Leonard-Baker opens ASU gymnastics season with two 9.9s

By Scott Mammoser

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State gymnastics team opened its season with a productive 195 points on Friday to place second of four teams. No. 19 Missouri won the meet with 195.45 points, No. 23 Minnesota was third with 194.150, and Illinois-Chicago was fourth with 193.925.

Sophomore Cairo Leonard-Baker recorded a 9.9 to win the floor, ASU’s highest event on Friday (48.925), and she also scored a 9.9 on the uneven bars. Five Gym Devils recorded 9.8s in the meet, the next highest after Leonard-Baker’s marks.

ASU Opens season with second place finish

“We had some little things to brush off, but all-around, I’m pretty happy about it,” Leonard-Baker said of the year’s initial meet. “There are little form things, like sticking landings. We have the basics down though. Now that we have freshmen, it’s different because there are people looking up to me. I can’t qualify for freshmen awards anymore; I’m competing against sophomores, juniors and seniors. It’s a whole new ball game, but I’m ready for it.”

ASU’s roster posts three freshmen on its roster this year, although none made it into the rotation on Friday: Jasmine Gutierrez, Stephanie Tripodi and Kaitlin Harvey from Mesa’s Desert Ridge High School.

“We have work to do,” ASU coach Jay Santos added. “There were a little jitters and bobbles. We need to be able to finish our routines cleanly, and we’ll be in good shape. We want them to go out there and embrace the moment.”

Lexy Ramler of the Gophers won the all-around with 39.525 points, with a 9.9 on the vault and 9.9 on bars. Missouri’s Britney Ward posted a 9.95 on the balance beam, the highest mark of the competition.

Next, the Gym Devils will be at Texas Woman’s University on Jan. 12 and defending national champion UCLA on Jan. 21. They return home to face Utah at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 26.