Michigan State senior gymnast Nikki Smith earned a trio of All-America honors at the 2026 NCAA Gymnastics Championships, the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) announced Friday morning. Smith was recognized as a First Team All-American on beam and in the all-around, becoming the first gymnast in program history to earn first-team All-America honors at the NCAA Championships on beam and first MSU gymnast to ever earn postseason All-America honors in the all-around. Smith also collected a second-team nod on floor.
Category: Gymnastics
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Kellerman, Ortiz, Smith Conclude Season at NCAA Gymnastics Championships
Michigan State gymnasts Sage Kellerman, Gabi Ortiz and Nikki Smith closed the 2026 season competing in the first semifinal session of the NCAA Gymnastics Championships Thursday afternoon inside Dickies Arena.
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Kellerman, Smith and Ortiz Set for NCAA Gymnastics Championships
Michigan State seniors Sage Kellerman and Nikki Smith alongside junior Gabi Ortiz will head to Fort Worth, Texas, to compete as individuals at the NCAA Championships in the first of two semifinals on Thursday, April 16 at 4:30 p.m. ET inside Dickies Arena.
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Michigan State Athletics Announces Mike Rowe Contract Extension
Michigan State athletics announced a three-year contract extension for head gymnastics coach Mike Rowe Friday. With the extension, Rowe’s contract now runs through 2029. “Under Mike Rowe’s leadership, Michigan State has grown into one of the best women’s gymnastics programs in both the Big Ten Conference and nationally,” said Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics J Batt.
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Three Spartans Earn Individual Spots at NCAA Gymnastics Championships
Michigan State seniors Sage Kellerman and Nikki Smith and junior Gabi Ortiz have qualified for the 2026 NCAA Gymnastics Championships and will represent the Spartans in Fort Worth, Texas, inside Dickies Arena on April 16, the NCAA announced Monday. Smith qualified as an all-around competitor, while Kellerman earned spots on both vault and bars and Ortiz will compete on floor.
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No. 11 Spartans Finish Third in NCAA Tempe Regional Final
Making its fifth-straight regional final appearance, No. 11 Michigan State gymnastics scored a 197.000 to finish third in the NCAA Tempe Regional Saturday evening inside Arizona State’s Desert Financial Arena. MSU concludes the season with a 24-8 record and nine team scores of 197.000 or better in 2026.
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Smith’s Perfect 10.000 Sends No. 11 Spartans to Fifth-Straight NCAA Regional Final
Behind three stuck vaults and a 10.000 from Nikki Smith in the final rotation, 11th-seeded Michigan State gymnastics scored a 197.350 to secure a come-from-behind victory and advance to its fifth-straight regional final Thursday afternoon in the second round of the NCAA Tempe Regional inside Arizona State’s Desert Financial Arena.
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No. 11 Spartans Set for NCAA Tempe Regional
No. 11 seed Michigan State gymnastics travels to Tempe, Arizona, for the second round of the NCAA Tempe Regional on Thursday, April 2 inside Arizona State’s Desert Financial Arena. The Spartans are making their fifth-straight NCAA Regional appearance and will take on No. 6 seed Georgia, BYU and Southern Utah at 4 p.m. ET. All NCAA Regionals will stream on ESPN+.
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Three Spartans Collect WCGA Regular Season All-America Honors
Michigan State gymnastics seniors Sage Kellerman and Nikki Smith alongside junior MaKayla Tucker combined for four Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Regular Season All-America honors, the organization announced Monday. For the third-consecutive season, Kellerman earned First Team All-America honors on vault, while Smith is a first-team honoree on floor and second-team selection in the all-around. Tucker joined Smith as a Second Team All-American in the all-around for her first-career All-America nod.
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Gymnastics Earns Bid to NCAA Tempe Regional
the fifth-straight season, Michigan State gymnastics earned a bid to the NCAA Gymnastics Regionals and will head to Tempe, Arizona, to compete in the NCAA Tempe Regional beginning Thursday, April 2 at 4 p.m. ET. The meet will take place on the campus of Arizona State at Desert Financial Arena.
