Carey Named Conference Champion on Bars and Floor as Beavers Compete in 2024 Pac-12 Championship

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – Oregon State gymnastics competed Saturday night, participating in the second session of the 2024 Pac-12 Championships at the Maverik Center. Jade Carey was named a champion on both bars and floor as the Beavers finished fifth with a 196.775 team score.
 
The Beavers opened the meet up on floor and got off to a hot start, setting a new season-best mark with a 49.550 rotation score. Kaitlin Garcia led things off with a 9.900 and was followed by another 9.900, this time from Savannah Miller, as the opening two gymnasts both tied career highs. Ariana Young came through with a 9.850 before Sage Thompson earned a 9.875 and Sophia Esposito was given a 9.875, her ninth 9.850 or better this season.
 
After coming close on several occasions throughout the season, Jade Carey rounded out the Oregon State floor lineup with a perfect 10, earning a raucous response from those in attendance. Carey has now finished with a 9.925 or better on the floor in five of her six performances this season.
 
On the vault in the next rotation, Natalie Briones led the Beavers off with a 9.850. After a Thompson 9.700 and Garcia 9.650, Olivia Buckner was given a 9.900, her second 9.900 or this season. Esposito earned a 9.900 and Carey a 9.850 as OSU finished the vault with a 49.225 rotation score.
 
Oregon State hit the bars in rotation number three, where several Beavers shined for the top-ranked OSU lineup. Esposito led it off with a 9.850 and was followed by a Briones 9.800 before the trio of Jennifer McMillan (9.925), Thompson (9.925) and Carey (9.950) each finished with a 9.900 or higher for the third-consecutive week; the Beavers finished that third rotation with a 49.450 rotation score and 148.225 overall.
 
Esposito led off the beam rotation with a 9.875 and was followed by a Buckner 9.725 before McMillan posted her third 9.850+ in the past four meets. Young scored a 9.250 before Carey rounded out the rotation with a 9.850.
 
When the final scores were in, Oregon State's 196.775 placed fifth across all teams who competed in Saturday's championship event.
 
Carey was named a Pac-12 Champion in two separate events for her performances on Saturday, with the perfect 10 marking her second career Pac-12 Championship on the floor; her 9.950 bars score was tied with UCLA's Selena Harris, as Carey's co-champion status marked the first bars title she's won at OSU and the first for a Beaver gymnast since Erika Aufiero in 2017.
 
Oregon State will find out its fate for the regional tournament on Monday morning.
 
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