Michigan
Nebraska
Michigan Upsets No. 12 Nebraska to Stay Undefeated at Home
2/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
U-M Result: #14 Michigan 195.975, #12 Nebraska 195.525
Records: U-M (13-3), Nebraska (7-3)
Next U-M Meet: Friday, March 6 -- at Florida (Gainesville, Fla.), 7 p.m.
Complete Results | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team pulled off its second comeback upset of the season, catching up to No. 12 Nebraska in the third rotation and roaring to victory in a season-high 195.975-195.525 victory on Saturday (Feb. 28) on Senior Night at Crisler Arena.
Michigan trailed big after two events after counting a fall on bars but rebounded with a season-high score on the balance beam to pull ahead by 0.025 with one event remaining. With the crowd on its feet, Michigan railed off a 9.875, 9.850 and 9.875 in the first three floor routines, while Nebraska struggled on beam, setting the tone for the finish.
Sophomore Kylee Botterman(New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) played a big role in the win, taking the all-around crown with a career-best 39.350 and adding the balance beam crown to her haul with a 9.875. In her final meet at Crisler Arena, senior Huneth Lor(Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) scored a career-high 9.875 on the floor exercise, tying for runner-up on the event. She also took fifth place on balance beam with a 9.800. Senior Becky Bernard(Stow, Ohio/Stow-Munroe Falls) also had a strong meet, going 9.825 on beam for runner-up honors, while fellow senior Tatjana Thuener-Rego(Miami, Fla./American School) finished third in the all-around (39.050) and tied for fourth on bars (9.850). Sophomore Trish Wilson(Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) was the other big winner, taking the bars title with a 9.900.
Michigan opened strong with its second-highest vault score of the season, racking up a 48.925 score but trailing Nebraska, which went 49.150 on bars. Junior Sarah Curtis(Reno, Nev./Reno) and Botterman scored back-to-back 9.825s, while Wilson performed her first collegiate vault in the No. 6 spot.
A tough turn on bars in the second rotation put Michigan in a hole as the Wolverines counted a fall and scored 48.700 to Nebraska's solid 49.075 on vault, putting U-M down by 0.600. Wilson shone with a 9.900 to win the event, her first title of the season.
Michigan bolted back into the meet on beam, scoring a season-high 49.150 to pull ahead of Nebraska by 0.025 with one event remaining. Botterman tied a career best with a 9.875, while junior Jordan Sexton(Weddington, N.C./Weddington) and Bernard added 9.850s to the total. The score was a season high for Bernard and her final performance at Crisler Arena.
With the meet in the balance, Michigan's first three performers went 9.875, 9.850 and 9.875 with Lor rocking a career-high 9.875 in the leadoff routine to set the tone for U-M's 49.200 floor score. Nebraska struggled on beam, totaling just 48.775, but it was Michigan's strong floor showing that won the day.
Michigan has two meets left in the regular season, first heading to current No. 7 Florida on Friday (March 6) to take on the Gators at 7 p.m. in Gainesville, Fla., before finishing hitting at current No. 1 Georgia on March 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Athens, Ga.
Team Standings
| Team Scores | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| 1. MICHIGAN | 48.925 | 48.700 | 49.150 | 49.200 | 195.975 |
| 2. Nebraska | 49.075 | 49.150 | 48.775 | 48.525 | 195.525 |
Event-By-Event U-M Individual Scores
VAULT Huneth Lor 9.775 Kari Pearce 9.725 Sarah Curtis 9.825 (t2) Kylee Botterman 9.825 (t2) Tatjana Thuener-Rego 9.775 Trish Wilson 9.575 UNEVEN BARS Sarah Curtis 9.725 Maureen Moody 9.400 Tatjana Thuener-Rego 9.850 (t4) Trish Wilson 9.900 (1) Becky Bernard 9.350 Kylee Botterman 9.825 BALANCE BEAM Huneth Lor 9.800 (5) Jordan Sexton 9.850 (t2) Kylee Botterman 9.875 (1)
Sarah Curtis 9.600 Tatjana Thuener-Rego 9.775 Becky Bernard 9.850 (t2) FLOOR EXERCISE Huneth Lor 9.875 (t2) Jordan Sexton 9.850 (4) Sarah Curtis 9.875 (t2) Tatjana Thuener-Rego 9.650 Kylee Botterman 9.825 (t5) Jaclyn Kramer 9.775 ALL-AROUND Kylee Botterman 39.350 (1) Tatjana Thuener-Rego 39.050 (3) Sarah Curtis 39.025 (4)
N O T E S
Michigan's 195.975 is a season high and will raise the team's regional qualifying score (RQS) to 195.370 -- up from 195.345. The improvement will not be enough to move Michigan up the rankings, but the team has three more chances to improve its standing before the postseason begins.
