Feb. 16, 2013

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score: #3 Michigan 197.375, Penn State 196.700
Records: U-M (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten), Penn State (7-5, 2-3 Big Ten)
Attendance: 1,830 (sellout)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 24 -- at West Virginia, vs. Towson, vs. New Hampshire (Morgantown, W.Va.), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Behind a school-record score on floor exercise (49.625) and an all-around victory (39.600) from junior Joanna Sampson (Willow Grove, Pa./Upper Moreland), the No. 3-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team rolled Penn State, 197.375-196.700, in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday (Feb. 16) at Cliff Keen Arena.

The Wolverines held a close lead the entire afternoon, culminating with the fourth and final rotation, which Michigan entered leading by just one tenth of a point (147.750-147.650), and they responded with a score of 49.625, complete with five scores of 9.900 or higher. That score ties the previous school record, set March 9, 2002, in a tri-meet vs. Denver and Washington.

Sampson had the best routine of the evening in the anchor spot, getting a 10.0 from Level 10 judge Richard Seibel to finish win the event with a career-best 9.975. A trio of gymnasts recorded 9.900s to tie for third place, including senior Natalie Beilstein (Butler, Pa./Knoch) and junior Stephanie Colbert (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) to start the rotation. Senior Katie Zurales (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) scored a 9.950 in the third spot to finish second -- also a new career high -- before another 9.900 came from junior Reema Zakharia (Miami, Fla./Coral Gables Senior High). Freshman Briley Casanova (Dallas, Texas/Spring Creek Academy) scored 9.875 in her first official action in that event.

The Wolverines scored 49.325 as a squad on vault to open the meet, getting three scores of 9.875 and three scores of 9.850. Colbert led the team off, sticking her landing to earn a season-best score of 9.875. Beilstein and sophomore Sachi Sugiyama (Keller, Texas/Keller) also received the same score. All three tied for second on the event. Coming in at 9.850 was Zurales, Sampson and freshman Austin Sheppard (Dallas, Texas/Plano East).

The Wolverines moved to uneven bars during the second rotation and encountered some adversity, as Beilstein missed the high bar during her release, resulting in a fall in the first spot. With the remaining five gymnasts needing to hit, Zurales got the team back on track, recording a score of 9.750. After junior Shelby Gies (Pennington, N.J./Hopewell Valley Central)put up a score of 9.850 in the third spot, the final three gymnasts in the lineup each scored above 9.900 to give Michigan a 49.375. Sugiyama received a 9.900 in the fourth spot to finish third, followed by a gorgeous, career-best performance from senior Brittnee Martinez (Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty), who won the event with a 9.950. Sampson closed the rotation with a 9.925 to finish second, and after two rotations, Michigan led Penn State, 98.700-98.400.

The third rotation saw Michigan on balance beam, where it received a 49.050 as a team. Martinez championed the event with her 9.900 score, followed by the two U-M captains, Sampson and Zurales, who each tied for third at 9.850. The other two counted scores came from sophomore Annette Miele (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) at 9.750 and Casanova at 9.700.

Sampson won the all-around for the fourth time in seven meets this season, tying her career high of 39.600 that was set Feb. 2 vs. Iowa. Zurales finished third (39.400).

The Wolverines are on the road for their next three meets, starting next Sunday (Feb. 24) at West Virginia in Morgantown, W.Va. The quad meet, which will also feature New Hampshire and Towson, will begin at 2 p.m.

 

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Vault
Stephanie Colbert             9.875 (t2)
Katie Zurales                 9.850
Sachi Sugiyama                9.875 (t2)
Joanna Sampson                9.850
Natalie Beilstein             9.875 (t2)
Austin Sheppard               9.850
 
Uneven Bars
Natalie Beilstein             8.750
Katie Zurales                 9.750
Shelby Gies                   9.850
Sachi Sugiyama                9.900 (t3)
Brittnee Martinez             9.950 (1)
Joanna Sampson                9.925 (2)
 
Balance Beam
Annette Miele                 9.750
Briley Casanova               9.700
Joanna Sampson                9.850 (t3)
Brittnee Martinez             9.900 (1)
Shelby Gies                   9.600
Katie Zurales                 9.850 (t3)
 
Floor Exercise
Natalie Beilstein             9.900 (t3)
Stephanie Colbert             9.900 (t3)
Katie Zurales                 9.950 (2)
Reema Zakharia                9.900 (t3)
Briley Casanova               9.875
Joanna Sampson                9.975 (1)
 
All-Around
Joanna Sampson                39.600 (1)
Katie Zurales                 39.400 (3)