Spartans' year ends, Robinson moves on

By Matt Bishop (Last updated: 08/28/09 6:30pm) The MSU gymnastics team finished fourth in the six-team NCAA Central Region Championships held Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala., with a team score of 194.800.

Alabama, the host of the regional, took first with a team score of 196.700.

As a team, MSU's season is over, but freshman tumbler Rochelle Robinson performed well enough to advance to the NCAA national championship meet as an individual competitor.

That meet will be held starting April 26 in Salt Lake City.

Robinson tied for eighth in the all-around competition with a score of 39.225, but advanced for having a higher individual event score.

"I am just so pleased with the comeback this team performed tonight after a rough meet at the Big Ten Championships," MSU head coach Kathie Klages said in a written statement. "I'm also so proud of Rochelle (Robinson); she hit all four of her routines tonight, and she is peaking at the right time for the National Championship meet."

In the all-around, senior tumbler Kristen Coleman finished behind Robinson with a score of 38.650, while freshman Nicole Curler chipped in a score of 38.975.

On the balance beam, the Spartans posted a team score of 48.875 in the night's opening rotation.

Coleman led MSU with a 9.850, while Curler scored a 9.825. Both Megan Bergland and Victoria Iakounina posted a score of 9.725.

The Spartans finished the floor routine with a team score of 48.650 and were led by Robinson's individual score of 9.900. Bergland and Megan McNally trailed Robinson with scores of 9.800 each.

In vault, MSU came back with a team score of 48.775. Both Robinson and Coleman scored a 9.825 in the set, while Curler picked up a 9.725.

The final event for the Spartans was the uneven bars, and MSU finished that event with a team score of 48.500. Robinson finished with a 9.800.Coleman was second on the team.

Originally Published: 04/16/07 12:00am