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Spartans Finish Second at Big Ten Gymnastics Championships
No. 11 Michigan State gymnastics scored a 197.475 to finish second, its fifth-straight conference meet top-two finish, at the Big Ten Championships Saturday evening inside Illinois’ State Farm Center. UCLA won the meet with a 198.100, while Minnesota finished third with a 196.900 and Michigan scored a 196.800 to place fourth. With its second-place finish, MSU moves to 20-6 overall on the season.
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Four Spartans Earn All-Big Ten Gymnastics Honors
Four Michigan State gymnasts were named to 2026 Women’s Gymnastics All-Big Ten teams, the conference announced Wednesday afternoon. MSU earned three first-team selections – seniors Sage Kellerman and Nikki Smith and junior MaKayla Tucker – while senior Olivia Zsarmani was named Second Team All-Big Ten. The Spartans’ three first-team selections are tied for the most with UCLA.
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Nikki Smith Named Finalist for Prestigious AAI Award
Michigan State gymnastics senior Nikki Smith has been named a finalist for the 2026 American Athletic Inc. (AAI) Award, given to the most outstanding senior gymnast in the country. Smith is one of seven finalists, announced Wednesday by the organization. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan native was chosen as a finalist out of 45 nominees by NCAA head coaches. She is the first AAI Award finalist in program history.
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Smith’s Perfect 10.000 Lifts No. 11 Spartans to Win Over Brown on Senior Day
Behind a perfect 10.000 from Nikki Smith on floor, 11th-ranked Michigan State gymnastics earned a 197.500-194.750 victory over Brown Sunday on Senior Day inside Jenison Field House Sunday afternoon. MSU moves to 10-5 overall with the win, while Brown drops to 13-7-1. MSU’s 197.500 is its highest home score of the season and third-highest score of the season overall.
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No. 11 Michigan State Hosts Brown for Senior Day
No. 11 Michigan State gymnastics hosts Brown on Sunday, March 15 at 2 p.m. inside Jenison Field House for its final meet ahead of the Big Ten Championships. The meet will serve as the Spartans’ Senior Day and will honor MSU’s six seniors – Elle Beaufait, Naya Howard, Sage Kellerman, Stephanie Lebster, Nikki Smith and Olivia Zsarmani. Sunday’s meet will stream on B1G+.
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Smith Named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week
Nikki Smith was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week, as announced by the conference on Tuesday afternoon. The award is MSU’s first Gymnast of the Week honor from the conference this season and fourth weekly award overall for the Spartans in 2026 after seniors Sage Kellerman (Feb. 3, Feb. 17) and Olivia Zsarmani (Feb. 24) earned Specialist of the Week honors. With Tuesday’s nod, Smith is now a six-time Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honoree in her career.
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No. 11 Spartans Earn Season-High 197.700 in Win at No. 17 Auburn
No. 11 Michigan State gymnastics posted a season-high team overall score to earn a 197.700-196.975 win over No. 17 Auburn Friday night inside Auburn’s Neville Arena. MSU moves to 9-5 overall with the win, while Auburn drops to 2-9. The Spartans’ 197.700 is the eighth-best score in program history.
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No. 11 Gymnastics Heads to The Plains to Take on No. 17 Auburn
No. 11 Michigan State gymnastics travels to Alabama to take on No. 17 Auburn on Friday, March 6 at 8 p.m. ET inside Auburn’s Neville Arena. The meet will stream on SEC Network+ with Jeff Shearer (play-by-play) and Toi Garcia (analyst) on the call.
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No. 11 Spartans Close B1G Action at Big Four Meet Sunday
No. 11 Michigan State gymnastics wraps up conference action on Sunday, March 1 at the Big Four Meet, facing host and 13th-ranked Minnesota, Illinois and Rutgers at 4 p.m. ET inside Maturi Pavillion. The Spartans will start on bars and finish on vault. Sunday’s meet will air nationally on the Big Ten Network with Dean Linke (play-by-play) and Olivia Karas (analyst) on the call.