The University of Denver women’s gymnastics team, ranked No. 17 nationally, secured a victory over Iowa State in its Big 12 Conference home opener at Magness Arena on Sunday. The meet, which was broadcast live on ESPN2, saw Denver finish with a team score of 196.525, while Iowa State posted 192.550.
Denver managed to avoid counting any falls during the meet despite mistakes in two lineups. Head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart commented on the team’s performance: “There were opportunities that people capitalized on today. It was a fast-paced meet – being on national television – and that was an opportunity for the student-athletes to adapt and block our distractions. We continue to focus on getting big and stepping up in pressure situations as we keep working toward getting more people into future lineups. It’s all part of this segment of the season that we’ve identified for this year.
“Thank you to our fans, too. It was a high-energy, loud arena that added a lot of excitement and energy. It was electric.”
The team achieved its highest single event score of the season with a 49.500 on floor during the final rotation and set a new season high on bars with a 49.150. Denver gymnasts recorded ten new or tied personal bests throughout the meet.
Junior Maddison Reidenbach led with a career-best 9.925 on floor, while senior Cecilia Cooley won her second consecutive all-around title by setting another personal best at 39.400—the highest all-around score for Denver so far this year.
On vault, freshman Shyla Bhatia scored 9.850 for her Yurchenko 1.5, marking one of two vaults with a 10.0 start value for DU after senior Kiley Rorich debuted her front handspring front pike half as anchor with a score of 9.800.
During bars, Rorich delivered the only 9.900 score in the event after an earlier fall in the lineup allowed DU not to count it towards their total score.
Freshman Megan Aamold improved her beam routine from previous meets to win first place with a score of 9.875, while Cooley followed closely behind at 9.850.
All six floor routines scored at least 9.850 or higher, including personal bests from Gallen (9.850), Hargraves (9.875), Bhatia (9.900), Reidenbach (9.925), Cooley (9.925), and Hewitt (9.875).
Due to live television coverage, exhibitions were not held during this meet.
Podium finishes included:
– Vault: Bhatia first place (9.850)
– Bars: Rorich first place (9.900); Cooley second place (9.850); Brusch and Kastl tied for third (9.825)
– Beam: Aamold first place (9.875); Cooley second place (9.850)
– Floor: Cooley and Reidenbach tied for second place (9.925)
– All-Around: Cooley first place (39.400); Reidenbach second place (37.925)
Denver will next compete away against Arizona State in another Big 12 Conference matchup scheduled for Saturday, February 7 at 2 p.m.
Tickets for upcoming University of Denver gymnastics events are available online, by phone at 303-871-4625, or in person at the Ritchie Center Box Office.
