Arizona State senior gymnast Kimberly Smith put on a show Friday at Desert Financial Arena to lead the Sun Devils to victory over No. 22 BYU, and it wasn’t just for a typical home crowd.
She posted a career-high in the all-around with a 39.475, and took home event titles for vault, floor and all-around before an audience that included many former ASU gymnastics greats as the Sun Devils celebrated the program’s 50th season on Alumni Night.
“It was really special to be able to especially get this win at home on alumni night,” Smith said. “It’s just really special because obviously they’ve done a ton. They’ve had a ton of success in the past. So just trying to emulate that and live up to the standard.”
And Smith saved her best for last, when it mattered most.
The Sun Devils trailed 146.900-146.825 heading into the final rotation, where they posted a 49.225 in the floor event, led by Smith and junior Halle Gregoire with each posting 9.900 scores.
“I think that it was really important, and it was fun to be able to compete for a purpose a little bit bigger than just ourselves today,” Gregoire said.
Jay Santos, in his 10th season as ASU’s gymnastics coach, was confident heading into the final rotation as the Sun Devils took on the floor event.
“We had the chance to go win that floor, which is always a great thing, and they were able to put it together,” Santos said.
It capped off a night full of celebration and remembrance with a 196.050-195.200 victory in ASU’s Big 12 Conference opener.
Throughout the 50 years of Sun Devil gymnastics, 29 gymnasts have earned All-America honors, nine are in the Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame and six have won NCAA championships and eight have won conference championships.
Among the alumni on hand to watch Smith and her teammates were two-time All-American Karli Urban and Jessica Ginn.
“It’s just really great to be able to bring all the different years together and celebrate,” Urban said. “And to be able to support the girls that are on the team now … it’s changed a lot, but the sport has given all of us so much. So it’s nice to come back and support the program.”
Urban spent the 1986-1989 seasons in the gymnastics program, earning All-American honors on balance beam in 1987 and floor in 1989.
Ginn, who is from Chandler and graduated from Hamilton High School, said the camaraderie shared among those associated with the program is what made her time with the Sun Devils special.
“I think some of the days that stuck out to me were the hard practices that we all grinded through together and got through the day together,” said Ginn, who competed from 2017 through 2020. “The relationships that were built over those four years were the most memorable to me.”
The celebration had special meaning to Santos, who was able to reconnect with some former Sun Devil gymnasts who have competed during his tenure.
“The last thing you want to do is lose in front of the alumni,” Santos said. “But we had a great turnout. Lots of people showed up. A couple of faces I haven’t seen in a little while, so it was great to see. Fun to see a couple of the newer kids that graduated recently, blending in some of the older crowd.
“It’s fun, they’re going to bring energy, they’re going to bring a little excitement, things like that. It’s always nice to blend that tradition together and come out with a win when they’re around.”
The 196.050 event score was a season high for the Sun Devils. With the victory, the Sun Devils improved to 3-1 and are ranked 27th in the latest College Gymnastics Association national rankings. BYU fell from No. 22 to No. 23.
The Sun Devils continue their Big 12 campaign in their next meet, at Utah on Jan. 30 at 7:00 p.m.
Be the first to comment