GYMNASTICS HEADS TO ARIZONA FOR SUNDAY MEET

OPENING PASS

Off to its best scoring start since 2017, the Sacramento State gymnastics team will look to continues its strong showing in 2024 as it travels to No. 17 Arizona for a Sunday matinee from the McKale Center at noon PT.
The Hornets most recently scored 194.025 in a dual meet defeat to San Jose State last Sunday at The Nest. The team's average of 193.575 is its best through two meets since the 2017 team had a mark of 194.438. That team featured current assistant coach Megan Kyle while fellow assistant Amber Koeth was still in high school. Overall the team's averarge is the fifth-highest in school history through two meets.
Links to live stats and a video stream for this week's meet can be found on hornetsports.com.

OPPONENT PREVIEW

Arizona opened its season this past weekend in the first session of the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad in West Valley City, Utah. The Wildcats won the session with a team score of 196.475 to better Boise State (196.250), Nebraska (195.875) and North Carolina (195.150). Arizona's score was also the second best in school history in a season opener.
Individually, Alysen Fears won the all-around with a total of 39.250. Marlia Hargrove had the top score for the GymCats on vault (9.900), Fears and and Abigayle Martin tied for the team lead on bars with each scoring 9,.825, Caroline Herry led the way on beam with a 9.875 and three gymnasts scored 9.9-plus on floor led by Emily Mueller's 9.925.
Arizona is coached by John Court who is in his sixth season as head coach and his 26th year on the Wildcat staff. UofA is 7-0 all-time against the Hornets dating back to 1996 that includes a 2-0 mark at the McKale Center.

A LOOK AT LATEST ACTION

Kara Houghton finished in first place on bars, Rylin Zimmerman and Grace Gilman placed second and third on floor and Emma Morgenthaler was third on vault to lead the Sacramento State gymnastics team last Sunday afternoon. The Hornets scored 194.025 to place second in the meet to San Jose State (194.950).
Sacramento State started the meet with another strong showing on vault. The Hornets totaled 48.825 and were led by Morgenthaler's 9.825. Sacramento State added a 48.175 on bars in the second rotation despite being forced to count a fall. Houghton paced the team with a 9.875 to tie her career best.
Freshman Athena Jones led the charge for the Hornets on beam, scoring 9.825 to finish in fourth place overall. Zimmerman and Sarah Lutrel tied for fifth at 9.825. The Hornets counted five floor scores of at least 9.725 on floor to finish with a 48.925. Zimmerman led the team with a 9.850 in just her second career routine on the event.

A LONG TIME COMING

Sacramento State will unveil a new training facility early in the 2024 season. The building, which is located on Folsom Blvd. and is within walking distance of campus, will be mark the first time the Hornets will have access to its own facility in school history.
The training site will have a full size competition floor and several sets of the other apparatus. The building will also have sunken pits and a tumble track to allow the athletes to safely learn new skills. The facility is expected to open in February of 2024.

CLEAN SWEEP

Three Sacramento State gymnasts swept the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation weekly awards, it was announced Tuesday. Sarah Lutrel was named the Gymnast of the Week, Rylin Zimmerman was the Specialist of the Week and Athena Jones claimed the Freshman of the Week honor. The award is the first for each during their career.
Lutrel placed second in the all-around with a four-event total of 38.950 as the Citrus Heights native scored 9.750 on vault, 9.700 on bars, 9.775 on beam and 9.725 on floor.
Zimmerman set or tied career bests on each of her three events. The Greenacres, Wash., native opened her meet with a 9.775 on vault which ranked second on the team and tied her career best. She added a 9.750 on beam and scored 9.850 on floor to finish second overall in the meet. The meet marked just the second time Zimmerman has competed on floor for the Hornets. Zimmerman has now scored 9.750 or better in five of her six routines this season. In comparison, she had three scores of 9.75-plus last year in 17 routines.
Jones led the Hornets on beam and placed fourth overall with a score of 9.825. The native of Clovis, Calif., followed with a 9.725 on floor which helped the team to a total of 48.925 to win the event.

THE FLOOR IS RISING

Sacramento State scored its highest event score of the season on any event with a 48.925 on floor against San Jose State. The Hornets counted five scores of at least 9.725 to earn the event victory over the Spartans. Zimmerman started the run with her score of 9.850 and was followed by a 9.725 from Jones. The back half of the lineup responded with a 9.800 from Emma Morgenthaler, a 9.825 from Grace Gilman and a 9.725 from Lutrel.
Through two meets this season, Sacramento State is averaging 48.875 on floor which is significantly higher than last season's average of 48.682. The team's high score in 2023 was 49.200 which came in the final home meet of the season. The 48.950 from last weekend would've tied for the second best score for the Hornets last season and was the third highest since 2022. Zimmerman and Morgenthaler have been the leaders during this year, with each averaging 9.800 through two meets.

Players Mentioned