Michigan State Gymnastics: A Journey to NCAA Glory
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The anticipation is palpable as eighth-seeded Michigan State gymnastics gears up for the prestigious NCAA University Park Regional. The competition kicks off this Thursday, March 3, at 1 p.m. inside Penn State’s iconic Rec Hall.
The Competition Landscape
In this first regional session, MSU will face formidable challengers including No. 9 seed Kentucky, Ohio State, and host Penn State. The stakes are high, with all sessions streaming live on ESPN+. Play-by-play commentary will be provided by Alex Perlman, alongside analyst Kennedy Baker, ensuring fans don’t miss a moment of the action.
Noteworthy Highlights
Notable competitors in the second session at 7 p.m. will include top-seeded LSU, No. 16 Arkansas, and the winner of a spirited play-in meet between Maryland and West Virginia. Only the top two teams from each session will advance to the final showdown on Saturday, April 5, at 5 p.m. The ultimate goal? Secure a spot at the NCAA Championships, commencing on April 17 in Fort Worth, Texas, at the renowned Dickies Arena.
Spartans Enter with Momentum
Entering the regionals as the No. 8 seed overall and the second seed in their region, the Spartans are riding a wave of momentum. With an impressive record of 24-4 this season, they recently clinched second place at the Big Ten Championships on March 22, achieving a season-high score of 198.150. This score not only marks the highest road score in program history but also ties as the sixth-highest score nationally this season. MSU has now joined an elite group of just seven teams that have surpassed the 198 overall team score mark in 2025.
Pushing Limits
Despite not repeating as conference champions, the Spartans delivered a spectacular performance at the Big Ten Championships, surpassing their previous season-high score by over six-tenths. Noteworthy achievements included:
- Season highs on beam (49.500) and floor (49.600)
- Second-highest scores this season on vault (49.575) and bars (49.475)
All four events landed on MSU’s all-time top 10 lists, with the vault score tying for the second-best in history and beam and floor scores both tying for fifth best.
Individual Brilliance Shines
Individually, the Spartans showcased remarkable talent:
- Olivia Zsarmani, a junior, captured the vault title with a near-perfect score of 9.975, while Gabrielle Stephen, a senior, made history by scoring the first 10.000 on beam in MSU history, sharing the title with UCLA’s Ciena Alipio.
- Both gymnasts celebrated their first individual conference titles, marking significant milestones in their careers. Stephen followed the footsteps of former Spartan champion Baleigh Garcia and Zsarmani joined the ranks of recent titleholders.
Furthermore, several Spartans claimed podium finishes:
- Sage Kellerman secured two runner-up finishes with scores of 9.950 on vault and bars.
- Skyla Schulte achieved third place on floor with a career-high 9.975.
- Gabrielle Stephen finished second in the all-around with a season-high 39.675.
The accolades didn’t stop there; Kellerman was named the Big Ten’s first-ever Specialist of the Year, while Nikki Smith received recognition as the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, an honor earned by only two Spartans before her.
MSU’s Road to Regionals
Marking their fourth consecutive appearance at NCAA Regionals, the Spartans are determined to build on their recent successes after not qualifying as a team since the 2016 season. They’ve advanced to the regional final each of the last three years, narrowly missing a bid to the NCAA Championships by a mere 0.525 points in 2022 and an even closer 0.150 in 2023.
While the team looks to qualify this year, individual Spartans have consistently made their mark. Senior Skyla Schulte made a splash in 2022 by qualifying on balance beam, earning Second Team All-America honors. Similarly, in 2023, seniors Gabi Stephen and Delanie Harkness earned individual bids, with Schulte achieving her second career All-America honor.
Historic Context
The legacy of MSU at the NCAA Championships includes only one team appearance in 1988, where they finished 12th. The current postseason format has since evolved to include an eight-team national semifinal, followed by a four-team national final—a critical development in collegiate gymnastics.
Looking Ahead
As anticipation builds, the next major challenge awaits at the NCAA Championships set for April 17 and 19 in Fort Worth, Texas. Can Michigan State continue to defy the odds and push past the regionals? Fans and critics alike are eager to find out, and the stage is set for what promises to be an exciting competition.
For real-time updates and more information regarding the Michigan State Gymnastics team, visit their official site and stay connected!
