Michigan
#7 Minnesota, #24 Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State
U-M Sets Program Record to Win Big Ten Regular-Season Title
2/22/2020 10:39:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
» The Wolverines' 197.950 is a program-record team score, besting a 197.850 in 2000.
» Michigan won its fourth straight Big Ten regular-season title and sixth overall.
» Sophomore Natalie Wojcik had a career high in the all-around with a 39.775.
Site: Toledo, Ohio (Huntington Center)
Event: Elevate the Stage Meet
Scores: #9 Michigan 197.950, Minnesota 196.650, Penn State 196.125, Michigan State 195.975, Maryland 195.325
Records: U-M (11-0, 9-0 B1G), Minnesota (10-2, 8-1 B1G), PSU (5-8, 4-5 B1G), MSU (5-7, 4-5 B1G), Maryland (6-6, 3-6 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Feb. 28 -- vs. New Hampshire (Crisler Center), 6:30 p.m.
• Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery
TOLEDO, Ohio -- The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team captured its fourth consecutive Big Ten regular season-title on Saturday (Feb. 22) as they finished off an undefeated Big Ten regular season (9-0) by scoring a program-record 197.950 at the Elevate the Stage meet at Huntington Center.
The regular-season title gives Michigan one of four spots in the evening session at the Big Ten Championships on March 21 in Columbus, Ohio. U-M has claimed six of the eight regular-season titles since the Big Ten began recognizing a regular-season champion in 2013.
Everything clicked for the Wolverines as they set season highs on three of the four rotations to post the top score in school history.
Michigan made a statement from the start of the meet. The Wolverines were on floor exercise first and freshman Nicoletta Koulos started them off strong with a season-high 9.850. It was a snowball effect from there. Sophomore Natalie Wojcik scored a 9.900 in the third spot, starting a streak of four straight 9.900 scores or higher. Freshman Sierra Brooks had a season-high 9.950, sophomore Abby Brenner had a 9.900 and freshman Gabby Wilson finished off with a 9.925. The team finished with a season-high 49.525 on the event.
That momentum carried to vault where U-M racked up a season-high 49.600. Four more gymnasts scored 9.900 or greater. Sophomore Abby Heiskell started off with a career-high 9.925 and was followed by the first 9.900 of Koulos' career. Brenner and Wojcik then both hit for 9.950s. It matched a career high for Brenner, and Wojcik followed up her 10.0 in this meet a year ago with another great score.
The Wolverines did not slow down when they got to the uneven bars, scoring a 49.400 for a third consecutive season rotation high. Wojcik was brilliant again, tying a career high with a 9.950 to finish off the rotation. Sophomore Maggie O'Hara competed on uneven bars for the third time this season, scoring a career-high 9.875.
U-M headed into the final rotation needing a 49.325 to tie the Michigan program record team score. The balance beam rotation started off with two 9.800s and a 9.825, and then the final three really took it up a notch. Senior Lexi Funk posted a 9.900, Wojcik set a career high with a 9.975 and Heiskell capped off her amazing day with a career-high 9.925.
Wojcik set a career high in the all-around with a 39.775, besting her Elevate the Stage mark of 39.750 from last season. She won vault, bars and beam as well. Brenner tied for the win on vault and Brooks won floor.
The next meet for the Wolverines will be Friday (Feb. 28) against New Hampshire at 6:30 p.m. at Crisler Center. It will be the team's Spring Break meet with Block M sunglasses for the first 1,000 fans and Maddy Osman senior recognition night. [ Tickets ]
Players Mentioned
