March 31, 2007

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The No. 19 Michigan State gymnastics team finished seventh at the Big Ten Championships on Saturday evening with a score of 192.650. The bright spot in the evening came when senior tumbler Kristen Coleman was named the 2007 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year. Coleman is the first Michigan State honoree since Kim Hartwick received the award in 1989. In addition, Spartan freshman Rochelle Robinson finished in a tie for second on vault with a score of 9.875. 13th-ranked Michigan finished first at the event, earning its 15th Championship title with a score of 196.575.

No. 12 Penn State finished second with a 196.475, and No. 21 Illinois rounded out the top three with a score of 195.250. No. 20 Ohio State landed in fourth with a 194.025, while No. 23 Minnesota (193.225), Iowa (192.750), and Michigan State finished in the bottom three.

Coleman garnered the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year accolade, winning the all-around competition five times this season, twice setting the Spartan benchmark in that category. For her efforts, she was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week twice during her senior season.

"We're really proud of Kristen Coleman winning gymnast of the year," said MSU head coach Kathie Klages. "She's had an outstanding senior year and she's improved over her four years. Each year she has gotten better and it was a well-deserved award."

"I was really excited tonight to get the award," said Coleman. "It's a huge honor. I'm glad that I've had such a great season so far, and it's been really exciting to have my best season my senior year. To represent my school as gymnast of the year is really exciting."

Michigan State began the first rotation of the evening on vault with a 48.800. Coleman began the Spartan rotation, posting a 9.850 which landed her in a three-way tie for fourth place. Robinson led the team with a 9.875, earning a tie for second overall.

The Spartans moved to bars in the second rotation, improving their team score with the highest event-score of the evening with a 49.000. Katlyn Roggensack began for MSU, earning a 9.800. Coleman (9.850) and Robinson (9.825) posted the top Spartan scores on the event.

Michigan State moved to balance beam in the fourth rotation, following a third-rotation bye. The Spartans struggled on beam, and were forced to count three falls en route to their lowest event score of the evening with a 46.650. Senior Victoria Iakounina earned the team-leading score of 9.525.

Michigan State had another bye in the fifth rotation, before finishing the evening on the floor exercise. The Spartans rebounded from beam with a score of 48.200 on floor. Robinson earned a 9.750, and was followed by Coleman, who led the team with a 9.800.

NCAA Regional selection information will be available on Monday, April 2 at 2 p.m. Please visit www.msuspartans.com for details.