SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State gymnastics team started the 2026 season by claiming individual titles on all four events as well as the all-around and recording the fifth-highest score to begin a year in program history in a win over Alaska Anchorage on Sunday at The Nest. The Hornets totaled 193.925 while the Seawolves totaled 190.050.
 
Sarah Lutrel finished in first place on vault, beam and in the all-around while Jillianne Lastra recorded her first career victory on bars and Kara Houghton won on floor.
 
Sacramento State led after each rotation beginning with a 48.300 on vault. The team counted five scores ranging between 9.600 and 9.725 in a tightly-judged event. Lutrel led the way while Rylin Zimmerman was second (9.675) and Lexi Frank and Rose Wilson tied for third at 9.650.
 
Lastra scored 9.750 to finish in first place on bars in her first routine since March 23, 2024 — she missed all of last season with an Achilles injury. Maliyah James tied for second place at 9.675 and helped the team to an event total of 48.275.
 
The Hornets gained separation during the third rotation with an impressive 48.900 on beam. The score was the third-highest by a Sacramento State team to start a season and the second in a row in which the team scored at least 48.900. Athena Jones and Kaela Copeland each scored 9.750s in the first two routines. Kaitlyn Driessen added a 9.775 before Lutrel scored 9.850. Her score is tied for the second-best in a Sacramento State opener and has only been bettered by current assistant coach Amber Koeth who began 2022 with a 9.875. Houghton finished the rotation with a 9.775 which tied her for second place with Driessen.
 
Sacramento State closed the meet on floor with a 48.450. Houghton anchored the lineup with a 9.825 for the highest opening meet score by a Hornet since 2016. Once again, the team swept the podium as Copeland was second with a 9.750 and Frank and Zimmerman tied for third at 9.650.
 
The team will next compete at Oregon State on Friday, Jan. 16, before coming back home the following Friday (Jan. 23) for a four-team meet which includes UC Davis, Western Michigan and Wiscons-Whitewater.
 
Team Results
1. Sacramento State 193.925
2. Alaska Anchorage 190.050
 
Vault
1. Sarah Lutrel, SAC, 9.725; 2. Rylin Zimmerman 9.675; T3. Lexi Frank, Rose Wilson 9.650; T6. Cady Gaumont 9.600; T8. Athena Jones 9.475.
 
Bars
1. Jillianne Lastra, SAC, 9.750; T2. Maliyah James 9.675; T4. Kara Houghton, McKenna Carnesi 9.650; 8. Sarah Lutrel 9.550; 11. Makayla Townsend 8.850.
 
Beam
1. Sarah Lutrel, SAC, 9.850; T2. Kaitlyn Driessen, Kara Houghton 9.775; T4. Athena Jones, Kaela Copeland 9.750; 10. Rylin Zimmerman 9.175.
 
Floor
1. Kara Houghton, SAC, 9.825; 2. Kaela Copeland 9.750; T3. Lexi Frank, Rylin Zimmerman 9.650; 8. Athena Jones 9.575; 10. Sarah Lutrel 9.525.
 
All-Around
1. Sarah Lutrel, SAC, 38.650.