STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford finished its 2020 campaign ranked No. 26 nationally, posting a national qualifying score of 195.990 prior to a cancellation of the Pac-12 Championships during a season that was shortened by the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Cardinal remained a fixture in the top-30 of the national rankings despite multiple injuries to key gymnasts and several underclassmen embracing key roles in the lineup. Stanford produced a season-high 196.725 on March 6 at Utah, improving its score for the third straight week during an impressive late-season surge.
Rankings and TitlesStanford's top event was floor, ranking No. 19 nationally at 49.255 as the Pac-12's sixth-best program. The Cardinal also concluded the season ranked No. 26 on beam (49.040), No. 27 on bars (49.045) and No. 31 on vault (48.950).
Four of Stanford's six event titles in 2020 came on floor: at Utah on March 6, vs. Arizona State on March 2, vs. California on Feb. 16 and at the NorCal Classic on Jan. 12. The Cardinal also produced meet-high scores on beam (at Oklahoma on Feb. 21) and bars (at Oregon State on Feb. 2).
Meanwhile, Stanford gymnasts collected 14 individual event crowns, with Kyla Bryant accounting for 12. Grace Waguespack (bars at Utah) and Chloe Widner (beam vs. Arizona State) also contributed event titles.
Bryant's Breakthrough YearKyla Bryant was named a Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Second Team All-American on floor. Bryant is the 34th All-American in school history and first since Elizabeth Price in 2018.
Bryant was also named an All-Pac-12 First Team selection on floor and all-around, becoming one of only seven gymnasts to earn conference recognition in multiple categories.
Bryant concluded her season ranked 11th on floor by posting a NQS of 9.925. Bryant's personal-best 9.975 routine against Arizona State on March 2 fueled Stanford to its best floor score in 16 years. Bryant finished with seven floor routines of 9.900 or better and captured four event titles.
Bryant's all-around NQS of 39.375 ranked 17th nationally and she totaled a career-best 39.550 in the final meet of the regular season at Utah on March 5.
Bryant continued her overall development as a junior, also producing career-high totals on vault (9.900), bars (9.950) and beam (9.925).
Widner's Impressive DebutChloe Widner enjoyed an impressive freshman campaign, totaling season-high scores of 9.900 or higher on three routines while competing in the all-around five times.
Widner's 9.925 at Oklahoma was Stanford's highest beam score of the season, matching Kyla Bryant's mark at Utah. Widner also achieved season-best scores of 9.900 on vault and floor.
Widner made an immediate impact for the Cardinal, earning Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Week honors on Jan. 7 following her debut at the Collegiate Challenge. Widner scored 9.8 or higher in every event, including a season-best 9.825 on bars and 39.325 in the all-around.
Bright Spot Against The Best
Despite falling 197.650-196.000 to No. 1 Oklahoma at the Perfect 10 Challenge in Oklahoma City on Feb. 21, Stanford produced one of its best performances of the season.
Squaring off against the nation's top-ranked program on a neutral-site stage at the Cox Convention Center, the Cardinal closed the meet with confidence and captured an event crown in the final rotation. Stanford delivered a 49.275 on beam, besting Oklahoma's mark of 49.225, joining Michigan as the only opponents to outperform the Sooners on beam in 2020.
Chloe Widner's career-high 9.925 paced Stanford, which showcased its depth by owning four of the top six marks on beam overall. Ashley Tai (9.875) established a season-best total while Kyla Bryant (9.850) and Taylor Lawson (9.850) were right behind.
Best Floor Score Since 2004Fueled by its best floor score in 16 years, Stanford closed out its final home meet with a dynamic performance despite falling 196.575-195.975 to Arizona State on March 2.
Trailing early, the Cardinal exploded for a 49.625 score on floor during its final rotation. It was Stanford's highest floor total since Feb. 20, 2004, when the Cardinal produced a 49.925 in a dominating dual victory over California. Stanford's lineup that night included 10's from Caroline Fluhrer, Lise Leveille and Lindsay Wing, in addition to a 9.975 from Jessica Louie and 9.950 from Natalie Foley.
Fittingly on Senior Night, it was Kaylee Cole leading off and igniting Stanford's showcase with a career-best 9.900 in her final performance on The Farm. Chloe Widner followed by matching her season best at 9.900 before Morgan Hoang (9.925), Kyla Bryant (9.975) and Taylor Lawson (9.925) each followed with consecutive personal-best routines.
Bryant, who captured the all-around crown at 39.500, opened the night with a career-best 9.900 to claim the vault title. Grace Garcia produced a team-high 9.875 on bars, keeping the Cardinal within striking distance halfway through the meet.
Following the meet, Cole, Ashley Tai and Aleeza Yu were honored in a Senior Night ceremony.
Eight Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll Selections Stanford was well represented with eight student-athletes qualifying for the 2020 Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll.
Earning recognition were Madison Brunette, Kaylee Cole, Rachael Flam, Grace Garcia, Morgan Hoang, Ashley Tai, Grace Waguespack and Aleeza Yu.
The Winter Academic Honor Roll includes student-athletes who participated in the conference-sponsored sports of men's and women's basketball, women's gymnastics, men's and women's swimming and diving and wrestling. Any student-athlete with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or above who has served at least one year in residence at Stanford is eligible for the recognition.Sophomore Madison Brunette
- Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
- Pac-12 Coaches' Choice of the Week (Jan. 23) Junior Kyla Bryant
- WGCA Second Team All-American (floor)
- All-Pac-12 First Team selection (floor, all-around) Senior Kaylee Cole
- Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll Junior Rachael Flam
- Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll Junior Grace Garcia
- Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll Sophomore Morgan Hoang
- Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll Junior Taylor Lawson
- Pac-12 Coaches' Choice of the Week (Jan. 30)
- Pac-12 Coaches' Choice of the Week (Feb. 19) Senior Ashley Tai
- Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll Sophomore Grace Waguespack
- Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll Freshman Chloe Widner
- Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Week (Jan. 7) Senior Aleeza Yu
- Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll