SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Amber Koeth tied a pair of school records and the Sacramento State gymnastics team recorded a school top 10 score for the second consecutive week on Friday night in a four-team meet against San Jose State, Southern Utah and UC Davis. The Hornets totaled 195.450 which ranks as the 10th best score in program history. San Jose State won the meet with a 196.600, UC Davis was second at 196.475 and No. 19 Southern Utah was third at 196.200.
Competing in her final home meet of her career, Koeth scored 9.950 on both beam and floor to tie school records. Her beam score matches current Associate Head Coach
Melissa Genovese's mark which had stood since 2008. Her floor score tied Stefanie Aeder who scored 9.950 in 2004 and 2005.
Sacramento State counted four scores of 9.750 and one 9.725 on vault in the first rotation to give the team a total of 48.725. The team was led by
Bella Lahmidi,
Sarah Fitzgerald,
Rylin Zimmerman and
Emma Morgenthaler who all tied for 15th place. Lahmidi's total matched her career best and came during her final night at The Nest.
In the second rotation, the Hornets moved to bars and totaled 48.775. Freshman
Kara Houghton and Koeth tied for the top spot on the team at 9.775 while
Torri Tavenner and
Sarah Lutrel were close behind at 9.750.
Beam started slow in the third rotation for the team but picked up late with a 9.875 from senior
Peyton Gillen and Koeth's 9.950 coming in the final two routines. Gillen received a 9.9 from one judge and a 9.8 from the other while Koeth scored two 9.95s in a nearly flawless routine. She has now scored 9.9 plus in four consecutive meets.
Tavenner opened floor with a career best 9.850 to help the team to a 49.200. That score was easily the best of the season for the Hornets, bettering a 48.950 set last week against Air Force. The team counted a 9.750 from
Grace Gilman, a 9.775 from Houghton and 9.875 from Morgenthaler before Koeth stepped on the floor. With the other three teams already through their rotation, all eyes were on Koeth who delivered the best routine of her career.
San Jose State earned the team victory behind an amazing performance from Lauren Macpherson who totaled 39.550 in the all-around. Macpherson was second on vault (9.875), sixth on bars (9.800), tied Koeth for first on beam (9.950) and tied for second on floor (9.900).
Following the meet Sacramento State recognized its six seniors comprised of Koeth, Gillen, Lahmidi,
Anna LeRoy,
Kelly MacLeod and
Karissa Hoffman. The University also paid tribute to head coach
Randy Solorio who was leading the team for the final time at home as he has announced that he will retire following this season after nearly 40 years coaching the Hornets.
Sacramento State will next compete in a four-team meet hosted by Cal on Sunday, March 12. Along with the Golden Bears, the Hornets will face Arizona and UC Davis.
TEAM RESULTS
1. #36 San Jose State 196.600
2. UC Davis 196.475
3. #19 Southern Utah 196.200
4. Sacramento State 195.450
VAULT
1. Kayla Pardue, SUU, 9.900; T15.
Bella Lahmidi,
Sarah Fitzgerald,
Rylin Zimmerman,
Emma Morgenthaler, 9.750; T21.
Grace Gilman 9.725; 23.
Torri Tavenner 9.650.
BARS
1. Shylen Murakami, SUU, 9.900; T7.
Kara Houghton,
Amber Koeth, 9.775; T13.
Torri Tavenner,
Sarah Lutrel 9.750; T18.
Sarah Fitzgerald 9.725; T21.
Bella Lahmidi 9.700.
BEAM
T1.
Amber Koeth, SAC; Lauren Macpherson, SJSU, 9.950; T5.
Peyton Gillen 9.875; 16.
Sarah Lutrel 9.700; 17.
Kara Houghton 9.650; 19.
Emma Morgenthaler 9.575; 22.
Grace Gilman 9.100.
FLOOR
1.
Amber Koeth, SAC, 9.950; T8.
Emma Morgenthaler 9.875; T11.
Torri Tavenner 9.850; T19.
Kara Houghton 9.775; 21.
Grace Gilman 9.750; 23.
Bella Lahmidi 9.500.
ALL-AROUND
1. Lauren Macpherson, SJSU, 39.500.
