No. 16 Gymnasts Travel to Face No. 7 Bruins
February 10, 2016 | Women's Gymnastics
THE MEET
The No. 16 Oregon State gymnastics team is back on the road this weekend to face No. 7 UCLA Saturday. It will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks and air on the national networks as well as the Oregon and Los Angeles regional networks. Rich Burk will handle the call with Samantha Peszek providing analysis.
BEAVER BITES
The Beavers are ranked No. 16 this week. Rankings are currently determined by scoring average ... All four of OSU's lineups are ranked among the top 25 in the nation. The vault lineup is ranked the highest at No. 14 (49.013 average), the floor exercise is No. 18 (49.000), with the uneven bars is at No. 18 (48.975) and the beam lineup is 24th (48.706) ... Saturday's meet marks the end of a stretch of four road trips in the last five weeks for the Beavers. OSU returns to Gill Coliseum for three in a row beginning Saturday, Feb. 20 against California ... the Los Angeles trip is a homecoming of sorts for Beaver head coach Tanya Chaplin and associate head coach Michael Chaplin, both of whom graduated from UCLA in 1990 ... OSU's roster includes a pair of All-Americans, three-time honoree Madeline Gardiner, who has finished third on the beam in Event Finals each of the last two years, and Erika Aufiero, who will miss the season due to a knee injury suffered the week of the season opener ... the Beavers return 10 contributors in 2016 including 15 out of 24 routines from NCAA Championships in 2015. But it is more complicated than that. Senior Erika Aufiero, who was slated to perform in the all-around, and sophomore Dani Dessaints, who anchored the vault and bars lineups in the season-opener will both miss the season due to injury ... freshman McKenna Singley, who has missed the last two meets due to injury, is expected to return to the lineup this week in Westwood.
VS. UCLA
Saturday's match-up with the Bruins is the 108th meeting between the Pac-12 rivals with OSU trailing the series 27-79-1. OSU is 5-17 all-time in Los Angeles against UCLA. These teams met twice in 2015 with the Bruins defeating the Beavers 196.000-195.400 in the season-opener in Corvallis and again at Pac-12 Championships 197.350-196.900. The Beavers' last win in the series came when OSU won the 2013 Pac-12 Championships.
OREGON STATE QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about the Oregon State gymnastics team in 2016:
- The Beavers have counted only one fall in 2016 ... the counter came with pair of falls on the balance beam at Utah ... OSU counted falls in just two meets in 2015.
- OSU has 'hit' 109 out of 120 (90.8% ) routines in 2016 ... the Beavers 'hit' 95% (297 out of 314) of their routines over the course of 13 meets in 2015.
- Oregon State has relied heavily on junior Madeline Gardiner to compete in the all-around for much of the last three seasons. Thus far in her career, Gardiner has performed in the all-around 20 times in her career including the last 10 meets. Gardiner had won three all-around titles entering the season and has already reached that mark in 2016 having won the all-around in the Beavers' first four meets.
- Oregon State has two gymnasts ranked among the top 25 on individual events. On the vault, Dani Dessaints is tied for No. 2 in the nation (9.900), while Madeline Gardiner is 21st in the all-around (39.244).
- The 2016 roster includes four freshmen: Mary Jacobsen, Mariana Colussi-Pelaez, McKenna Singley and Elizabeth Yu. Colussi-Pelaez is the younger sister of Silvia Colussi-Pelaez, who transferred to Oregon State last year.
- Nine of OSU's 2016 opponents were ranked in the preseason top 36: No. 4 Utah, No. 5 LSU, No. 6 UCLA, No. 8 Stanford, No. 10 Auburn, No. 14 California, No. 30 Washington, No. 33 New Hampshire and No. 36 Arizona State.
