Blue Devils score second best team score in school history

University of Alaska-Anchorage 189.650, UW-Stout 188.350

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (January 23, 2017) - The UW-Stout gymnastics team set or tied 12 personal bests as the Blue Devils scored the second best score in school history in getting edged by NCAA Division I University of Alaska-Anchorage, 189.650-188.350, Monday at the Alaska Airline Center..

Freshman MacKenzie Nicholson scored career high marks in all four of her individual events as well as in the all-around. Freshman Sierra Beaver set two individual marks and increased her all-around score.

Nicholson was second on the uneven bars (9.625), sixth on the balance beam (9.300), seventh on the vault (9.425), and 10th on the floor exercise (9.425). Add those all together and Nicholson finished first in the all-around (37.775), just edging out teammates Beaver and Kaylee Jondahl, who tied with a 37.575 for second. Nicholson's all-around score was Stout's top score over their first three meets.

In addition to her career-best all-around score, Beaver set personal bests on the uneven bars (9.300), finishing fifth, and on the floor exercise (9.250), finishing seventh. Beaver was seventh on the vault (9.425) and seventh on the beam (9.250).

Belle Ihde set personal bests in the vault (9.550), finishing fifth and on the floor exercise (9.550), finishing eighth.

Kenzie Hyde pushed up her personal best on the beam (9.625), placing second. Freshman Brooke Terry matched her collegiate-best on the floor (9.150).

The Blue Devils' only first place finish came from Nicholson in the all-around, but Stout took three second place finishes and one third place finish.

In addition to second in the all-around, Jondahl was second on the vault (9.675) and third on the floor (9.775), matching a season-best. Nicholson was second on the bars and Hyde was runner-up on the beam.

Kelly Huseman was fourth on the beam (9.550). Mikala Bugge was fourth on the vault (9.575) and fourth on the floor (9.700). 

The Blue Devils return home and will host Gustavus Adolphus College and Winona State University at the John Zuerlein Invitational, Friday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m.