Michigan
Elevate the Stage
Michigan Elevates Performance for Fifth Big Ten Regular-Season Title
2/23/2019 11:13:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
» Michigan captured the Big Ten regular-season title for the fifth time in seven years.
» U-M finished the Big Ten regular season undefeated at 9-0.
» Michigan's score was eighth best in program history.
» Freshman Natalie Wojcik scored a perfect 10 on vault.
» All six gymnasts scored a 9.900 or higher on bars.
Site: Toledo, Ohio (Huntington Center)
Event: Elevate the Stage
Scores: #8 Michigan 197.750, #14 Minnesota 196.700, Illinois 195.525, Rutgers 194.650, #22 Ohio State 194.600
Records: U-M (13-2, 9-0 Big Ten), Minnesota (12-3, 8-1 Big Ten), OSU (4-7, 3-6 Big Ten), Illinois (8-7, 5-4 Big Ten), Rutgers (3-12, 2-7 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 2 – at Utah (Salt Lake City), 2 p.m. MST
• Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery
TOLEDO, Ohio -- The University of Michigan women's gymnastics team captured its fifth Big Ten regular-season title in seven years after winning the Elevate the Stage meet on Saturday (Feb. 23) with the eighth-highest score in program history (197.750).
"This was an incredible night," said head coach Bev Plocki. "I thought we had some of our best performances of the season and the scores demonstrated that. I am really proud of these young women who have fought through some things to get where we are. It was a fun night to be a part of."
The Wolverines have won the most regular-season conference titles of any school in the Big Ten over the seven years that the leader in the regular season standings has been recognized. Including ties, Minnesota (three) and Nebraska (two) are the only other schools to win the regular season title.
Saturday's meet was the first of the 2019 season on podium. With the athletes lifted off the floor and on a grander stage, the Wolverines took advantage of the chance to show off their gymnastics with a season-high score
Freshman Natalie Wojcik tied for the seventh best all-around score in school history with a 39.750. She won vault with her first career perfect 10. She tied classmate Abby Brenner for the win on uneven bars with a 9.950 and tied senior Olivia Karas for the win on balance beam with a 9.925.
Karas was brilliant in her own right with a 39.575 in the all-around. She had a 9.900 or better on three events, including a career high on beam and a 9.900 to tie for second on floor.
The team started on vault and Wojcik finished off the routine with a perfect 10 Yurchenko 1 1/2, the score that had eluded her three times on stuck landings already this season. This time the judges awarded it to her, giving her the first 10 on vault for Michigan since Kylee Botterman in 2011 and the first 10 on any event since Nicole Artz was perfect on floor exercise in 2017.
"It was a blast to get that 10 I have been working for all season," said Wojcik. "There was a flood of emotions and to hear everyone screaming was super fun."
Filled with tears of joy, the team had a few moments to collect itself before heading to the uneven bars. The amazing feeling carried over as all six gymnasts scored a 9.900 or better for a combined score of 49.625. It tied for the second highest bars rotation in program history.
Five of the six set or tied career highs. Maddie Mariani led off with a 9.900, Anne Maxim tied her best with a 9.900, Lauren Farley scored a 9.925, Brenner had a 9.950 and Wojcik tied her best with a 9.950 to close out the rotation.
The fantastic night continued to the next event as U-M tallied a 49.450 on balance beam. Karas set a career high with a 9.925, junior Lexi Funk scored a 9.900 and Wojcik scored a 9.925.
The Wolverines finished with a 49.325 on floor to cap off the meet.
Michigan will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, to take on No. 4-ranked Utah next Saturday (March 2) at 2 p.m. MST.
Players Mentioned
