washington on Senior Night

3/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A special night for the seniors turned into a special night for the entire team as the fourth-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team set a school record on the floor exercise (49.625) on the way to posting a 197.775, the second-highest team score in U-M history, and taking first place over No. 13 Denver (194.300) and Washington (194.250) Saturday (March 9) in front of 1,926 fans at Crisler Arena.

Ray

Michigan's five seniors -- Amy Kuczera (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park HS), Shannon MacKenzie (Midland, Mich./Midland HS), Erin McWatt (Livonia, Mich./Adlai E. Stevenson HS), Melissa Peterson (Shawnee, Kan./Shawnee Mission West HS) and co-captain Jodie Rosenberg (West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield HS) -- were honored prior to the meet, the final home competition of the season.

In addition to the focus on the senior class, two sophomores drew the attention of the crowd, as Elise Ray (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake HS) won three events and tied the Michigan all-around record with a 39.825 and Calli Ryals (Elyria, Ohio/Midview HS) earned her third 10.0 with a perfect floor exercise routine.

Michigan generated its team score of 197.775 with four of their best event scores of the year. The Wolverines' total of 49.625 on the floor exercise not only topped the season-best list but is the best floor score in the history of the program. The balance beam score of 49.450 is the second-best this season and the third-best in U-M history. The vault (49.475) and uneven bars (49.225) scores were both the second highest of the season for the Wolverines.

Michigan started the meet on the vault, where Ray won her fourth vault title of the season with a 9.950. Chelsea Kroll (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny HS) was second with a 9.925, just one quarter of a tenth less than her career high. Also missing her career high by the same margin was Kallie Steffes (Naperville, Ill./Central HS), who led off with a 9.825. MacKenzie and Ryals tied their career highs with scores of 9.875 and 9.900, respectively.

On the uneven bars, Christine Mantilia (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan HS) set a season high and tied her career high with a 9.825 in the leadoff spot. Cami Singer (Monument, Colo./Lewis Palmer HS) tied her season high (9.825), and Ray posted a second 9.950 to win her second title of the meet.

Janessa Grieco (Mahopac, N.Y./Carmel HS) did her job of starting the balance beam with a solid performance and tied her season high with a 9.875. Singer earned a 9.875 in her first appearance this season on the apparatus. Ryals and Ray closed the routines with scores of 9.900 and 9.975, respectively. Ryals score was just one quarter of a tenth less than her career high, while Ray's score tied her career high and won her third event title of the night and 11th career balance beam title.

The floor closed the meet for the Wolverines and included some of the top performances of the night. After Singer opened the rotation and tied her season high (9.800), Rosenberg earned the first 9.900 of her career in any event. Ray set up the final two competitors when she posted a 9.950 in the fourth slot. Grieco came through and set a career high (9.975) with her routine. The meet closed with Ryals' third perfect 10.0 of the season, the first one to come in a home meet.

Michigan takes off to Corvallis, Ore., for the Shanico Inn-vitational, hosted by Oregon State next Saturday (March 16). The meet, which includes Michigan State and Seattle Pacific, is slated for a 7 p.m. PST start.

Final Results

Team Scores	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
1. MICHIGAN	49.475	49.225	49.450	49.625	197.775
2. Denver	48.775	48.400	48.125	49.000	194.300
3. Washington	48.075	49.275	48.025	48.875	194.250

Event-By-Event U-M Individual Scores

ALL-AROUND Elise Ray 39.825 (1) Calli Ryals 39.625 (2) Shannon MacKenzie 38.275 VAULT Kallie Steffes 9.825 Calli Ryals 9.875 (4) Janessa Grieco 9.825 Shannon MacKenzie 9.900 (3) Elise Ray 9.950 (1) Chelsea Kroll 9.925 (2) UNEVEN BARS Christine Mantilia 9.825 Shannon MacKenzie 9.450 Cami Singer 9.825 Amy Kuczera 9.775 Calli Ryals 9.850 (t4) Elise Ray 9.950 (1) BALANCE BEAM Janessa Grieco 9.875 (t4) Amy Kuczera 9.775 Cami Singer 9.875 (t4) Shannon MacKenzie 9.825 Calli Ryals 9.900 (t2) Elise Ray 9.975 (1) FLOOR EXERCISE Cami Singer 9.800 Jodie Rosenberg 9.900 (t4) Shannon MacKenzie 9.100 Elise Ray 9.950 (3) Janessa Grieco 9.975 (2) Calli Ryals 10.000 (1) ( ) denotes place in the Top 5

N O T E S

Michigan had scored 49.600 in the floor exercise, the previous team record, on four occasions, including last season against Southeast Missouri State.

Elise Ray tied Beth Wymer (1992-95) and Sarah Cain (1997-2000) for the school record in the all-around with a 39.825. Her total was made up of three scores of 9.950 and a 9.975.

Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423