SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State gymnastics team ended its home season in historic fashion, scoring a school record 196.000 on a day when the team honored its three seniors and retiring head coach Kim Hughes. Utah State won the meet with a 196.325.
The score broke the previous school record of 195.875 which came at Oregon State on March 5, 2004.
Sacramento State opened the meet on vault and scored 49.075 as all six gymnasts scored 9.750 or better. That score is tied for the second best in school history. The lineup began when freshmen Courtney Soliwoda and Megan Kyle scored 9.775 and 9.825, respectively. Senior Tina Necas followed with a 9.750 and was trailed by freshman Lauren Rice who added a 9.850. Freshman Caitlin Soliwoda matched Rice's score and sophomore Julia Konner completed the lineup with a 9.875. Rice, Kyle and both Soliwodas each set career bests on vault while Konner tied her career high. The team score was a full tenth better than the previous school record.
The Hornets scored 48.775 on bars during the second rotation for their highest score on the event since Jan. 23. Senior Kayla Wonderly and Cassie Benning tied for the team lead with each scoring 9.800. Wonderly's score matched her career high in her final meet at The Nest. Lauren Rice and Courtney Soliwoda tied for eighth after scoring 9.750. Konner provided a 9.675 to account for the final score towards the team total.
Sacramento State tallied a 49.125 on beam for its season high and tied for the fourth best in school history. Wonderly set her career high and tied for first with a 9.875. The individual event victory was the first of her career. Konner tied for third with a 9.850 while Rice and Courtney Soliwoda each scored 9.825 to tie for fifth.
The Hornets closed the meet on floor with a 49.025. Cassie Benning placed second overall with a 9.850 with senior Dallas Smith receiving a 9.825 to tie for third. Rice tied for sixth at 9.800 while freshman Jennifer Brenner set a career best with a 9.775 to tie for eighth.
Rice and Konner each set career bests in the all-around to place second and third, respectively. Rice scored 39.225 on her four events while Konner amassed 39.175.
Overall, Sacramento State gymnastics combined to tie or set 14 personal bests during the meet.
The Hornets will next compete at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships on Saturday, March 21, at 5 p.m. PDT. Sacramento State won the MPSF title a season ago.
NOTES: Associate head coach Randy Solorio and his daughter, Kaycee, sang the National Anthem prior to the start of the meet…following the competition, Sacramento State recognized seniors Tina Necas, Dallas Smith and Kayla Wonderly as well as head coach Kim Hughes.
TEAM RESULTS
1. Utah State 196.350; 2. Sacramento State 196.000
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
VAULT
1. Julia Konner, SAC, 9.875; T2. Lauren Rice, Caitlin Soliwoda 9.850; T5. Megan Kyle 9.825; 9. Courtney Soliwoda 9.775; T10. Tina Necas 9.750.
BARS
1. T1. JoAnna Cuba, Keri Peel, USU, 9.850; T5. Kayla Wonderly, Cassie Benning 9.800; T8. Lauren Rice, Courtney Soliwoda 9.750; T10. Julia Konner 9.675; 12. Alyssa Anderson 9.075.
BEAM
T1. Kayla Wonderly, SAC; JoAnna Cuba, USU, 9.875; T3. Julia Konner 9.850; T5. Lauren Rice, Courtney Soliwoda 9.825; T9. Cassie Benning 9.750; 11. Alyssa Anderson 9.375.
FLOOR
1. Bailey McIntire 9.875; 2. Cassie Benning 9.850; T3. Dallas Smith 9.825; T6. Lauren Rice 9.800; T8. Jennifer Brenner, Julia Konner 9.775; 12. Anneke Klaver 9.575.
ALL-AROUND
1. Sarah Landes, USU, 39.250; 2. Lauren Rice 39.225; 3. Julia Konner 39.175.
