MSU Gymnastics Soars to Victory Over Maryland and Western Michigan

EAST LANSING, MI – The No. 11 Michigan State gymnastics team delivered a stellar performance on Saturday, February 15, 2026, defeating both No. 24 Maryland and Western Michigan in a tri-meet held at Jenison Fieldhouse. The Spartans celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day with their second-highest score of the season, 197.250.

Spartans Dominate with Season-High Scores

MSU’s score surpassed Maryland’s 196.200 and Western Michigan’s 195.225. This win elevates the Spartans’ overall record to 4-4 and their Big Ten record to 3-2, improving their standing in a competitive conference where they previously were tied for fourth with five other teams.

All-Around Excellence and Individual Achievements

Junior MaKayla Tucker and senior Nikki Smith tied for the All-Around title with scores of 39.500. Senior Sage Kellerman claimed the bars title, while Smith shared the vault title with Smith. Tucker also shared the beam title with Maryland’s Madeline Komoroski. The floor title was a three-way split between Smith, Tucker, and freshman Korynne Marquart, alongside Maryland’s Aine Reade.

Teamwork and Competition Fuel Success

Head coach Mike Rowe highlighted the internal competition within the team as a key factor in their success. “It was a dog fight for a couple of them to gain in,” Rowe said. “They’re all supporting each other, they’re all having each other’s backs — but they’re still fighting for that spot. The passion is there.”

Vault and Bars Set the Tone

The Spartans started strong on vault, with Kellerman and Smith each scoring 9.900, leading to a rotation score of 49.250 – a significant lead of .450 over Maryland and 1.175 over Western Michigan. Smith’s score marked a season best, and the team’s overall vault performance exceeded their average.

MSU continued their momentum on bars, achieving a season-high team score of 49.350. Kellerman led with a 9.925, and Smith posted another season-high of 9.900. Junior Kendall Abney and freshman Lilia Cosman also achieved season-high scores of 9.825 and 9.850, respectively. Rowe noted this performance on bars as a major improvement compared to previous competitions.

Beam Consistency and Floor Dominance

The beam rotation, typically MSU’s strongest event, proved slightly more challenging, resulting in a score of 49.075. However, the Spartans maintained their lead. Sophomore Cady Duplissis achieved a season-high of 9.850, and Tucker tied Maryland’s Komoroski for the event high at 9.875.

The Spartans finished with a dominant performance on floor, where all six competitors scored 9.900 or higher. Senior Stephanie Lebster opened with a career-high 9.900, followed by Marquart’s 9.925 in her floor debut. Duplissis and junior Gabi Ortiz added scores of 9.900, while Tucker and Smith each scored 9.925, culminating in a season-high floor score of 49.575.

Looking Ahead

The MSU gymnastics team will face No. 19 Ohio State next Saturday, February 21, at home in Jenison Fieldhouse.