Spartans Shine with Record-Setting Performances on Bars and Beam, Securing Runner-Up Spot at Florida Quad

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Record highs on bars and beam propelled No. 3 Michigan State gymnastics to a team score of 196.650, securing a second-place finish at the Florida Quad event on Friday evening in Gainesville.

Preseason No. 3 Florida narrowly overcame MSU for the win, achieving a score of 196.675 in its season debut. MSU triumphed over No. 23 Nebraska (195.600) and Northern Illinois (191.950) to improve to 3-1 for the season. The Gators began their season at 3-0, while Nebraska currently stands at 1-5 and Northern Illinois at 0-3.

“This team demonstrated tonight that they are resilient,” stated head coach Mike Rowe. “Our beginning on floor wasn’t the strongest, but we transitioned to vault and began to build momentum. Knowing we were heading to vault, we were confident in our ability to make additional improvements, and we did just that. Beam capped off the night with a six-for-six performance, keeping the audience captivated. I am incredibly proud of the tenacity and determination these young women displayed tonight, especially against such formidable opposition.”

In her second career all-around performance in as many meets, junior Olivia Zsarmani achieved a personal-best 39.425, finishing third behind Florida’s Leanne Wong (39.725) and Sloane Blakely (39.500). Senior Gabrielle Stephen also recorded a season-best with a 39.400, placing fourth, while junior Nikki Smith tied for fifth with Nebraska’s Emma Spence with a score of 39.300.

MSU commenced the meet on the floor with a score of 48.900, achieving the highest team score of the evening in that event. Stephen led the Spartans from the No. 5 position with a score of 9.850, earning fourth place. Zsarmani notched a 9.825, while fifth-year senior Delanie Harkness achieved a 9.775, Smith added a 9.750, and junior Elle Beaufait, making her season debut, scored 9.700.

The Spartans moved into second place behind the Gators following a vault score of 49.025 in the second rotation. Junior Sage Kellerman shared runner-up honors with a score of 9.875 in the anchor spot. Zsarmani and Smith both recorded identical 9.825 scores, and Stephen added a 9.800, while senior Lauren Hsu tallied 9.700 in her first lineup entry since 2023.

MSU matched its 10th-best bars score in the program’s history with a 49.425 in the third rotation, marking its standout event score of the night and the highest score for that event among all competing teams. The Spartans recorded three scores of 9.900 or greater, led by Kellerman’s 9.925 for her second runner-up finish of the night. Smith and Harkness contributed with 9.900 scores to tie for fourth, while Stephen, Zsarmani, and freshman Amy Doyle recorded 9.850s, with Doyle achieving a career high.

A season-best 49.300 on beam concluded the meet for MSU in the final rotation. Zsarmani surpassed her previous career high by a tenth with a score of 9.925, leading the Spartans in this event, resulting in a tie for second place. Stephen closed with a season-best 9.900, placing in a tie for fourth. Fifth-year senior Giana Kalefe contributed a 9.850, Smith scored 9.825, while freshman Cady Duplissis and sophomore Emma Misenheimer both scored 9.800. Despite a couple of falls from the Gators on floor, Florida’s other four scores in the event were sufficient for a narrow victory.

Next, MSU returns to their home venue to commence conference action against Michigan on Friday, January 17 at 6 p.m. inside the Breslin Center. The meet will be broadcast live on B1G+.