PHOTO ESSAY: No. 18 Nebraska, No. 21 Arizona State and No. 42 Pitt at No. 6 Denver

March 15, 2019 Tara Graeve Event Coverage, Featured Carousel, Features, NCAA WAG, Recap

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Denver hosted its final home meet of the year on March 10, 2019 with special guest 2016 Olympian Laurie Hernandez who was there as part of a Make-A-Wish campaign. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Pitt got off to a solid start on floor where its choreography really shined. Pictured here is Deven Herbine. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Arizona State has not one, but two gymnasts who perform Rulfovas on beam. Ashley Szafranski competed in the top six while freshman Jasmine Gutierrez showed hers off in exhibition. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Heather Udowitch had uncharacteristic mistakes, leading the Sun Devils to count a miss in a rotation that left much to be desired. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Arizona State senior Justine Callis hit a clutch performance after mistakes earlier in the lineup. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Nebraska also had its share of beam miscues after a fall from the leadoff competitor. Thankfully, the remaining five gymnasts hit and the Huskers didn’t have to count the error. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Lynnzee Brown and assistant coach Linas Gaveika were ecstatic after the sophomore stuck her bars dismount. The sophomore tallied a 9.950 to share the event win with teammate Maddie Karr. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Some moments go beyond scores, wins or loses. Denver senior Grace Broadhurst performed her first competitive routine in the Pioneers’ final home meet after battling injuries much of her career, much to the delight of her teammates. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

The spotlight was on Cairo Leonard-Baker as the final performer in the second rotation. Her fun routine showcased spunky dance and powerful tumbling that brought even the away crowd in. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Freshman Alexandria Ruiz has been a rock for the Pioneers on beam. Her calm and collected presence makes her dependable to hit when it counts. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Catelyn Orel missed the beginning of this season recovering from a knee injury. However, she is back and has been improving each week out. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Denver senior Diana Chesnok competed beam for the second time this season while the Pioneers rest sophomore Mia Sundstrom. In her two performances, it’s apparent how much she’s improved her beam over the course of her Denver career and she has been quite consistent when she’s gotten the chance to compete or exhibition this season. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Alexis Vasquez is putting together one of the best seasons a Pioneer has ever had on beam. Her NQS of 9.935 is tied for the highest on the event in Denver history. She scored a 9.925 for her excellent set here and hasn’t scored below a 9.9 since January 19. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Kaitlyn Schou has been a rock on beam for Denver the past four years. Here, she performs for the final time on four inches in Magness Arena. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Nebraska senior Sienna Crouse’s routine was the highest scoring on floor for the Huskers—a relief from the string of 9.7s previous competitors in the lineup had put up. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Haley Brechwald has been a great asset for Pitt over the past two seasons, and this beam routine was no different. Today she had the second-highest score on the event for the team with a 9.775 to contribute to an overall solid rotation.(Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Sun Devil Ashley Szafranski competed bars for the first time this season after battling back from an injury that limited her ability to train and compete bars. Ironically enough, she bumped her sister Kaitlyn out of the lineup. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Maddie Karr put on a show during her floor routine, which garnered a 9.925, the second-highest floor score of the meet. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Lynnzee Brown flirted with perfection on floor yet again, ultimately scoring a 9.975 to close out the rotation and night for Denver. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

After the meet, Denver honored its four seniors: Grace Broadhurst, Diana Chesnok, Claire Kern and Kaitlyn Schou. (Photo/Tara Graeve, [email protected])

Essay by Tara Graeve

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