STATSAMES, Iowa—The No. 22 Iowa State gymnastics team opened its 2011 campaign with a 193.475-192.775 win over 15th-ranked Auburn Friday night inside Hilton Coliseum. Junior
Michelle Browning led the Cyclones by winning the all-around with a score of 39.175.
In addition to Browning's win in the all-around, Iowa State freshman
Michelle Shealy also earned a victory on beam (9.850). Browning additionally won the floor with a score of 9.850. The other event champions were from Auburn (0-1) with Petrina Yokay (9.825) winning vault and Kylie Shields (9.825) taking the bars title. The Tigers' Rachel Inniss tied Shealy for the beam crown with a 9.850.
“I was disappointed with how we started our first event,” Iowa State head coach
Jay Ronayne said. “Vault needs to be stronger than we showed tonight and I fully anticipate improvement over the next few weeks. One thing that jumped out to me after vault is the team did not let it impact them. They put it behind them and refocused.”
Shealy was the Cyclones' other all-arounder and produced a score of 38.900, which was good enough for second place. Shealy also earned the meet's “Marie-Rae Sopper Outstanding Performance Award” which goes to the Iowa State gymnast whose performance inspires and captivates the Cyclone coaches, teammates and fans.
“I knew
Michelle Shealy was going to be good this year, and I see now that she is going to be great,” Ronayne said. “The combination of
Michelle Shealy and
Michelle Browning in the all-around will help make us a far more competitive team than we have been over the past few years.”
Shealy was not the only strong Cyclone newcomer on the night. Fellow freshman Camille Santerre-Gervais tallied a 9.775 on bars.
After trailing midway through the competition at 96.850-96.500, the meet dramatically changed as Iowa State outscored Auburn 48.550-47.275 during the third rotation. The Cyclones were on beam while the Tigers were on floor on that rotation.
Iowa State's score of 193.475 was its highest season-opening score since the 2007 campaign.
The Cyclones return to action Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. when Nebraska travels to Hilton Coliseum for a Big 12 Conference meet.