Michigan
Nebraska
Wolverines Fall in Season-Opening Meet at Nebraska
1/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team opened its season today (Sunday, Jan. 11) against the seventh-ranked University of Nebraska Huskers.
Though senior Calli Ryals (Elyria, Ohio/Midview HS) and senior/junior Elise Ray (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake HS) finished 2-3 in the all-around and the team earned the second-highest balance beam score in school history, it was not enough to beat the Huskers on the road at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Led by senior Richelle Simpson's 39.700 all-around score, the Huskers captured a 196.550-195.075 victory over the Wolverines.
The Wolverines began the competition on the uneven bars, an apparatus on which the team struggled during the 2003 season. Senior Christine Mantilia (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan HS) started the Wolverines off on the uneven bars with a 9.575, her first performance since 2002. Junior Chelsea Kroll (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny HS) continued with a clean routine good for a 9.625. Freshman Lindsey Bruck (Marietta, N.Y./Marcellus HS) had a strong routine going, but a low landing on her dismount left her with a 9.375. Ryals posted the Wolverines' highest score on the event with a 9.850. Ray posted a 9.700 in her first performance since shoulder surgery last season, and junior Lauren Mirkovich (Burlingame, Calif./Notre Dame HS) closed out the first rotation with a clean 9.725. On vault, Nebraska's Simpson earned a near-perfect 9.975, helping the Huskers to a 49.325 on that event. Michigan earned a 48.525.
In the second rotation, Michigan moved to vault while Nebraska moved to the uneven bars. Mantilia led off with a 9.625 followed by Bruck's 9.700. Freshman Carol McNamara (Hastings, Minn./Hastings HS) made her collegiate debut with a stuck landing, good for a 9.800, while sophomore Becca Clauson (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS) added a 9.625. Ryals and Ray, performing the same vault, earned scores of 9.875 and 9.900, respectively. On the uneven bars, Nebraska counted no score lower than 9.800 en route to a 49.200 team score on the event. At the midway point, the Huskers led the Wolverines, 98.525-97.425.
In the third rotation, the Wolverines moved to the floor exercise while Nebraska faced the balance beam. Freshman Clare Flannery (Ossining, N.Y./School of the Holy Child HS) competed following an injury to the first competitor, scoring a 9.275. Bruck showed toughness in the third spot, landing all of her tumbling passes well and earning a 9.775. A fall by the fourth competitor put the pressure on veterans Ray and Ryals. Ray, who injured her shoulder last season while tumbling, showed no signs of weakness in earning a 9.850. Ryals' dramatic routine closed the rotation with a 9.875. In what is typically a strong apparatus for them, the Wolverines were forced to count a fall on floor exercise, leaving them with an event total of 48.175. Meanwhile, Nebraska counted no falls on beam to increase its lead over the Wolverines, 147.400-145.600.
In the fourth and final rotation, Michigan moved to the balance beam and Nebraska to the floor exercise. Kroll opened the rotation for the Wolverines with a strong routine, scoring 9.850. Kara Rosella (Ann Arbor, Mich./Greenhills School) followed with a 9.750, keeping Michigan on track. Third up for the Wolverines, Bruck posted her highest score of the night, 9.925, following a clean, wobble-free routine and a stuck landing. After an uncharacteristic fall on the floor exercise, Clauson redeemed herself on beam, earning a 9.900 with a solid routine and good dismount. Ryals' 9.850, set up Ray, the 2002 NCAA balance beam champion, and she turned in a near-perfect performance, winning the event with a 9.950. The Wolverines' event total of 49.475 was their highest event total of the night by nearly a point. On the floor exercise, Nebraska earned a 49.175, for a team score of 196.550. The Wolverines finished second with a 195.075.
Michigan continues its season-opening road swing at Minnesota on Saturday (Jan 17) at 7 p.m. CST.
N O T E S
Sophomore Jenny Deiley (Dayton, Minn./Elk River HS), the 2003 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, suffered a moderate sprain to her left ankle in practice on Thursday (Jan. 8) and did not compete in today's meet.
Sophomore Becca Clauson tied her career high (9.900) on the balance beam.
Junior Lauren Mirkovich was unable to complete her floor routine due to a wrist injury suffered during her first tumbling pass.
Michigan's 49.475 on balance beam ties the second-highest balance beam score in school history. The Wolverines posted a 49.525 at the 2000 Big Ten Championships and had a 49.475 against Utah in 2002.
Elise Ray's 9.950 on the balance beam ties her for sixth all-time on the event. She has earned six scores of 9.950 and two scores of 9.975.
Final Results
| Team Scores | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| 1. Nebraska | 49.325 | 49.200 | 48.875 | 49.150 | 196.550 |
| 2. MICHIGAN | 48.900 | 48.525 | 49.475 | 48.175 | 195.075 |
Event-By-Event U-M Individual Scores
VAULT Christine Mantilia 9.625 Lindsey Bruck 9.700 Carol McNamara 9.800 Becca Clauson 9.625 Calli Ryals 9.875 (t3) Elise Ray 9.900 (2) UNEVEN BARS Christine Mantilia 9.575 Chelsea Kroll 9.675 Lindsey Bruck 9.375 Calli Ryals 9.850 Elise Ray 9.700 (t2) Lauren Mirkovich 9.725 BALANCE BEAM Chelsea Kroll 9.850 Kara Rosella 9.750 Lindsey Bruck 9.925 (t2) Becca Clauson 9.900 (4) Calli Ryals 9.850 (t5) Elise Ray 9.950 (1) FLOOR EXERCISE Lauren Mirkovich 6.150 Clare Flannery 9.375 Lindsey Bruck 9.775 Becca Clauson 9.300 Elise Ray 9.850 (3) Calli Ryals 9.875 (4) ALL-AROUND Calli Ryals 39.450 (2) Elise Ray 39.400 (3) Lindsey Bruck 38.775 (5) ( ) denotes place in the Top 5
Contact: Jessica Steyers (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
