No. 25 Gym Devils Take Second in Season-Opening Tri-Meet

By Mary Kate Lau, SDA Communications

TEMPE, Ariz.--In their quest to conquer perfection, Arizona State women’s gymnastics took the first step Saturday night in Tempe with a second-place finish in a tri-meet against San Jose State and Sacramento State with a score of 193.625.

The Gym Devils (1-1) started off the inaugural meet on a high note with a 49.050 on vault. Freshman Gilly Hogue made a strong college debut by leading the lineup with a 9.850. The team only scored above a 49 on vault one time last year at Denver.

Next up on bars, the underclassmen continued to soar with a strong 9.825 from freshman Beka Conrad and sophomore Carissa Kraus hit a career-high, meet-high 9.9 with her new dismount. The team would put up 48.800and lead by almost a point going into the third.

The team experienced some struggles on beam with a fall from Hogue and junior Morgan Steigerwalt but showed resilience when Risa Perez fought to stay on beam and put up a 9.675. Junior Brianna Gades and sophomore Stephanie Miceli would finish the event on a high note putting up a 9.750 and a 9.775 respectively. They held onto a .225 lead going into the final rotation with a 145.850.

Wells Fargo Arena got loud for the final rotation as ASU scored a crowd-pleasing 47.775. Perez topped the Gym Devils lineup with a 9.800- good for second on the night. Beka Conrad had another strong first go at it and a 9.750.

San Jose State would finish the night with a 194.200 and Sacramento State would notch a 192.225.

ASU Gymnastics will take on Washington, UC Davis and the same San Jose State team in a quad meet in Seattle next Saturday 5 p.m. PT.