The University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team showcased why they are the best in Minnesota Saturday by scoring a season-best score of 195.425 at the annual Best of Minnesota meet. The Gophers were guided by sophomore Kayla Slechta, who tied three season-best scores and set a new all around superlative of 39.200.
Minnesota began the meet with a solid performance on vault, scoring a 48.725. The Gophers were led by freshman Jenny Covers, who tied a personal best score of 9.800. Coming in second and third, respectively, was Slechta with a 9.775 and freshman Cierra Tomson with a 9.750.
The Gophers continued their dominance as they headed into the second rotation on uneven bars. Senior Lucy Ennis was the meet's top performer in the event with a season-best score of 9.850. She was followed by Slechta, who tied a season best of 9.775, and Tomson, who tallied a 9.750. Minnesota ended the rotation with a score of 48.775, which is a season best on the event.
The Maroon and Gold followed their season-best score on bars with another season-best performance coming on balance beam, scoring a 48.925. Junior Shannon Golich put together an impressive routine for Minnesota and tallied a season-best score of 9.875. Slechta and fellow sophomore Dusti Russell were next in line as they each posted a 9.800, which tied a personal best for Slechta. Senior Briana Jones also had a solid routine as she set a new personal best with a 9.775.
Minnesota closed out the meet with having a trio of Gophers score a 9.800 or higher on floor while the team combined to tally a 49.000. Slechta and Russell tied for the meet high score as they each had a 9.850, which tied a season best for Slechta. Freshman Kylie Schermann rounded out the top three by tying her personal-best score of 9.800.
In the all around, Slechta claimed the crown with a personal-best score of 39.200 while Russell came in second and tied a career best of 39.025. Freshman Cierra Tomson rounded out the top three with a score of 38.850.
The Gophers are back in action at home next weekend as they host Big Ten newcomer No. 8-ranked Nebraska. The two foes will face off Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Sports Pavilion. The meet will not be available through Gopher All-Access because the Big Ten Network will be filming the meet, which will be shown at a later date on BTN.
