University of Washington
Michigan State
No. 16 Huskies Post High Score On Beam For Win
January 07, 2012 | Gymnastics
Jan. 6, 2012
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 16 UW posted its best score on beam with a 48.825 to defeat Michigan State in the 2012 opener, 193.175-191.825 in East Lansing, Mich., Friday night.
Sophomore Aliza Vaccher (Eugene, Ore.) led off on bars for UW to start the 2012 season, posting a solid score of 9.750. Junior Lauren Rogers (Plains, Pa.) then posted a 9.775 which tied her for second in the meet. Senior Ruby Engreitz (Kirkland, Wash.) was the final Husky on bars and led UW by winning the event with a 9.825 to push the Huskies past Michigan State after the first rotation, 48.575-48.500.
Freshman Madison Podlucky (Redmond, Wash.) scored a 9.725 going second on vault for UW. Engreitz followed with a 9.775 and tied for third at the meet. Rogers also went fairly high with a 9.700. UW's leader on the vault in 2011, junior Amanda Cline (Aurora, Colo.) prevailed once again and tied for the vault title on the evening with a 9.850. The Huskies posted a 48.700 on vault.
After two rotations, the Huskies led the Spartans, 97.275-96.975.
The floor was a rough event for the Huskies until Rogers posted a 9.750, placing third overall. Freshman McKenzie Fechter (Mequon, Wis.) also posted a great score of 9.800 which won the event. Michigan State struggled on beam so the Huskies held their lead going into the fourth rotation, 144.350-143.850.
UW redeemed itself on beam while the Spartans also struggled on floor. Junior Megan Whitney (Mesa, Ariz.) led off on beam for UW, posting a 9.800. Rogers followed with a career-best, 9.725 on beam. With a 9.775 on beam, Fechter completed the all-around in her first collegiate meet, posting a 38.300 to finish third. Engreitz went 9.700 on beam.
In her return to the gym after missing 2011 with injuries, senior Hatsune Akaogi (Cupertino, Calif.) posted a 9.700 on beam. Junior Paige Bixler (Rowlett, Texas) won the beam with a 9.825 as UW took the top six spots in the event.
Engreitz won the all-around with a 39.000. Rogers placed second in the all-around with a 38.950 which is her best all-around score since March 19, 2010 vs. SPU.
The Huskies head to Boise, Idaho to take on the Broncos on Jan. 13.
Players Mentioned
