MSU gymnastics wins share of Big Ten regular season championship for first time in program history
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Michigan State’s gymnastic’s team won a share of its first Big Ten regular season championship in program history on Monday night, by beating Illinois 197.450 to 196.245.
The 13th-ranked Spartans moved to 9-2 overall and 8-1 in Big Ten competitions with the win over No. 23 Illini. MSU shares the title with Michigan, which also won Monday to match the Spartans’ league record. The Spartans did narrowly beat the Wolverines head to head back on Jan. 3.
MSU’s team score Monday was its second-best on the season. The Spartans won the the vault, bars, floor and beam, the latter of which with a season-high score of 49.450, third-best in program history.
MSU sophomore Gabrielle Stephen and freshman Nikki Smith tied for first in the all-around competition with a score of 38.525. It was Stephen’s fourth straight win in the all-around. Sophomore Skyla Schulte took third with a score of 39.450.
MSU returns to action this weekend with a non-conference tri-meet in Ypsilanti against Eastern Michigan and Long Island University on Friday, before hosting Bowling Green and LIU on Sunday at Jenison Field House, beginning at 1 p.m.
The Spartans host Northern Illinois on March 11. The Big Ten championships are a week later, March 18, in Iowa City, Iowa.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU gymnastics wins first-ever share of Big Ten regular season title
