Gym Devils host Cal

February 10, 2009

<separator></separator><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/photos/schools/asu/sports/w-gym/auto_pdf/g… Release in PDF Format</a> <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html" target="_new"><img src="http://grfx.cstv.com/graphics/icon-acrosmall.gif" alt="Get Acrobat Reader" border="0" height="10" width="9"></a><separator></separator>This Week -- The No. 24 Arizona State women's gymnastics team will host California in its fourth consecutive Pac-10 meet this Friday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Head Coach <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-gym/mtt/spini_john00.html">John Spini</a> is currently ASU's longest-tenured head coach, and is second on the all-time Sun Devil head coaching list. Former Sun Devil women's tennis coaching legend Anne Pittman holds the distinction as the longest-tenured ASU head coach at 31 seasons.<separator></separator>Promotions of the Week -- The theme of this week is Maroon Out. Fans who wear maroon will receive discounted admission. Members of the Sports Medicine Department at the Phoenix Children's Hospital will be recognized. There will also be an autograph session after the meet with the team. <separator></separator>ASU In The Rankings -- The Sun Devils dropped one spot to 24th. They are ranked 17th nationally on beam and are 22nd on vault. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-gym/mtt/harris_nicole00.html">Nic… Harris</a> remains as one of the top 10 beamworkers in the country at No. 8. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-gym/mtt/jones_beate00.html">Beaté Jones</a> entered the top 25 in vault, as the sophomore is currently 24th. <separator></separator>Scouting the Competition -- California, who has suffered several injuries this season, is ranked 59th. The Golden Bears are 65th on floor, 41st on beam, 58th on bars and 63rd on vault. Bridgette Glass is the lone Bear ranked as she is 13th on beam. <separator></separator>One Tough Cookie --- Despite having tweaked her shoulder the week before during her floor routine, <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-gym/mtt/harris_nicole00.html">Nic… Harris</a> competed in the all-around last week. Listed as questionable prior to the meet and only expected to compete on vault and beam if she were to compete, Harris posted her second-highest all-around score of the season. The senior led the team on bars and beam and recorded the team's second-highest scores on vault and floor. In addition, Harris won beam with a 9.875. Harris is currently ranked eighth on beam. <separator></separator>Jersey Girl --- Jones, who has been a steady anchor for the Devils on vault this season, entered the rankings this past week in the event. The Neptune, N.J., native scored a 9.875 last week at Oregon State to tie for second. Jones has already tied her career-best of 9.9 twice this season. <separator></separator>Tiana Time-- <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-gym/mtt/jean_tiana00.html">Tiana Jean</a> tied her career-high on floor last week at Oregon State. While she has been struggling on bars this season, the senior all-arounder performed her way to a team-high 9.875. Jean has also been solid on beam this season, tying her career-best of 9.9 earlier in the season. <separator></separator>Fantastic Fran --- <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-gym/mtt/mercurio_francesca00.html… Mercurio</a> enters her sophomore season after a fabulous freshman one. Mercurio became the tenth Sun Devil to be named Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week. Mercurio earned the honor by earning her first all-around win against Ohio State. Mercurio finished her freshman campaign with career-high marks of 39.250 in the all-around, 9.875 on vault, 9.825 on bars and beam, and 9.750 on floor. Mercurio competed in the all-around for the first time against Stanford. After missing the UCLA meet due to an ankle sprain, Mercurio came back last week and competed in three events. <separator></separator>Beaming Bormann --- One of the Sun Devils most consistent beam-workers, <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-gym/mtt/bormann_kaitlynn00.html">… Bormann</a>, picked up right where she left off last year. Bormann set a new career-best earlier in the season with a 9.85.