SACRAMENTO, Calif. — All six gymnasts in the Sacramento State floor lineup set career bests to spark the team to a 194.225-194.000 come-from-behind victory over Air Force on Friday night at The Nest. The score was the best for the Hornets this season in four meets.
Trailing by .350 after three rotations, the Hornets scored 49.225 on floor in the final rotation while the Falcons totaled 48.650 on beam. Grace Gilman opened the floor rotation with a 9.875 and was followed by a 9.650 from Sarah Fitzgerald. Torri Tavenner scored 9.525 and was followed by an electrifying 9.875 from Destiny Watley.
Despite having four solid performances already completed,Sacramento State still trailed Air Force who started beam with four scores of at least 9.800. The Hornets were given a slight chance at a comeback when Amber Koeth scored 9.900 in the No. 5 position immediately after the Falcons had a fall. The final performer for Air Force encountered some trouble leaving the door open for Emma Morgenthaler who scored 9.925 to complete the win.
The total floor score of 49.225 is tied for the eighth best in school history and is the best since the team scored 49.275 in 2016. Prior to tonight's meet, Sacramento State's season high was 47.775.
In a strange twist, the Hornets, who were competing at home for the first time since March 7, 2020, scored 194.225 for the third consecutive home meet.
Sacramento State opened the meet on vault with a 48.600 and held a slight lead over Air Force which scored 48.425 on bars. Gilman finished first in the event for the second straight meet with a 9.800 while fellow freshman Fitzgerald was second with a career best 9.775.
The Hornets maintained their lead through the second rotation, scoring 48.350 on bars compared to a 47.800 on vault from the Falcons. Koeth and Shaye Mathias each scored 9.700 to tie for third place overall.
Air Force took the lead in the third rotation behind a floor total of 49.125. Sacramento State was forced to count a fall on beam but Koeth saved the team with a career-high tying 9.900 to finish first.
The Falcons' Genevieve Sabado finished first in the all-around in a tightly contested race. Sabado totaled 39.300 to edge teammate Ayla McKean (39.100) and Morgenthaler who had a career best 39.025.
Sacramento State will remain home next week to host UC Davis on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.
TEAM RESULTS
1. Sacramento State 194.225
2. Air Force 194.000
VAULT
1. Grace Gilman, SAC, 9.800; 2. Sarah Fitzgerald 9.775; 4. Emma Morgenthaler 9.725; T7. Destiny Watley, Torri Tavenner 9.650; 9. Mary Won 9.600.
BARS
1. Genevieve Sabado, AF, 9.825; T3. Amber Koeth, Shaye Mathias 9.700; T5. Sarah Fitzgerald 9.675; T7. Torri Tavenner 9.650; 9. Emma Morgenthaler 9.625; 10. Destiny Watley 9.600.
BEAM
1. Amber Koeth, SAC, 9.900; 6. Emma Morgenthaler 9.750; 7. Peyton Gillen 9.700; 8. Grace Gilman 9.650; 11. Shaye Mathias 9.050; 12. Simone Dumas-Guzman 8.750.
FLOOR
1. Emma Morgenthaler, SAC, 9.925; T2. Amber Koeth 9.900; T4. Grace Gilman 9.875, Destiny Watley 9.875; 10. Sarah Fitzgerald 9.650; 12. Torri Tavenner 9.525.
ALL-AROUND
1. Genvieve Sabado, AF, 39.300; 3. Emma Morgethaler 39.025.
