Gymnasts tie Minnesota in rematch on senior night
Photo:Zhenru Zhang/Iowa State Daily
Shea Anderson is performs on floor during the meet vs. Minnesota on Friday at Hilton Coliseum. Anderson contributed a 9.775 to the team on floor. The Cyclones tied with Minnesota 195.325.
March 5, 2011
The home careers of Cyclone seniors Alex Grant, Jacquelyn Holmes and Jody McKellar came to an end Friday night as No. 19 Iowa State tied No. 20 Minnesota in Hilton Coliseum with both teams scoring 195.325.
This tie marks the fifth time in school history that Iowa State has ended a meet even with its opponent. This also marks the second time this season that the Cyclones (7-4-2, 1-2 Big 12) have tied in a meet, with the other coming against Brigham Young University on Jan. 29 when each team earned a score of 194.925.
“I like a tie as much as I like losing,” ISU coach Jay Ronayne said. “It’s just not as much fun as winning. If we had done our best and tied, it would be one thing. We can do a lot better and I expect us to be better.”
The Cyclones were led by McKellar who gave another crowd-pleasing performance as she won the bars scoring 9.900. McKellar has thus far scored 9.900 on four occasions this season with the highest being a 9.950 against Iowa State’s dual meet with Iowa in Hilton.
“I’ve just been doing the same routine that I’ve been doing in practice and bringing that to the meet and it seems to be working,” McKellar said. “I focus on one skill at a time and so if I do my job, I know the score is going to be there so it was exciting.”
Iowa State also received strong performances out of junior Michelle Browning, who won the floor title scoring 9.875, tying her season high in that event. Browning also claimed the all-around title with a score of 39.225, her second highest all-around mark of the season. Sophomore Elizabeth Stranahan also aided the Cyclones with her career-high performance in the bars with a 9.725 as well as tying a career high in the floor exercise scoring a 9.825.
The floor exercise performed by Iowa State scored a 49.150 marking the third-highest total in that event all season long. The Gophers (9-4-1, 2-2 Big Ten) were led by Kayla Slechta who won the vault title with a score of 9.850 while teammate Dusti Russell earned the balance beam crown scoring 9.900.
Iowa State will close out the regular season traveling to Nebraska in a Big 12 dual Sunday, March 13. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in Lincoln, Neb.
