LetsGoDU: Records Fall as Denver Gymnastics Hits 198!

On 2/4/24, Denver gymnastics faced off against Towson at Magness Arena for a win 198.0 to 195.6.

Denver is joined by just five other teams in the NCAA who have hit 198 points this season! A score of 198 is an average score of 9.9 for every counted score on every event. What’s most surprising, is that of the six teams who have hit 198, only LSU is in the SEC. (The SEC judges are known to throw out 10.0s like candy at a parade.) This is only the second time in program history that DU has hit the astronomical 198 mark, the first being last March, also at home, also in a dual meet versus Towson.

At this meet, Denver hit an all-time bars team record of 49.75. Three team members hit career high individual scores of 9.975: Kylie Rorich, Mia Hebinck, and Jessica Hutchinson. A 9.975 means one of the two judges gave each gymnast a perfect 10, and the other judge gave a 9.95. Rylie Mundell also got a 10 from one judge, but the second judge gave a 9.85. I’m honestly not sure what that second judge watched during Rylie’s routine. It was a huge day on bars for DU and the sky-high scores were well earned. This event was the biggest reason that DU hit that 198 team total.

Denver also hit a season high team score of 49.35 on vault. And a season high team score of 49.425 on beam. Senior Rosie Casali hit a career-high all-around score of 39.325. Senior Rylie Mundell continues to improve, hitting a season-high all-around score of 39.6.

This 198 was achieved without Bella Mabanta, who was with the team in Magness in a boot. This season the team is also without Ava Mabanta and Cecilia Cooley, both injured.

A little concerning were the amount of athletes with braces and wearing athletic tape, dealing with one kind of injury or another. Hopefully all of these gymnasts can heal as the season progresses and keep putting up the huge scores. DU’s 198 today was real and a deserved team score. The team and performances we saw today will lead Denver back to Nationals for sure. …if they can stay healthy.

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