Jan. 11, 2008

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Final Results
Head Coach Kathie Klages Podcast
Nicole Curler Podcast
Katlyn Roggensack Podcast

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The 2008 Michigan State gymnastics season began on a positive note on Friday night, as the Spartans beat Western Michigan, 192.025-190.325, in a dual meet at Jenison Field House. MSU, who improves to 46-0 all-time against the Broncos, were led by sophomore Nicole Curler (Bay City, Mich./Geddert's Twistars), who won the individual bars, beam and floor exercise, en route to her second career all-around title.

The Spartans began on the vault, where sophomore Rochelle Robinson (Cheasapeake, Va./Ocean Tumblers) took the individual crown with a score of 9.850. It was the eighth vault title in Robinson's collegiate career in only 14 meets. Western Michigan's Courtney Lesson was second (9.825) and senior Rhiannon Banda-Scott (Burlington, Ontario/Mississauga Gymnastics) took third (9.800). As a team, MSU scored 48.575, its highest total in any event tonight, on the vault, while the Broncos totaled 48.375.

Michigan State took the first four positions on the bars, led by Curler's 9.750, her first career win in the event. Junior Katlyn Roggensack (Wheaton, Ill./Midwest Academy) was close behind with a 9.700, and freshmen Nicole Argiros (Livonia, Mich./Michigan Academy) and Nicole Heikkila (Aurora, Ontario/Sport Seneca) made impressive collegiate debuts, occupying the third and fourth spots with scores of 9.650 and 9.550, respectively. MSU totaled 48.050 as a team, while WMU posted a 46.650 total.

Curler again led the way for the Spartans on the beam, winning her fifth individual beam title as a Spartan, with a tally of 9.825. Freshman Kelsey Morley (Elkhart, Ind./Gymagics) garnered runner-up honors in her first collegiate event with a 9.675. The Broncos' Tonya Eckert took third (9.600), leading Western Michigan to a 47.250 team score on the beam, topping the Spartans' team total of 46.975.

The night concluded with a floor exercise and Curler stole the show once more, claiming her fifth floor title with a 9.850 score. Classmate Emily Lopatofsky (Waymart, Pa./Keystone) set a new career-high with a score of 9.750 to take second, while WMU's Eckert placed third for the second-straight event. Morley tied the Broncos' Andrea Perini for fourth with a 9.675, to wrap up her Spartan debut. Michigan State totaled 48.425 on the floor, while WMU had 48.050.

Curler, the lone MSU all-arounder tonight, put together a score of 39.025 to claim the all-around crown. WMU's Erin Doucey was second with a tally of 38.100 and teammate Courtney Lesson was third (37.925).

The Spartans return to action on Saturday, Jan. 19, when they host Pittsburgh in a 7 p.m. meet at Jenison. The Spartans will wear pink for this event, to signify their annual Flip For A Cure meet, which benefits the American Cancer Society.