Wojcik, Michigan Put on Show in Win Over Rutgers at Flip for Chip Meet
1/24/2020 9:24:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
» Natalie Wojcik led the way for Michigan, winning all four events and scoring a 39.625 in the all-around.
» Michigan scored above 197.000 for the first time in 2020, defeating Rutgers 197.300-192.950.
» Abby Heiskell won on uneven bars for the second straight meet.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)
Event: Flip for Chip Meet
Score: #9 Michigan 197.300, Rutgers 192.950
Records: U-M (4-0, 2-0 Big Ten), Rutgers (3-4, 0-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, Jan. 30 -- at Nebraska (Lincoln, Neb.), 6 p.m. CST
• Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In its fifth annual Flip for Chip meet, the No. 9-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team put on a show in a 197.300-192.950 win over Rutgers on Friday night (Jan. 25) at Crisler Center.
It was the first time in 2020 that Michigan scored above 197.000.
Sophomore all-arounder Natalie Wojcik had a night to remember, winning all four events and scoring a meet-high 39.625 in the all-around. Friday night was the eighth time Wojcik scored a 39.600 or better all-around, moving her into sole possession of third place in Michigan's 39.600 club.
U-M got off to a fast start in its first rotation, scoring a 49.150 on the vault. Freshman Gabby Wilson and Wojcik won the event with a 9.900. It was the third time in three meets that Wilson has won the event and the first time in 2020 that Wojcik came out on top.
On the uneven bars, Michigan scored a 49.325. Abby Heiskell, Wilson, and Wojcik each scored a 9.875 to win the event. It was Heiskell's second straight meet with a win, Wilson's second win of the season, and Wojcik's first win of the year on bars. Wojcik performed a Deltchev release during her routine for the first time in competition, much to the joy of the crowd.
"I've been working on it for a few years," Wojcik said. "I started working on it before I came here and have been waiting for it to feel consistent enough to compete. We brought it out tonight."
The Maize and Blue had the best rotation of the night on balance beam. Wojcik led the way once again with a 9.950. Senior Maggie O'Hara and sophomore Maddie Mariani each notched career highs of 9.875. O'Hara was honored on the floor after the meet in senior recognition.
"It means the world to me that I was able to be honored tonight," O'Hara said. "I grew up with Cailee (Hills) and knew her dad really well, so it was super special to get to be a part of that. I've been in this meet as a freshman, sophomore and junior, and it never gets any less special. This night is always something that's so incredible. This year it was just amazing."
In Michigan's final rotation, floor exercise, Wojcik scored a 9.900 and three other Wolverines chipped in a 9.875 as U-M finished the rotation with a 49.375.
Michigan will be back on the road for its next meet as the Wolverines will travel to Lincoln to face Nebraska on Thursday (Jan. 30) at 6 p.m. CST.
Players Mentioned
