Larissa Fontaine

Stanford Rallies for First Victory of the Season

No. 13 Cardinal topple Pac-10 rival and 19th-ranked Arizona

Jan. 30, 1998

Stanford, Calif. - In a meet which saw the lead change after every rotation, the 13th-ranked Stanford women's gymnastics team rallied from a .625 deficit entering the final rotation to defeat No. 19 Arizona 192.850-192.025.

The Cardinal's total score was a season-high and marked the third straight meet in which it improved its score. With the win, Stanford improved to 1-2 overall and 1-2 in the Pac-10 while the loss dropped Arizona to 1-5 overall and to 0-2 in the Pac-10.

Arizona led after the first rotation, scoring 48.425 on the bars while Stanford tallied a 48.200 on the vault. Sparked by a very strong and consistent performance on the bars, in which four of the five Stanford scorers recorded a 9.75 or better, the Cardinal took over a narrow lead at the halfway mark (96.900-96.300).

Despite a season-high performance on the beam (47.225), Stanford lost the lead after the third rotation and the teams switched for their final events with the GymCats leading 144.600-144.125. Back-to-back stellar floor routines by senior co-captain Keri Monahan (Laurel Springs, NJ/Paul VI HS) and sophomore Sarah Harding (Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) led the Cardinal comeback and delivered the team to its inaugural win under first-year head coach Mark Cook. Monahan scored a 9.800 while Harding turned in a meet and career-high 9.825.

"It feels real good," said Stanford head coach Mark Cook. "With all due respect, it felt real good to beat my old coach. The team is really beginning to jell and we are consistently getting better. Even though we still had to count a fall on the beam, I am very proud of our performance and mindset."

Results:
Stanford     192.850
Arizona      192.025

Vault
1.   Keri Monahan (Stanford)     9.725
     Larissa Fontaine (Stanford) 9.725
3.   Amy Murakami (Stanford)     9.700

Bars
1.   Kara Fry (Arizona)      9.775
     Keri Monahan (Stanford) 9.775
3.   Amy Murakami (Stanford) 9.750

Beam
1.   Larissa Fontaine (Stanford) 9.700
2.   Rose McLaughlin (Arizona)   9.675
3.   Cami Banholzer (Arizona)    9.575

Floor
1.   Sarah Harding (Stanford)   9.825
2.   Keri Monahan (Stanford)    9.800
3.   Tenli Poggemeyer (Arizona) 9.775