Arizona State ties Washington, but records its highest marks in 14 years

February 23, 2020

By Scott Mammoser

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State gymnastics team was back in action on Sunday, tying No. 13 Washington at 196.875, the program’s highest team total since 2006.

“It’s been coming for a while,” ASU coach Jay Santos said. “I am thrilled they put it together the way they did, and they are building off each other’s energy. This was the best meet of the year.”

ASU ties Washington, records highest team total since '06

The Gym Devils posted above a 9.8 on all 12 vault and bars routines, with Cairo Leonard-Baker recording a leading 9.9 and 9.95 on each. Leonard-Baker also performed the team’s best floor exercise with a 9.9.

“Our energy is so good,” Leonard-Baker said. “We are helping each other, and it shows what we are capable of this season.”

Gracie Reeves and Hannah Scharf equaled for the best ASU performance on beam at 9.85, while Hannah Vandenkolk of the GymDawgs scored a meet-high 9.9. Kristyn Hoffa of Washington won the floor with a 9.925, and Geneva Thompson notched the team high on bars with a 9.9 and tied Madison Copiak with a 9.85 on vault. Reeves, Scharf and Evanni Roberson of Washington comprised a three-way tie for the all-around high with a 39.35.

The Gym Devils have meets at Stanford on March 2 and at Arizona on March 6, before returning home for the final meet at Desert Financial Arena on March 8 against Pittsburgh. 

Washington, which is coached by 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Elise Ray-Statz, will host Utah on March 1 in its next meet.

“We want to just keep getting better,” Santos added. “We need to keep working on the things we do in the gym and show it in competition.”