University of Washington
LSU, SPU
Huskies Post Season-Best On Bars
February 17, 2012 | Gymnastics
Feb. 17, 2012
SEATTLE - The No. 23 UW gymnastics team had some great individual and team performances in the Tri-Meet vs. No. 13 LSU and Seattle Pacific Friday night, but three falls on beam kept the Huskies from the upset, finishing second with a 194.975.
LSU won the meet with a 196.450 while SPU took third with a 190.800.
The Huskies posted a new season-high on bars with a 49.075 and solid scores on vault (48.725) and floor (48.975). UW posted a 48.200 on beam after having to count two falls.
"Listening to my staff and a couple of girls afterwards, I think it's really hitting us that LSU is one of the top teams in the country and we're as good as they are," Bowers said. "We just need to stay on the beam. But we are a good team. And we can compete with the top teams in the country. We still have some work to do. I guarantee we're going to do some pressure stuff on beam this week. And I bet you it's a lot better. They do seem to step up on the things we're trying to work on. Like we worked on landings this week and we had better landings. So I know they're going to respond."
Individually, freshman McKenzie Fechter (Mequon, Wis.) set new career-highs on three events and the all-around. She finished third in the all-around with a 39.125. She tied for third with three other Huskies on the floor with scores of 9.825, and had career-highs of 9.700 on vault, 9.800 on bars and a 9.800 on beam.
"I was really excited with my performance tonight," Fechter said. "I think I was really trying to go out there and help the team as much as I can and I think I did a good job with that."
Senior Amanda Cline (Aurora, Colo.) and junior Lauren Rogers (Plains, Pa.) tied for the team lead on vault with 9.850's to finish fifth at the meet.
Rogers was awesome on bars, scoring a new career-high 9.875 to win the event. Senior teammate Hatsune Akaogi (Cupertino, Calif.) posted a 9.850, also a career-best to finish second.
Junior Paige Bixler (Rowlett, Texas) won yet another beam title, tying a season-best of 9.875. She also tied her season-high on the floor of 9.825.
Bixler, Rogers, Fechter and senior Ruby Engreitz (Kirkland, Wash.) were the four Huskies and four of the six total gymnasts that tied for third on the floor.
Freshman Jaclyn McCartin (West Covina, Calif.) has been battling injuries all year but made her first appearance in the lineup, and as the anchor on beam, posted a 9.825.
Junior Kylie Sharp (Merriman, Utah) and sophomore Aliza Vaccher (Eugene, Ore.) had new season-highs on vault and bars.
The Huskies will hit the road next week, taking on Arizona on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
