Michigan
Cat Classic
Women's Gym Leaps to Win at Cat Classic
2/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Site: Columbia, Mo. (Hearnes Center)
Event: 28th Annual Cat Classic (at #14 Missouri, with #22 Ohio State and Cal)
U-M Team Finish: 1st Place of4 Teams (196.200)
Records: U-M (14-0, 5-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday,March 7 -- vs. Georgia (Crisler Arena), 7:30 p.m.
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The No. 4 University of Michigan women's gymnastics team kept up its winning ways, scoring a 196.200 on the road at the 28th Annual Cat Classic, defeating the host No. 14 Missouri Tigers (195.275), No. 22 Ohio State (193.725) and Cal (191.000) Friday night (Feb. 29) at the Hearnes Center.
Sophomore Sarah Curtis(Reno, Nev./Reno) finished among the top five gymnasts in three of four events while taking runner-up in the all-around (39.250), winning the vault title with a career best 9.900 and tying for fifth on the uneven bars and balance beam with matching scores of 9.800. Junior Becky Bernard(Stow, Ohio/Stow-Munroe Falls) returned to her winning ways on bars with a title-winning 9.900, while freshman Kylee Botterman(New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) picked up her second floor exercise title in as many meets with a 9.875.
The three victories hand head coach Bev Plocki her 350th career win and push the Wolverines to 14-0 (5-0 Big Ten) for the season.
Michigan started on floor and posted the team's seventh team score of 49.000 or better in eight meets, totaling 49.075 to take an early lead in the meet. Botterman led the way with a 9.875, while four Wolverines nailed 9.800 routines, including fifth/senior Lindsey Bruck(Marietta, N.Y./Marcellus), senior Katie Lieberman(Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest), senior Nellie Kippley(St. Cloud, Minn./Tech)and freshman Kari Pearce(Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron). Botterman's score held up as the highest for the entire meet, while Bruck, Lieberman, Kippley and Pearce's efforts earned shares of fifth.
In the second rotation, U-M scored a 49.100 in a solid showing on vault, totaling 98.175 through two events and pulling 0.315 points ahead of second-place Missouri, with Ohio State and Cal trailing well behind. Curtis tied a career high with a 9.900, taking the event crown, while Botterman scored a 9.825, ending her streak of consecutive vault titles at five, while Lieberman and Pearce added matching 9.800s to boost the Wolverine total.
Michigan had some issues on bars in the third rotation, posting another 49.000-plus score, but totaling a season low 49.050. Despite the score, Michigan put together a score of 147.225 with just one event remaining, pulling even further ahead of second-place Missouri by 0.825 points. Bernard returned to form to record her fourth 9.900 score in five routines, tying a season high and winning the event. Bruck went 9.825 to tie for third and Botterman and Curtis scored matching 9.800s for a share of fifth place.
In the final rotation, Michigan capped the meet on the balance beam, totaling 48.975. Junior Huneth Lor(Aurora, Ill.Waubonsie Valley) and sophomore Kelsey Knutson(Ames, Iowa/Ames) put up matching scores of 9.825 to lead U-M and tie for third, while Curtis scored a 9.800 to take fifth place. Bruck's 9.750 gave her a 39.150 all-around final, good for fourth among the 11 all-arounders.
Michigan will host three-time defending national champions and current No. 1 Georgia on Friday (March 7) at 7:30 p.m. at Crisler Arena.
Team Standings
| Team Scores | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| 1. MICHIGAN | 49.100 | 49.050 | 48.975 | 49.075 | 196.200 |
| 2. Missouri | 48.975 | 48.900 | 48.525 | 48.875 | 195.275 |
| 3. Ohio State | 48.850 | 48.450 | 47.650 | 48.775 | 193.725 |
| 4. Cal | 47.900 | 47.475 | 47.525 | 48.100 | 191.000 |
Event-By-Event U-M Individual Scores
VAULT Kari Pearce 9.800 Lindsey Bruck 9.775 Sarah Curtis 9.900 (1) Nellie Kippley 8.350 Katie Lieberman 9.800 Kylee Botterman 9.825 (t4) UNEVEN BARS Lindsey Bruck 9.825 (t3) Sarah Curtis 9.800 (t5) Tatjana Thuener-Rego 9.725 Trish Wilson 9.725 Becky Bernard 9.900 (1) Kylee Botterman 9.800 (t5) BALANCE BEAM Huneth Lor 9.825 (t3) Jordan Sexton 9.750 Sarah Curtis 9.825 (t3) Kelsey Knutson 9.825 (t3) Becky Bernard 9.275 Lindsey Bruck 9.750 FLOOR EXERCISE Kari Pearce 9.800 (t5) Nellie Kippley 9.800 (t5) Katie Lieberman 9.800 (t5) Sarah Curtis 9.750 Lindsey Bruck 9.800 (t5) Kylee Botterman 9.875 (1) ALL-AROUND Sarah Curtis 39.250 (2) Lindsey Bruck 39.150 (4) ( ) denotes place in the Top 5
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Bev Plocki
On the meet "I think our team came here and did the job they needed to do. That's all we have control over. I dont think we were as crisp and clean as we were last week but we had a very good meet. Our team score does not reflect the quality of the meet we had. Sarah Curtis especially performed well and I think she had a much better meet than her all-around score reflected."
On next week's meet vs. three-time defending national champions Georgia "This team is so excited for the meet vs. Georgia. They believe in themselves and they know what they can do. We're excited to get back home to Crisler and compete in front of our home fans after two weeks away."
On her 350th career win "I had no idea I was close to that milestone. I don't keep track of wins. All it means is I've been here a long time. I'm thrilled at what this team has been able to accomplish and what they've done so far and we have the opportunity to do something special this year."
N O T E S
Junior Becky Bernard recorded her fourth 9.900 on bars in the last five meets. Bernard had three 9.900s to open the year and then sat out three meets before going 9.825 in her return last week at N.C. State (Feb. 22).
Sophomore Sarah Curtis recorded a career high 9.900 on vault. The title was her second in the event in her collegiate career.
Head coach Bev Plocki recorded the 350th win of her 19-year coaching career. She has the third most career wins among any active coach at the University of Michigan, trailing only ice hockey coach Red Berenson and softball coach Carol Hutchins.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
