Freshman Carissa Kraus takes one final look at the vault before lifting off during a routine against Washington on Feb. 22. Even as a freshman, Kraus was one of the most consistent Gym Devils on the vault and returns some stability to the event next season. (Photo Courtesy of Arianna Grainey)At this time last year, the ASU Gymnastics team was full of uncertainty.
Seven strong seniors were leaving a huge gap, forcing the coaching staff to replace half its roster. A team with a strong core of veterans would become the youngest team in the country.
Seven freshmen. Four sophomores. One junior. Two seniors.
The youth ended up working for the Gym Devils.
The team scored above 196 for the first time in five years. It finished third in regionals, its highest placement at regionals in seven years.
Its beam team was ranked for most of the year, and the team as a whole finished the season ranked No. 24 in the country.
Unlike this time last year, there are only two roster spots to replace for next season.
The hole left by grad student Kahoku Palafox and senior Amelia Rew will be tough to replace, especially on uneven bars.
Palafox had seven scores of 9.8 or above, including a 9.9 at the Pac-12 championship that helped her earn second team all Pac-12 honors.
While Rew struggled on bars to start out the season, the senior’s resiliency on the apparatus was a source of inspiration for the Sun Devils. After the Bridgeport meet, where the team had its highest score since 2008, head coach John Spini said Rew’s career high 9.850 was what fired up the team and drove it to the victory.
While the two upperclassmen filled vital leadership roles, it was the freshmen and sophomores that did the heavy lifting.
“I love the experience the underclassmen received and the level at which they performed,” assistant coach Tom Ward said.
With the exception of injured Erin Hamister, all of the freshman members of the team competed in every meet, which is something not every freshman in a top program around the country can say.
They didn’t just compete; they carried the team.
With junior Samantha Seaman out most of the season with a ligament tear, freshman Stephanie Miceli stepped into the all-around position. She scored a 9.850 or higher at least once on bars, beam and floor.
Freshman Carissa Kraus was one of the team’s most consistent vaulters.
Freshmen Allie Salas and Alex Cope led off the floor lineup with high-earning routines. Freshman Risa Perez also showed huge potential on the floor.
The sophomores also proved they can lead this team at times.
There were meet-winning performances from sophomores Brianna Gades and Natasha Sundby, who padded her resume with three 9.9s on the year. Sophomore Morgan Steigerwalt also earned a 9.9 in Denver.
Sophomore Natelle Gentile back at full health should also be a big boost for ASU going into the 2014 season.
The team’s third place in finish at regionals in Corvallis meant the end of the Gym Devils’ season. The high score and the upset of Pac-12 champion Oregon State was a victory in the eyes of Ward.
“Finishing on a great regional performance is huge and beating the Pac-12 Champions in their house shows how gritty the future of this program is,” Ward said. “I cannot wait for 2014.”
Reach the reporter is mklau@asu.edu or follow on twitter @MaryKateLau
