Michigan Has a Perfect Home Opener

Sunday, January 22

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

197.050

195.300

Illinois

Nicole Artz celebrates her 10.0 with her teammates

1/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics

Jan. 22, 2017

» Nicole Artz recorded the first Perfect 10.0 for U-M since 2014.
» Paige Zaziski set a career high with a 9.975 on bars.
» Michigan topped 197.000 for the first time in 2017.

• Complete Results | Photo Gallery

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)
Score: #12 Michigan 197.050, #19 Illinois 195.300
U-M Record: 3-2, 1-1 Big Ten
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 28 -- vs. Nebraska (Crisler Center), 4 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior Nicole Artz scored a perfect 10.0 on floor as the No. 12-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team (197.050) defeated No. 19 Illinois (195.300) in its home opener on Sunday (Jan. 22) at Crisler Center.

Michigan topped 197.000 for the first time in 2017 as it put on a show for the fans from start to finish. The 197.050 showed what the Wolverines are capable of. However, as good as the team was overall, it was Artz who stole the show with her 10.0 on floor.

"Overwhelmed and excited," said Artz. "There were so many emotions. I didn't know if I'd get it, but I was so excited to get over to my teammates. This feels so good!"

It marks the first 10.0 in three years for Michigan; the last was in 2014 when Joanna Sampson did it on floor at the Big Ten Championships. It is the 19th 10.0 on floor in Michigan history as Artz joins eight other gymnasts to do so.

Artz's teammates showered her with hugs when her perfect score was announced. She had come so close to a perfect score before, four times scoring a 9.975 on the event. It came on the day she competed all-around for the first time this year, and she finished the day with a 39.425.

From the get go, the home opener was filled with a spirited energy. It was Princess and Pirates day, creating a whimsical, family-friendly atmosphere. The crowd belted out Disney tunes, including "Let it Go" and "Under the Sea" while also having a chance to get their face painted, grab multiple free giveaways and take pictures with cardboard cutouts of Disney characters and U-M gymnasts.

The high energy led to a 49.000 on vault. Senior Talia Chiarelli led the way, earning a 9.900 for her Yurchenko 1 1/2 and the event title. Michigan's vault performances earned them the top five scores of the afternoon.

For the second rotation, three athletes scored 9.900 or better on the uneven parallel bars. Recent junior transfer Paige Zaziski paced the Wolverines with a career-high 9.975, while freshman Polina Shchennikova and junior Lauren Marinez each earned 9.900s for the first time in their careers.

"It felt really good to be in Crisler for the first time," said Zaziski. "The energy that was built up. I was really happy to put my routine out there for the team."

It was a team effort on balance beam, with Marinez contributing a season-best 9.875 to claim the event title.

U-M closed out the meet with a strong slate of floor routines leading up to Artz's magnificent exclamation mark. The top five scores were all by Michigan. The two Wolverine sophomores, Olivia Karas and Emma McLean each scored a 9.900. It marks a career high for McLean and her first 9.900 in her college career.

"It was so much fun tonight," said head coach Bev Plocki. "We improved on our mistakes we made in our first two meets. It was a great step in the right direction. We're really happy with the progress we made tonight."

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