Senior Huneth Lor scored a career best 9.875 on floor in her final meet at Crisler Arena.
Senior Becky Bernard scored a season-high 9.850 on beam.
Junior Sarah Curtis tied a season high on floor with a 9.875.
Sophomore Kylee Botterman tied a career high on beam with a 9.875, winning her third career beam title. She also set a career high in the all-around with a 39.350, winning her third all-around title in six meets.
Sophomore Trish Wilson performed her first collegiate vault in the meet.
Wilson won her first uneven bars title of the season and the fifth of her career with a 9.900, tying her season-best score.
Michigan finishes the season undefeated at home with a perfect 8-0 record.
Michigan pulled off its second upset at Crisler Arena, knocking off No. 12 Nebraska tonight and previously downing No. 14 Penn State when the Wolverines were ranked No. 16.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Bev Plocki
On manager Kate Karpinski... "Kate served the last three seasons as our team manager. Four years ago we were about to lose our team manager who was moving on to medical school and since our trainer, Lisa Hass, also works with the rowing team, we occasionally had one of their athletes come to our gym for treatment. Kate would come to the gym and watch us train and she was interested in helping out. One thing led to another and Kate stepped into our manager's role. She has been a godsend. She is one of the most organized people I know and it is such a relief to not have to worry about itineraries, uniforms, meals or video. She has everything under control and takes care of anything before I even think about it. Her services to our program have been extremely valuable and the next manager will have very big shoes to fill. Kate is planning to go to medical school but has not selected a program. We will miss her dearly."
On senior Becky Bernard... "Becky has had a tremendous career at Michigan. During the last three years, she earned three NCAA All-America titles on the uneven bars and won 13 events titles on bars. She was also named to the All-Big Ten team twice and was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten and a three-time U-M Athletic Academic honoree. Beyond her achievements in the gym and in the classroom Becky is one of the most committed and focused young women I have ever coached. Her love for the sport has carried her all the way through. Becky doesn't say very much, at least to her coaches, but she leads by example with her intense work ethic and incredible focus. One of her teammates calls her Becky Business because that is how she approaches every practice and competition. Her no-nonsense approach has served her well and will continue to serve her well upon graduation in whatever she decides to do."
On senior Huneth Lor... "Huneth has been dedicated to gymnastics her entire life, so much so that she and her family made the decision at age nine that she would live and train away from home so that she could be in the best training environment they could offer. Her family lived in Denver and Huneth lived and trained with her coaches. Her commitment and dedication paid off with a full scholarship from Michigan. Huneth has been the backbone of our program the last three seasons. She does not often get the spotlight she deserves but she has been one of the most selfless and hardworking athletes on the team. It seems that wherever we have placed her, Huneth has risen to the occasion. She has been there every time the team needed her to step up. Huneth was voted by her peers as a captain this year and she is respected by every member of this team. She was voted the most improved gymnast in the 2007 season and made huge contributions to the team which culminated in winning a Big Ten championship at Penn State over Penn State. As it turned out, Huneth was the last to perform for Michigan and the meet was on the line. Huneth's score was enough to give Michigan the victory by a tenth of a point. Huneth finished second in the all-around at the meet. She has been named to the All-Big Ten team and was a U-M Athletic Academic achievement award honoree. Huneth wants to go into a career in marketing and event management."
On senior Tatjana Thuener-Rego... "Tachi's career at Michigan has had its peaks and valleys. She had a fantastic freshman and sophomore year and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2006 as well as Michigan's most valuable performer in 2006 and 2007. But during her junior year she was hampered by injuries. Nothing kept her completely out of the line-up but she was not satisfied with what she was able to do and was determined to make her senior year the best ever. It's certainly looking like it will turn out as just that. Tachi has be competing in the all-around and has added difficulty to her routines, which is not terribly common for gymnasts as they get older and their bodies start to feel the effects of years of competition. She tells me her determination comes from her Latin background. Tachi is a two-time NCAA All-American and was named to the All-Big Ten team twice. Overall, she has had a number of accolades during her career but I know she'll have a few more to add to the scrapbook at the conclusion of this season. I have seen her grow and mature during her years here and we'll be sad to see her leave. She plans to audition for a spot in the La Reve show at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas but ultimately she would like to have a career in broadcasting. Whether it's on the stage or in front of the camera, Tachi shines the brightest so I know she'll do well."
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
