Salt Lake City, Utah — The University of Michigan women’s gymnastics team opened its 2026 season in historic fashion, shattering a program record on the balance beam to claim the Session 2 title at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad on Saturday night. Competing at the Maverik Center, the No. 14-ranked Wolverines posted a total score of 197.225, fending off challenges from No. 20 California (196.350), No. 6 Michigan State (196.225), and No. 9 Kentucky (194.925).

➡️  Sprouts Collegiate Quads 2nd session photos:  Sprouts 2nd session photos

The headline of the night was Michigan’s masterclass on the balance beam during the final rotation. Entering the event with a slim lead, the Wolverines exploded for a program-best 49.650, eclipsing the previous school record of 49.625 set in 2023. The rotation featured three spectacular 9.950s from freshman Quincy Walters, sophomore Ava Jordan, and junior Kayli Boozer, which allowed Michigan to pull away from a crowded field and secure their second consecutive victory at this annual showcase.

California finished as the runner-up, fueled by a dominant start on the uneven bars. The Golden Bears led the meet after the first rotation with a 49.425, led by Tonya Paulsson, who earned a share of the event title with a 9.950. Despite the hot start, Cal struggled to maintain that pace on the balance beam (48.850), which ultimately kept them from catching the surging Wolverines. Nevertheless, the Bears showed depth, with Kyen Mayhew delivering a 9.850 on vault to help secure second place.

Michigan State took third place in a performance that head coach Mike Rowe described as a solid foundation for the season. The Spartans remained within striking distance for much of the night, highlighted by Isabella Trostel’s 9.925 on beam and Naya Howard’s 9.925 on bars. While a few opening-night jitters on floor exercise (48.975) prevented them from climbing higher, their team total of 196.225 marked one of the best season-opening scores in program history.

Kentucky rounded out the field in fourth place with a 194.925, a score hampered by a difficult start on the balance beam where the Wildcats were forced to count a fall. Despite the team result, Kentucky celebrated significant individual wins. Junior Delaynee Rodriguez captured the all-around title with a 39.400, providing the high point of the night for the Wildcats, while Anna Flynn Cashion defended her vault title from the previous year with a session-best 9.875.

Throughout the evening, the competition was defined by high-level execution and a flurry of collegiate debuts. Michigan’s Quincy Walters was particularly impressive, not only contributing to the beam record but also placing second on floor with a 9.875 in her first NCAA appearance. The meet also saw the return of Michigan’s Reyna Guggino, who notched a 9.825 on vault after missing the entire 2025 season due to injury.

With this win, Michigan moves to 3-0 on the young season and firmly establishes itself as a contender in the national rankings. The Wolverines will look to carry this momentum into Big Ten play next week, while the rest of the field heads home to recalibrate after a high-energy start to the 2026 campaign in Utah.

Final Team Standings