Wolverines Upset Defending NCAA Champ No. 5 Georgia

Friday, March 12

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

196.375

195.800

Georgia

3/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics

March 12, 2010

• Complete Results | Photo Gallery | Notes
• Video: | |

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena)
Score: #12 Michigan 196.375, #5 Georgia 195.800
Records: U-M (13-2), Georgia (5-5)
Attendance: 5,042
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 19 -- at Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), 7:30 p.m. CST

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team knocked off five-time defending national champion and No. 5-ranked Georgia, 196.375-195.800, on Senior Night (Friday, March 12) inside Crisler Arena.

The triumph is U-M's second straight over the Gym Dawgs. The Wolverines also downed the top-ranked, undefeated Gym Dawgs in 2008, matching the feat before the largest crowd of the year. Michigan led from start to finish, winning three-of-four event titles and taking the top three all-around spots.

Senior Sarah Curtis (Reno, Nev./Reno) won the all-around (39.375) with top-three finishes on vault (9.875, t-3rd), the uneven bars (9.850, t-2nd) and balance beam (9.800, t, 3rd). Junior Kylee Botterman (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) earned a runner-up finish in the all-around (39.250) and the 15th floor exercise crown of her career with a 9.950, equaling her collegiate high. Freshman Brittnee Martinez (Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty) won the first collegiate title of her career, posting a collegiate-best 9.850 on bars. She added a career-high 9.825 on floor and finished third in the all-around (39.125).

The Wolverines took control right away, using freshman Natalie Beilstein's (Butler, Pa./Knoch) title-winning 9.950 on vault to take an early lead in the meet. Senior Maureen Moody's (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) 9.850 kicked off a strong run on bars in the second rotation as the Wolverines led by 0.275 at the halfway point of the meet. Michigan stayed on top during beam, with freshman Katie Zurales' (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) team-high 9.775, setting up a showdown on the final event for the win.

After senior Jaclyn Kramer (West Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills) kicked things off, Michigan put up three straight scores of 9.800 or better, before climbing the ladder with Curtis' 9.850, Beilstein's 9.875 and Botterman's capper, a 9.950 that brought the house down.

Michigan will tie a bow on the regular season in one of its toughest tests to date when the Wolverines visit current No. 1 Alabama on Friday (March 19) at 7:30 p.m. CST at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Team Standings	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
Michigan	49.150	49.150	48.775	49.300	196.375
Georgia	49.025	49.100	48.850	48.925	195.800

Event-by-Event U-M Individual Scores

VaultKatie Zurales        9.700Kari Pearce          9.725Brittnee Martinez    9.725Sarah Curtis         9.875 (t3)Kylee Botterman      9.875 (t3)Natalie Beilstein    9.950 (1)
Uneven BarsKelsey Knutson       9.750Maureen Moody        9.850 (t2)Brittnee Martinez    9.875 (1)Jordan Sexton        9.825 (t5)Sarah Curtis         9.850 (t2)Kylee Botterman      9.700
Balance BeamSarah Curtis         9.800 (t3)Katie Zurales        9.775 (t5)Jordan Sexton        9.775 (t5)Brittnee Martinez    9.700Kylee Botterman      9.725Kelsey Knutson       9.375
Floor ExerciseJaclyn Kramer        9.725Brittnee Martinez    9.825 (t5)Jordan Sexton        9.800Sarah Curtis         9.850 (4)Natalie Beilstein    9.875 (2)Kylee Botterman      9.950 (1)
All-AroundSarah Curtis        39.375 (1)Kylee Botterman     39.250 (2)Brittnee Martinez   39.125 (3)

N O T E S

• Michigan celebrated five seniors on Senior Night but only bid goodbye to four of them. Seniors Sarah Curtis, Kelsey Knutson, Jaclyn Kramer and Maureen Moody competed in their final meets at Crisler Arena, while senior Jordan Sexton will apply for a fifth year of competition due to an injury early in her career.

• Michigan scored its second win over the five-time defending national champion Georgia Gym Dawgs in three years. Both meets were in Crisler Arena.

• Michigan extends its home win streak to five meets, finishing the 2010 season undefeated at home.

• Freshman Brittnee Martinez had a career-high 9.850 on bars, winning her first collegiate title on any event. She added a career-best 9.825 on floor.

• Junior Kylee Botterman tied a career-best 9.950 score on floor, winning her 15th collegiate title on the event.

• Botterman has scored 9.875 or better on vault in each of the last five meets, going 9.875 against Georgia.

• Freshman Natalie Beilstein scored a career-best 9.950 on vault, winning her fifth collegiate vault title.

• Senior Maureen Moody tied a season high with a 9.850 on bars.

Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423