LAST TIME IN COMPETITION
Oregon State eked out a win over Washington Monday night in Seattle but it wasn't pretty. The short-handed Beavers survived three falls without having to count a missed routine. A season-best performance on the balance beam (49.200) to close the meet sent OSU back to Corvallis on a high note and with some momentum heading to UCLA this Saturday. Freshman Mary Jacobsen secured the first individual title of her career with a win on the uneven bars (9.825) and junior Madeline Gardiner added a pair of wins on vault (9.850) and beam (9.900). Mariana Colussi-Pelaez notched a career-high on beam (9.775) while sister, Silvia Colussi-Pelaez tied her personal-best on the same event (9.850). Jacobsen's bars performance was a career-best as well as her floor routine (9.750) and on the vault Shireen Khamedoost posted her personal mark (9.775).
LOOKING BACK AT 2015
- Oregon State finished the 2015 season ranked No. 12 in the nation.
- All four of OSU's lineups were ranked among the top 25 in the nation. Vault ranked No. 13 (49.285 RQS); uneven bars ranked No. 14 (49.215); balance beam ranked No. 12 (49.145); and floor exercise was No. 7 (49.360).
- OSU's floor team posted a 49.675 mark in a quad meet against San Jose State, Lindenwood and Seattle Pacific (Mar. 14), the second-highest floor score the Beavers have ever tallied.
- Oregon State's upperclassmen performaned the majority of the routines in 2015 with the juniors and seniors accounting for 56% of the routines.
- Erika Aufiero (bars), Madeline Gardiner (beam) and Chelsea Tang (beam and all-around) each earned All-America honors. Aufiero and Gardiner qualified to Individual Event Finals where Gardiner finished third on the beam.
- Kaytianna McMillan scored a 9.90 on the vault for the first time in her career at Pac-12 Championships. With that mark she became the ninth gymnast in Oregon State history to record a 9.90 on all four apparatuses in her career.
- The Beavers welcomed three rather unexpected transfers to the squad in the fall of 2014 with the arrival of Silvia Colussi-Pelaez (Florida), Risa Perez (Arizona State) and Jamie Radermacher (Eastern Michigan). The trio combined to 'hit' 44 out of 45 routines in 2015.
TANYA CHAPLIN QUICK HITTERS
- Chaplin holds the Oregon State record for wins during the regular season as well as overall. She set the record at the 2014 home opener with a 196.425-194.850 victory over Iowa State. Now in her 19th season Chaplin has 356 career wins including 287 victories during the regular season.
- Chaplin has led the Beavers to conference titles in two of the last five years, winning the 2011 Pac-10 title and the 2013 Pac-12 Championships.
- She has directed OSU to the NCAA Championships 11 times in her 18 seasons at the helm.
MADELINE GARDINER QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Madeline Gardiner, a junior from Cambridge, Ontario:
- Qualified to NCAA Championships as an individual all-arounder in 2014.
- Earned All-America First Team honors on the balance beam and in the all-around in 2014 ... finished tied for third in the Individual Event Finals in 2014 - the best beam finish for an OSU gymnast since Joy Selig was first in 1990.
- Became a three-time All-American in 2015 earning first team honors on beam ... again finished third at Event Finals.
- Two-time Pac-12 All-Conference selection - 2015 All-Around first team & 2014 Balance Beam second team
- Has won 23 event titles in her two-plus seasons; 9 in 2016 (4 AA, 2 V & 3 BB); 10 in 2015 (3 AA, 2 V, 3 BB & 2 FX); and four in 2014 (3 BB & 1 FX).
- Has 'hit' 104 out of 107 routines in her career ... 19-20 in 2016.
- Madeline was named the Pac-12 Specialist of the Week for the week of Feb. 10-16, 2014 after she posted career-bests of 9.95 on floor and 9.875 on beam to win the first event titles of her career ... named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the week of Mar. 3-9, 2014 after she won the beam title (9.925) and scored 39.400 in her first all-around performance.
- Received Pac-12 Gymnast of the Week for the week of March 9-15, 2015 after winning the all-around tying her career-high with a 39.400. She added an event title on the beam.
- Canadian National Team's alternate for the 2012 Olympics in London.
