No. 11 Michigan Takes Second at OSU

Saturday, January 14

Columbus, Ohio

4:00 PM

Michigan

Ohio State Quad

1/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics

Jan. 14, 2017

» Nicole Artz won floor with a 9.950 routine.
» Olivia Karas tied for the win on vault with a 9.90.
» Michigan is now 2-2 on the season.

• Complete Results

Site: Columbus, Ohio (St. John Arena)
Event: OSU Quad Meet
U-M Team Result: 2nd Place of 4 Teams (195.725)
Record: U-M (2-2, 0-1 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Jan. 22 -- vs. Illinois (Crisler Center), 2 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team finished second in a quad meet at Ohio State on Saturday (Jan. 14), finishing .075 behind No. 20 Ohio state while defeating Washington and Kent State at St. John Arena.

The Wolverines received outstanding performances from Olivia Karas and Nicole Artz down the stretch, but Ohio State hung on to its lead for the home victory.

Artz dazzled the crowd once again on floor just as she has done throughout her Michigan career. She executed her floor passes to perfection as her teammates danced along to her choreography. At the end, the judges posted a 9.950, just shy of her career-best score of 9.975. The score was the top score of the night.

"Nicole's floor routine was stunning," said head coach Bev Plocki. "She stepped up in a position when the team needed her to."

Karas provided a boost of energy on floor. She stuck her final pass, a double pike, and ended her routine with her fingers shaped in the form of an M. As she ran back to greet her teammates, she flashed the M a second time and shouted in joy.

"The best thing in the world is finishing your floor routine on your feet," said Karas. "I love being competitive, and thought at that point in the meet there was no reason not to celebrate the way I did."

Karas scored a 9.850 on floor and sparked her team with her enthusiasm. Senior Talia Chiarelli followed with a 9.875, and then Artz scored her 9.950. Her energy carried over to the next rotation as well. Closing out vault, she stuck a big Yurchenko 1 1/2, channeling her energy to go big but stayed in control to hit the vault.

The Wolverines had several other good performances throughout the night. Junior transfer Paige Zaziski and freshman Polina Shchennikova each scored a 9.825 on bars. Chiarelli and junior Lauren Marinez followed on beam with 9.825 routines.

Overall Michigan improved its score from the first week to the second by two tenths.

"Every meet there are high and low moments," said Karas. "That is what gymnastics is. We need to take the great moments and try to replicate them. Then we just need to look at what didn't work and figure out ways to fix the mistakes."

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