SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The adage is records are made to be broken. Friday, the Sacramento State gymnastics demolished them, setting numerous school bests on the way to a win over Air Force. The Hornets downed the Falcons 196.825-195.350 to set this highest score in program history.

"I couldn't be prouder of this team and their effort tonight," head coach Melissa Genovese said. "They believed in themselves and were able to put it all together. I can't wait to see what next."

A QUICK LOOK AT A HISTORIC NIGHT

• The total of 196.825 breaks the score of 196.475 set against San Jose State on Feb. 19, 2016.
• The team became just the fourth in school history to score 196-plus in a meet.
• The floor total of 49.425 tops the mark of 49.375 set against Cal State Fullerton/UC Davis on Mar. 12, 2004.
• The bars total of 49.300 ranks second in school history only behind a 49.400 in 2016.
• The beam total of 49.225 is tied for the third highest in school history.
• Kara Houghton set the school individual record with a 9.975 on bars. The individual bars record of 9.950 was previously held by Caitlin Soliwoda (2016), Lori Gillette (2002) and Wendy Baisdon (1999).
• Sarah Lutrel tied the school record of 9.950 on beam which was held by current head coach Melissa Genovese (2008) and current assistant coach Amber Koeth (2023).
• Jillianne Lastra tied for the second-best bars score (9.900) by a freshman in school history and is now tied for 10th in the event overall.
• Sarah Lutrel moved into second place in school history with an all-around total of 39.425. Kalliah McCartney is the only other Hornet to ever score 39.400 or better with the school record of 39.450 in 2016.

The meet started with Air Force taking the lead following the first rotation. The Falcons recorded a team score of 49.400 on bars led by Maggie Slife's 9.950 and a pair of 9.900s. Sacramento State matched its season best with a 48.875 on vault  with Emma Morgenthaler, Rylin Zimmerman and Sarah Lutrel tying for first place at 9.825.

The Hornets took the lead during the second rotation. Lutrel led off on bars with a 9.775 and was followed by Morgenthaler who matched her season best with a 9.825. The final three gymnasts in the order at least tied their career bests to propel the team to its season high. Jillianne Lastra started the surge with a 9.900. Bella Lahmidi added a 9.825 before Kara Houghton had a near-perfect routine to earn a 9.975. Houghton received a 10.0 from one judge but was given a 9.95 from the second judge. Air Force scored 48.575 on vault in the same rotation and trailed by two tenths.

The teams were closely matched in the third rotation with the Hornets scoring a season-high 49.225 on beam compared to a 49.125 from the Falcons on floor. Morgenthaler and Grace Gilman placed Sacramento State on solid footing with each bringing home a 9.825 in the first two beam routines. The combo of Lutrel and Houghton anchored the lineup in dramatic fashion. Lutrel earned second 10.0 flashed for the team during the night but finished with a 9.950 after the second judge awarded her a 9.90. Houghton continued the momentum with a 9.850 to set her career best and lead the pair to a 1-2 finish in the event.

Clinging to a three-tenths lead, Sacramento State put the meet out of reach and then soared up the school top 10 list on floor. Simone Dumas-Guzman, Houghton and Athena Jones each scored 9.900 in the first three routines of the rotation. Morgenthaler and Gilman added 9.850s and Lutrel completed the lineup with a 9.875. The night marked career highs for Dumas-Guzman, Houghton, Jones and Lutrel.

The all-around competition was a battle between Lutrel, Morgenthaler and Air Force's freshman phenom Maggie Slife. Slife looked to be in control after earning scores of 9.800 on vault, 9.950 on bars and 9.900 on floor but had a wobble on beam resulting in a 9.625 and a total of 39.275. Morgenthaler briefly took first place in the all-around behind a career best 39.325 and was tied for 10th place in school history for a total of two routines. Lutrel finished the meet with a career high 39.425 which moved her to second place in the school record book and dropped Morgenthaler out of the top 10.

Sacramento State will remain at home next week, hosting Iowa on Sunday, Mar. 3, at 1 p.m.

TEAM SCORES
1. Sacramento State 196.825
2. Air Force 195.350

VAULT
T1. Emma Morgenthaler, Rylin Zimmerman, Sarah Lutrel, SAC, 9.825; T7. Bella Lahmidi, Rose Wilson 9.700; 10. Grace Gilman 9.650.

BARS
1. Kara Houghton, SAC, 9.975; T3. Jillianne Lastra 9.900; T6. Emma Morgenthaler, Bella Lahmidi 9.825; 10. Sarah Lutrel 9.775; 12. Rose Wilson 8.400.

BEAM
1. Sarah Lutrel, SAC, 9.950; T2. Kara Houghton 9.850; T4. Emma Morgenthaler, Grace Gilman 9.825; 8. Athena Jones 9.775; T10. Rylin Zimmerman 9.125.

FLOOR
T1. Simone Dumas-Guzman, Kara Houghton, Athena Jones, SAC; Maggie Slife, AF, 9.900; T5. Sarah Lutrel 9.875; T7. Emma Morgenthaler, Grace Gilman 9.850.

ALL-AROUND
1. Sarah Lutrel, SAC, 39.425; 2. Emma Morgenthaler 39.325.