- Majoring in exercise and sport science with an option in pre-therapy and allied health.
KAYTIANNA MCMILLAN QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Kaytianna McMillan, a junior from Coburg, Oregon:
- One of just nine gymnasts in Oregon State history to record a score of 9.90 or better on each apparatus in her career.
- Suffered a season-ending knee injury on the final routine (vault) at the 2015 NCAA Norman Regional; her recovery continues and began the season competing only on the balance beam ... returned to the bars lineup in Week 2 at Lindenwood, winning the event ... the Beavers are hopeful she will soon return to the floor lineup.
- 2015 Pac-12 All-Conference second team on the floor exercise.
- Tied for balance beam title (9.85) at NCAA University Park Regional in 2014 qualifying to NCAA Championships on the the event.
- Has won seven event titles in her career; 1 in 2016 (1 UB); 3 in 2015 (2 UB, 1 FX); and 3 in 2014 (2 BB, 1 UB).
- Has 'hit' 58 of 62 routines in her career ... 9-9 in 2016.
- Kaytianna trained at the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics - the same gym as other OSU greats Chari Knight, Jami Lanz and Chelsea Tang among others including OSU head coach Tanya Chaplin.
- Four-time Junior Olympic Nationals qualifier and won the Level 10 national titles on beam and all-around in 2013.
- Majoring in human development and family science with an option in human services.
MEGAN JIMENEZ QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Megan Jimenez, a junior from Temecula, California:
- Has 'hit' 34 of 37 routines in her career ... 11-14 in 2016.
- Did not compete on the floor exercise at Utah but returned to the lineup last week against Arizona State.
- Performed in the vault lineup in all 13 meets in 2015 and nine times in 2014.
- Forced into making her floor lineup debut at 2015 NCAA Championships due to injury.
- Majoring in digital communication arts.
TAYLOR RICCI QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Taylor Ricci, a junior from North Vancouver, British Columbia:
- Has 'hit' all 19 routines in her career ... 11-11 in 2016.
- Performed in the vault lineup seven times in 2015.
- Like Jimenez, she was forced into making her floor lineup debut at 2015 NCAA Championships due to injury scoring 9.800.
- Was inserted into the balance beam lineup at Utah (1/23) for the first time in her career - 9.500.
- Majoring in exercise and sport science with an option in pre-therapy and allied health.
RISA PEREZ QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Risa Perez, a senior from Las Vegas, Nevada:
- Has 'hit' 87 out of 95 routines in her career ... 12-12 in 2016.
- Has won four event titles in her OSU career; one on the floor in 2016 and three event titles in 2015 for the Beavers; two on floor and one on beam.
- Forced into the vault lineup last week against ASU for the first time in her career (9.675).
- Transferred to Oregon State from Arizona State in the fall of 2014.
- Competed in beam and floor lineups for the Beavers 12 out of 13 meets last season.
- Has cut and choreographed her floor routines since she was a Level 8 gymnast.
- Also helped choreograph several of her current teammates' floor routines this season.
- Majoring in liberal studies.
Here are some quick hitters about Jamie Radermacher, a senior from Tualatin, Oregon:
- Recorded the first event title of her career tying for first on the floor (9.875) in the season opener against Auburn ... followed up with another career-high 9.90 on the floor and another event title at Lindenwood.
- Late addition to the 2015 squad after transferring from Eastern Michigan where she battled injuries.
- Cracked the floor lineup late in the 2015 season competing three times.
- Aggravated a previous injury at regionals and was unable to compete at nationals.
- Has 'hit' 17-20 career routines and all 8 routines of her OSU career ... 5-5 in 2016.
- Majoring in human development and family sciences.
Here are some quick hitters about Silvia Colussi-Pelaez, a junior from Oakville, Ontario:
- Has 'hit' 26 of her 28 routines in her college career and 23 of 25 at OSU ... 5-7 in 2016.
- Transferred to Oregon State from Florida following spring term of 2014.
