Lansing Sun

Michigan State University gymnasts Sage Kellerman and Nikki Smith have been recognized with two of the first three Big Ten weekly gymnastics awards for the 2025 season. The announcement was made by the conference on Tuesday. Kellerman received the Specialist of the Week award, while Smith was named Gymnast of the Week.

The athletes contributed to Michigan State's victory over Western Michigan with a score of 196.850-194.675 during their season opener on January 4. This score marks MSU's highest-ever in a season-opening meet and ranks as the third-best in the NCAA for that weekend. The team also achieved notable rankings, including second-highest team vault score (49.400), seventh place on vault (49.150), sixth on beam (49.100), and third on floor (49.200).

Kellerman participated in both vault and bars events, scoring 9.925 and 9.850 respectively, securing second place in both categories. This recognition marks her fourth career B1G Specialist of the Week award.

Smith excelled by winning titles in vault (9.950), bars (9.875), and all-around (39.475) against Western Michigan, tying for second place on beam with a score of 9.850, and earning a 9.800 on floor exercise. Her vault score is currently tied for best in the NCAA this season so far, making this her third B1G Gymnast of the Week award and twelfth overall conference weekly honor.

Additionally, Minnesota's Ava Stewart was awarded Freshman of the Week by the conference.

Michigan State is set to compete against Florida, Nebraska, and Northern Illinois in Gainesville, Florida on Friday, January 10 at 6:45 p.m., with streaming available via SECN+.