As the Stanford women’s gymnastics team continues through its winning season, it is beginning to realize how true it is that there’s no place like home. On Sunday, the No. 8 Cardinal claimed another victory to extend its unbeaten streak against Pac-10 competition at Burnham Pavilion to 30. Since 1998, the team is 42-1 in its home gymnasium. At this point, virtually any opposing team can come to the Farm and expect to come up short at the end of competition. Thus it was with great confidence and comfort that Stanford (196.650) overtook No. 24 Washington (194.075), Sacramento State (193.225) and San Jose State (192.800) on Sunday.
Though the win was a product of a solid team effort, one individual in particular proved to her coaches and teammates just how deserving she is of a spot in the lineup for all four events. Freshman sensation Ashley Morgan, who debuted in the all-around, was the primary contributor to the team’s quad-meet victory. Morgan won the vault (9.875) and balance beam (9.875), was second on the floor (9.90) and sixth on the uneven bars (9.80). These scores led her to capture the all-around title with 39.450, which was the most for a Stanford freshman in three years.
“Morgan had a tremendous day,” said Stanford head coach Kristen Smyth, whose team improved to 6-2 as a result of the win. “She’s been working on upgrades on her routines, such as her dismount on bars. She’s a gamer. She’s going to be solid for us.”
Morgan edged teammates junior Shelley Alexander and the defending Pac-10 champion, senior Carly Janiga, for the all-around title with Stanford’s best all-around individual score of the season. Yet, both Alexander and Janiga were also major contributors to Stanford’s overall season-high team score, as Alexander scored a 39.300 and Janiga a 39.100.
The highlight of the day for the team this time came on the beam, where the Card achieved a season-high 49.075 despite a leadoff fall. Morgan, Alexander and junior Danielle Ikoma tied for first place in the event.
The uneven bars were certainly an area of success for the team as well, as Stanford matched its season-best team score in the event. Janiga and senior Allyse Ishino, who each scored 9.925s, tied for first, and Ishino’s performance was a career best.
In fact, Ishino scored a 39.350 in what was her unofficial first collegiate all-around. The 2004 Olympic team alternate averaged a 9.83 in three events and scored a 9.85 in the floor exercise exhibition. Though she has not officially made it into the floor lineup, that is expected to change next Sunday at No. 6 UCLA. Her self-choreographed routine is particularly dynamic and unique because of only two tumbling passes and the incorporation of her dance skills into each performance.
Sophomore Nicole Pechanec also owned the floor, scoring a 9.925 to claim first place in the event. The former Czech Republic international has averaged a 9.91 on floor over the past three meets.
“She’s really a beautiful and artistic performer,” Smyth said of Pechanec. “She’s really improved her tumbling and I think she’s finally getting out the work that she puts in.”
Thus due to numerous outstanding individual performances, Stanford enters its next meet with another victory under its belt. The team is certainly improving, but it will have to continue to do so in order to earn a spot in the Super Six at the end of April.
“We’re taking steps in the right direction,” Smyth said. “We’re getting a little bit better every weekend.”
With only one more home meet on Feb. 28 at Maples Pavilion against Pac-10 rival California, North Carolina and Eastern Michigan, the team first looks to take down UCLA next Sunday for the second time this season. The challenge will be greater this time in the Bruins’ gymnasium, but if the Cardinal women can produce some of the same high-scoring performances from last Sunday, another upset could be possible.