San Jose State has sustained success for the last few seasons after a breakout result in 2022. This year will pose some challenges, with the departure of two senior stars, but it also brings the program’s first ever five-star recruit. The Spartans definitely need freshmen to step up in order to be successful this year.
2024 Rewind
No. 36 overall | No. 3 at Mountain West championships | No. 35 in regular season | Regional play-in
San Jose State is often a bubble team and should be happy to have returned to regionals in 2024 after an extremely near miss in 2023. Making regionals will continue to be the primary marker of a successful season for the Spartans. Third place at the extremely close Mountain West conference meet isn’t a major disappointment.
Losses & Gains
| Returning | In |
| Fifth-Years Madison Kirsch Jaudai Lopes Seniors Trinity Johnson Sophie Konieczny Katherine Weyhmiller Juniors Kyra Cato Chloe Frank Mikaela Pitts Sophomores Marissa Ashton Mia Nelson Ella Power Olivia Reardon Devyn Valuch | Freshmen Ava East Madison Gustitus Ava Johnson Kaviana Jurries Samantha Macasu Chloe Sills |
| Out | |
| Graduated Natasha Forrand (FX) Jada Mazury (AA) Makayla McMahon Transferred Lauren MacPherson (AA) | |
| Injury Update | |
| Canadians Kyra Cato and Ella Power missed their 2024 seasons, but both have been featured in training this year. Freshman Samantha Macasu didn’t compete in her senior level 10 season and has only recently been seen in training. | |
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2024 Event Ranking: No. 41 | NQS: 49.035 | Average: 48.985
| Event Overview: There’s lots of variety in this lineup, with two 10.0 vaults from Madison Kirsch and Jaudai Lopes and a potential third from Mikaela Pitts. Form and landings can hold this event back from truly massive scores, but depth shouldn’t be a big challenge this year. | ||
| Locks: Madison Kirsch, Jaudai Lopes, Mia Nelson | ||
| Contenders: Ava Johnson, Mikaela Pitts, Devyn Valuch | ||
| Wildcards: Kyra Cato, Samantha Macasu, Chloe Sills |
Bars
2024 Event Ranking: No. 40 | NQS: 49.060 | Average: 48.960
| Event Overview: With two of last year’s best routines graduated, freshmen will be needed on bars. Macasu is strong enough on bars to contend for the anchor position if healthy, but we haven’t seen her in training yet on this event yet. | ||
| Locks: Jaudai Lopes, Sophia Konieczny, Katherine Weyhmiller | ||
| Contenders: Madison Gustitus, Ava Johnson, Ella Power, Olivia Reardon, Devyn Valuch | ||
| Wildcards: Kyra Cato, Kaviana Jurries, Samantha Macasu, Mikaela Pitts |
Beam
2024 Event Ranking: No. 29 | NQS: 49.205 | Average: 48.963
| Event Overview: Beam is a strength for San Jose State, and despite the No. 5 and No. 6 routines from last year both being gone, the Spartans shouldn’t hurt too badly for either depth or leadership. | ||
| Locks: Marissa Ashton, Madison Kirsch, Jaudai Lopes, Katherine Weyhmiller | ||
| Contenders: Madison Gustitus, Sophia Konieczny, Samantha Macasu, Ella Power, Devyn Valuch | ||
| Wildcards: Kyra Cato, Chloe Frank, Ava Johnson, Kaviana Jurries, Mia Nelson, Olivia Reardon |
Floor
2024 Event Ranking: No. 28 | NQS: 49.355 | Average: 49.187
| Event Overview: Floor was great for the 2024 Spartans, but with half the lineup graduated, newcomers will need to play a big role. | ||
| Locks: Jaudai Lopes, Mia Nelson, Katherine Weyhmiller | ||
| Contenders: Madison Gustitus, Ava Johnson, Devyn Valuch, Olivia Reardon | ||
| Wildcards: Marissa Ashton, Ava East, Madison Kirsch |
Records Watch
Team: 196.675 | AA: 39.575 | VT: 49.200/9.950 | UB: 49.375/9.950 | BB: 49.400/9.950 | FX: 49.550/10.000
A lot of these records, including all of the team records except floor, were set in 2024, and on a really good day it’s possible to beat them again. Jaudai Lopes owns the vault program record and could beat her own record in her fifth and final season.
The Big Picture
San Jose State loses a lot of great routines from last year and has a lot of potentially great routines coming in. Making that transition might take a little time, but it’ll be worth the investment. With a lot more key routines due to graduate after 2025, Madison Gustitus and company will need to be prepared to take the reins. Get to know these new faces early, and enjoy the firepower of veterans like Lopes while they’re still here.
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Article by Rebecca Scally
Mia Nelson is injured, she was in a boot and scooter at their intrasquad, looks like the typical achilles set up.