SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State gymnastics team recorded the second best score in school history to claim the 2016 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation team title on Saturday night at The Nest. The Hornets totaled 196.300 to set the MPSF Championships record and win the conference crown for the fifth time in its last eight attempts (2002-05, 2013-16).
The Hornets were led by Kalliah McCartney who broke her own school all-around record and tied for the second highest in MPSF history. McCartney totaled 39.450 in the four events after scoring 9.900 on vault and floor, 9.850 on beam and 9.800 on bars. Those score helped the Vancouver, Wash., native finish first on vault, tie for first on beam, and tie for second on bars and floor.
McCartney's previous best of 39.375 came in 2012. Her score also easily surpassed Binta Coleman's mark of 39.350 which had been the best by a Hornet senior.
Sophomore Lauren Rice also set a career high in the all-around, totaling 39.325 to place second in the meet and tie for the eighth best in school history. Rice scored 9.850 on vault, beam and floor and had a 9.775 on bars. She tied for first on beam, placed second on vault tied for fifth on floor.
The Hornets opened the meet on vault where they scored a season-high 49.100 and jump into second place in school history. While McCartney and Rice finished 1-2, freshman Lauren Schmeiss and sophomore Megan Kyle tied for third after each scored 9.825. The score was a career best for Schmeiss and tied Kyle's career high.
After a bye, Sacramento State scored 48.825 on bars. The team counted five scores of 9.725 or better. Julia Konner matched her career best with a 9.775 to tie Rice for seventh place overall . Cassie Benning tied for 12th with a 9.750 and Courtney Soliwoda added a 9.725.
The Hornets maintained their lead following thier third event after scoring 49.025 on beam. That score was also a season best for the team and is the 10th highest in school history. Konner opened with a 9.775. Megan Kyle added a career high 9.800 to tie for sixth in the meet and was immediately followed by a 9.750 from Courtney Soliwoda. Rice and McCartney ended the rotation with each scoring 9.850.
Sacramento State entered the final rotation with a .425 lead over UC Davis. The team was able to expand that advantage after totaling 49.350 on floor which is tied for the second best all-time by a Hornet squad. The final five gymnasts in the lineup scored 9.850 or better. Jennifer Brenner matched her career best with a 9.850 and McCartney and Konner each scored 9.900. Konner's score set her career high while McCartney tied her own best. Rice wrapped up the meet with a 9.850.
UC Davis placed second in the meet with a total of 195.300. The Aggies were followed by San Jose State (194.375), Seattle Pacific (193.000), Alaska Anchorage (192.850) and Air Force (191.450).
Following the meet, the MPSF announced its four major award winners. McCartney was selected at the Gymnast of the Year. UC Davis' Yasmine Yektaparast was the Newcomer of the Year. Paul Stoklos of Alaska Anchroage was the Coach of the Year and Sacramento State's Tanya Ho was named the Assistant Coach of the Year.
Sacramento State will have several gymnasts compete at the NCAA Salt Lake Regional on April 2. McCartney and Rice will go as all-arounders while Benning and Konner will each advance as event specialists. A complete list of qualifiers will be announced in the next week.
MPSF GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Sacramento State 196.300
2. UC Davis 195.300
3. San Jose State 194.375
4. Seattle Pacific 193.000
5. Alaska Anchorage 192.850
6. Air Force 191.450
VAULT
1. Kalliah McCartney, SAC, 9.900; 2. Lauren Rice, 9.850; T3. Lauren Schmiess, Megan Kyle 9.825; T15. Caitlin Soliwoda 9.700; T22. Julia Konner 9.650.
BARS
1. Alexis Brown, UCD, 9.825; T2. Kalliah McCartney, SAC, 9.800; T7. Lauren Rice, Julia Konner 9.775; T12. Cassie Benning 9.750; T14. Courtney Soliwoda 9.725; 29. Caitlin Soliwoda 9.225.
BEAM
T1. Lauren Rice, Kalliah McCartney, SAC, 9.850; T6. Megan Kyle 9.800; T9. Julia Konner 9.775; T10. Courtney Soliwoda 9.750; T21. Cassie Benning 9.625.
FLOOR
1. Stephanie Stamates, UCD, 9.925; T2. Kalliah McCartney, Julia Konner, 9.900; T5. Jennifer Brenner, Cassie Benning, Lauren Rice, 9.850; T25. Carly Pratt 9.675
ALL-AROUND
1. Kalliah McCartney, SAC, 39.450; 2. Lauren Rice, SAC, 39.325; 4. Julia Konner 39.100.
