Michigan
Iowa
Michigan Delivers Enchanting Performance to Top Iowa
2/10/2019 5:14:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
» Michigan posted a 197.350 for its top score of the 2019 season.
» Freshman Abby Brenner (vault), senior Olivia Karas and freshman Natalie Wojcik (uneven bars), junior Lexi Funk (balance beam) and Karas (floor exercise) earned the top scores for each rotation.
» Freshman Abby Heiskell made her official Michigan debut on vault and floor.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)
Score: #10 Michigan 197.350, Iowa 195.375
Records: U-M (8-2, 4-0 Big Ten), Iowa (2-5, 1-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 16 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 4 p.m.
• Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- There was something in the air in Crisler Center on Sunday (Feb. 10) as the No. 10-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team delivered an enchanting performance, defeating Iowa, 197.350-195.375. U-M's score was a season high.
The fan giveaways included light up wands, swords and crowns as chidren in costumes of their favorite fictional characters were all over Crisler. On the competition floor, it was a fairy-tale meet for the Wolverines. There were season- and career-high performances recorded in all four rotations with nine routines either matching or setting collegiate bests.
Michigan really got going on uneven bars with several exceptional performances, especially from freshman Natalie Wojcik and senior Olivia Karas. The two tied for the event title with a 9.950, a career high for Wojcik and a tie for Karas' career-best score on the event.
Freshman Maddie Mariani led the Wolverines on bars with a 9.875 for her highest score of the season. Fellow freshman Abby Brenner matched her top score of the year with a 9.875 as well.
U-M carried the momentum from a season-high 49.500 on bars to the balance beam where they scored a season-best 49.475.
Junior Lexi Funk earned the title on beam with a masterful career-high 9.950. She was one of three Wolverines to score a 9.900 or better. Wojcik did not win the beam title for the first time in her career, but scored an impressive 9.925. Sophomore Lauren Farley also had an impressive performance that to a season-high 9.900, while junior Maddy Osman also earned her career-high score (9.875).
The Wolverines delivered on floor as well to close out their day at Crisler as they racked up a 49.375. Osman tied her career-high floor score with a 9.825 and Brenner earned a new career high with a 9.875. Senior captain Olivia Karas was brilliant once again on the event, scoring a 9.925 to finish off the meet with her fourth straight victory on floor. Â
Wojcik won the all-around for the fifth time in her career with a 39.550, while Karas had a season-high all-around score of 39.475.
In addition, freshman Abby Heiskell made her official debut as a Wolverine. The four freshmen made a big impact on the team's best meet of the season. Heiskell competed on vault and floor in her first appearance in a lineup.
Michigan will be on the road next weekend as it continues the Big Ten portion of its schedule at Penn State on Saturday (Feb. 16) at 4 p.m. The Wolverines will be back at home on Saturday, March 9, for Senior Day in Crisler Center when they take on Oklahoma at noon.
Players Mentioned