- Competed as a member of Spain's national team.
- Successfully performed a sideways aerial on balance beam – a first in World or Olympic competition – the skill is now named the Colussi-Pelaez. She has not used the skill in competition at the collegiate level.
- Younger sister, Mariana, is a freshman for the Beavers in 2016.
- Majoring in chemical engineering.
Here are some quick hitters about Mariana Colussi-Pelaez, a freshman from Oakville, Ontario:
- Joined the beam lineup at Lindenwood in Week 2.
- Won her first event title against Arizona State with a career-high 9.85 on the uneven bars.
- Has 'hit' all eight of her routines to start her career.
Here are some quick hitters about Mary Jacobsen, a freshman from Puyallup, Washington:
- Has been a versatile cog in the lineup in 2016 competing on three events in four out of five meets.
- Captured the first individual title of her career winning on bars with a career-high 9.825 at Washington.
- Set career-mark on floor exercise (9.750) last week at Washington.
- Has 'hit' 12 out of 14 routines in 2016.
Here are some quick hitters about Shireen Khamedoost, a sophomore from Bountiful, Utah:
- Has become a mainstay in the bars and vault lineups in 2016.
- Began the 2015 near the top of the bars lineup for the first seven meets.
- Has 'hit' all 17 routines in her career ... 10-10 in 2016.
Here are some quick hitters about McKenna Singley, a freshman from Bountiful, Utah:
- Another versatile piece of the puzzle as the coaching staff has sought the right combination of healthy gymnasts in 2016.
- One of only two OSU gymnasts to have performed on all four events in 2016 (Madeline Gardiner), although she has NOT performed in the all-around yet.
- Missed the Arizona State & Washington meets due to injury ... returned to practice Wednesday and is expected to be available this week at UCLA.
- Has 'hit' 5 out of 8 routines in 2016.
Here are some quick hitters about Erika Aufiero, a senior from Sparks, Nevada:
- Suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice (1/7) leading up to the season opener.
- Earned first team All-America honors on uneven bars in 2015.
- Owns 15 career event titles; 13 on bars and two on vault.
- Chosen as one of the team's captains in 2015 and '16
- Earned All-Pac-12 honors on uneven bars in 2013 and on vault in 2015.
- Has 'hit' 57 of 62 routines in his career.
- Erika's sister, Breyanna, competed at Utah State.
- Majoring in finance with a specialization in accountancy.
Here are some quick hitters about Dani Dessaints, a sophomore from Las Vegas, Nevada:
- Suffered a shoulder injury in practice on Wednesday prior to the Lindenwood meet (1/13) and will miss the rest of the season.
- Has 'hit' all nine of her routines in her college career ... 2-2 in 2016.
- Anchored the Beavers' vault and bars units in the season-opener posting career-bests on both events.
- Battled injuries as a freshman competing only seven routines.
- Majoring in sociology with an emphasis in crime and justice.
The Beavers, like every other team in the country, are seeking to qualify to the NCAA Championships and the Super Six. But to reach that goal teams must get through NCAA Regionals. In 2016, regionals will be held at Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Utah. The top two finishers at each regional will advance to the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.
CONFERENCE OF CHAMPIONS
The Pac-12 Conference has seven out of eight of its teams ranked in the Top 36, which is the number of teams that qualify to NCAA Regionals. Utah is ranked No. 6, UCLA is at No. 7, Stanford is 13th, Oregon State is 16th, California is 19th, Arizona is 27th and Washington is at No. 32.
THREE FOR 2017
In November, two gymnasts signed the National Letters of Intent to join the Oregon State gymnastics program for the 2016-17 academic year. Isis Lowery (Melbourne, Australia) and Brianna McCant (Frisco, Texas) are scheduled to enroll in Oregon State this coming summer. In addition, 2015 signee Sabrina Gill (Oakville, Ontario) is slated to join the program for the 2017 season as well. Gill opted to defer her enrollment while she trains for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for Team Canada.
