The anticipated top-20 matchup between Oregon State Women’s Gymnastics and the Arizona State Sun Devils was a close race as predicted.
The GymBeavs came up on top over the Sun Devils in Gill Coliseum Friday night, 197.400-196.625, an inch away from achieving a season-high overall score.
“We’ve had a lot of trials and tribulations this year…I think it’s great to see them starting to put everything together…I was really proud to see how much they have grown,” Head Coach Tanya Chaplin said.
Being a little bit bumpy and tumbly on beam and vault, the Beavers shined in floor and bars to secure the win and a two-meet winning streak.
“There may have been a little adversity and they pulled it and continued to fight through all of their routines and the rest of the lineup didn’t let it phase them, they kept fighting all the way through,” Chaplin said.
A notable theme of the night was not only the team sticking together, but sticking their landings.
“It’s nice to see the breaking into their landings, we had more sticks on our landings,” Chaplin said.
It also may seem that there is a constant new career high being achieved for the Beavers. Tonight that was freshman Taylor Devries on bars with a 9.950.
“I would just say lots of numbers and also getting the feel of college gymnastics and knowing what I need to do each time I’m competing,” Devries said.
Devries’ bars routine is one of the notable sticks amongst the team.
“I think Tay (Devries) has really grown emotionally throughout and I think the one thing that I saw tonight was kind of a little bit of more breathing through before her dismount so she could really take control of the dismount and not let the dismount control her,” Chaplin said.
Junior Sage Thompson also earned a career-high on the floor after her most consistent all-around performance as she is gaining more experience in all events.
“I think really working on all the little details in the gym, getting used to doing it under pressure, and really focusing on every event at the same time as staying in the moment is getting easier, and having a really great staff and support and everything makes it that much better,” Thompson said.
Thompson has now competed for the Beavers in all-around for a second consecutive time, as she puts up high scores. She’s proven that she can be counted on to put scores on the board for the Beavers.
“We’ve seen Sage grow each week,” Chaplin said. “You can tell that she might be a little bit off, but she knows how to pull it right back up and it doesn’t rattle her at all. That’s through a lot of work in the gym, so she’s done a great job that way of growing each week.”
Apart from all the sticks, there is the growth from senior Ariana Young. Young nailed her routines when the Beavers needed it.
“I think Ari (Young) has come full circle,” Chaplin said. “She started to second guess herself and that was something we really worked on this week to try to get in and stay in the moment and not prejudge what you’re doing or judge while you’re up there, so I’m really proud that she came in and really focused in on each skill.”
Up next, the Beavers stay at home to compete against the University of Washington Huskies on Friday, March 8, at 7 p.m.