The University of Denver women’s gymnastics team, currently ranked No. 18, will travel to Tempe, Arizona, for a meet against Arizona State on Saturday, February 7 at Desert Financial Arena. This event marks Denver’s second Big 12 road meet of the season.
In their most recent competition on February 1, Denver hosted Iowa State and secured a 196.525-192.550 victory. The team achieved its highest single-event score of the season with a 49.500 on floor and set another season high on bars with a 49.150.
Four gymnasts from Denver earned individual event titles during the meet: senior Cecilia Cooley won the all-around with a personal best of 39.400; senior Kiley Rorich took first place on bars; and freshmen Shyla Bhatia and Megan Aamold claimed titles on vault and beam, respectively.
Denver has improved its season average and now holds the No. 18 spot in the Road to Nationals Week 5 rankings. The team is ranked No. 8 nationally on floor after raising its season average by nearly three quarters of a tenth. Denver also ranks in the top 25 for beam and vault and is just outside the top rankings for bars.
Cecilia Cooley remains among the nation’s top performers individually, tying for ninth place in this week’s floor rankings after earning her third score above 9.900 through four meets.
Freshman Megan Aamold was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week following her win on beam against Iowa State with a personal best score of 9.875. She joins fellow freshman Shyla Bhatia as recipients of this weekly conference honor this season.
With their performance against Iowa State, Denver increased its overall team score average by nearly a tenth, improved its floor average by almost three-quarters of a tenth, and raised its bars average by about half a tenth.
Cooley is now one of six DU gymnasts to be ranked in the national top ten on floor within the first four weeks of competition, joining former athletes Lynnzee Brown (2020), Nina McGee (2015, 2016), Sasha Sullivan (2007), Michelle Kasuga (2003), and Emily Bankhead (2003).
All fourteen members of Denver’s roster have competed in at least one full lineup this season, with each gymnast making her collegiate debut in at least one event.
Arizona State concluded January with a score of 194.925 at Utah on January 30, finishing second overall. Kimberly Smith placed second in all-around and tied for second on bars alongside teammate Reese Grolla; Smith leads her team’s averages on vault, bars, and floor while Isabella Kowan leads ASU on beam.
Historically, Denver holds a narrow edge over Arizona State with an all-time record of 14-13 between the programs. Last year saw two wins for DU over ASU—most recently at the Big 12 Championship where DU finished third overall (196.400) ahead of ASU (195.975). Their previous regular-season meeting ended with DU winning at home (196.700-195.575) in March.
Denver has only competed in Tempe four times before and has not visited Arizona State since 1999.
Following Saturday’s meet against Arizona State, Denver will return home to continue Big 12 Conference play when it hosts Arizona for Winterfest Weekend and its annual Pink Meet on February 14 at Ritchie Center.
Tickets for upcoming home meets are available online or through the Ritchie Center Box Office by phone or in person.
