2024 Gym Devils Season Recap

The 2024 Sun Devil Gymnastics team had another successful season under eighth-year head coach Jay Santos. With the leadership of nine seniors and graduate students, the Gym Devils made a name for themselves.

Season Summary

Arizona State (8-5, 4-3, Pac-12) finished the season ranked No. 16 on Road to Nationals, which was the second-consecutive year in the top 20 and seventh-straight season ending in the top 25. The Gym Devils earned a spot in the postseason for the sixth-straight season, seven including the canceled 2020 postseason that the team was set to qualify for. Head coach Jay Santos has been at the helm for each of those seasons. After finishing in the top two in the second round at the California Regional, ASU moved on to the regional finals for the second-straight year and the third time in the last four years. Two Gym Devils qualified as individuals to the NCAA Championships in Jada Mangahas (bars) and Anaya Smith (vault). Smith scored a 9.9375 on the biggest stage to be the national runner-up and earn First Team All-America status, the first All-American on vault since 2010.

The Gym Devils put together a solid regular season, remaining in the top 25 with an NQS of 196.920. The team finished the regular season with a winning record for the third-consecutive season, the longest such streak since the early 2000s. ASU hasn't had a losing record since 2017.  The season high of 197.600 came on senior night against Southern Connecticut, which is the 11th-highest team score in ASU history. The beam score of 49.550 at that meet is tied for the sixth-highest in ASU history, the highest the Sun Devils have earned since 2007. At Southern Utah, the Gym Devils scored a 49.475 on vault, which is the eighth-highest vault score in team history.

Arizona State has had 13-straight meets of 196-plus, three of which were over 197. ASU scored at least a 49.000 on all four events in 11-straight meets. The vault streak is up to 24 in a row with 49-plus, extending the program record. Additionally, the bars streak is up to 23 in a row, adding to that program record. On beam, the streak is up to 11 in a row, which is also an ASU record. The team finished the regular season winning five of the last six meets, one of which being an upset over No. 10 UCLA at home. At the final Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships, the Gym Devils finished in sixth with 196.550, which is the fifth-highest team score at a conference championship in ASU history.

Individual Success

Earning All-America status for the first time in her career, senior Anaya Smith had a spectacular final season. She was ranked in the top 20 on vault all season and earned a spot on the All-Pac-12 Vault First Team. She had seven event titles and eight scores of 9.9-plus, one of which was at the NCAA Championships. She qualified as an individual after winning the California Regional vault title with a 9.900. At nationals, she scored a 9.9375 to place second and earn a First Team All-America nod.

Senior Emily White was a strong and steady force for the team all season. On senior night, she earned three 9.950s on bars, beam, and floor and set a new career high all-around record with a 39.625, which is the 15th highest all-around record in program history. She led the team in event titles with seven and returned to the all-around in the last part of the year. She had 13 scores of 9.9 or better this season, six coming from floor, four on beam and one on bars. Once this season, she was the Pac-12 Coaches Choice of the Week.

A pair of seniors were key for the Gym Devils. Sarah Clark was on bars and beam all season, earning five event titles. She's had eight scores of 9.9 or better, with a 9.950 on bars being her best. Clark was the Pac-12 Specialist of the Week once this season. In the all-around, Jada Mangahas was a strong gymnast for the Gym Devils all season. Her best all-around total was a 39.450 and she had seven scores of 9.9-plus and four event titles.

In her final season of a decorated career, graduate Hannah Scharf ended on a solid note. She was only in the all-around six times, but she made her presence known on vault, beam and floor all year. She had 10 9.9s or better and five event titles.

Many other Gym Devils contributed to the team's success this season. Seniors Cienna Samiley and Cassi Barbanente were bars specialists all season. Graduate Gracie Reeves was consistently in the vault and beam lineups, seeing a lot of time on bars as well. Junior Alex Theodorou was a vault specialist before having to miss the last five meets. Additionally, sophomores Kayla Lee and Kimberly Smith were in the lineups all season. Lee led off on beam and floor all year while Smith was in every floor lineup and made some appearances on beam as well. Finally, freshman Halle Gregoire made a statement with her vault and her floor routine, competing those all year. 

Awards

Anaya Smith’s First Team All-America honor highlights the awards the team received this season. She also was First Team All-Pac-12 on vault for the second time in her career. There were two weekly award winners: Clark (specialist) and White (coaches choice). 

The Gym Devils had 34 total event titles this season, with the most coming from vault (13). Individually, White and Anaya Smith had the most with seven. Others with titles are Clark (5), Scharf (5), Mangahas (4), Halle Gregoire (2), Alex Theodorou (2), Kayla Lee (1) and Gracie Reeves (1).

The senior experience on this team was vast, with seven seniors and two graduates. Of the 34 event titles, 29 were from seniors and graduates. 

In the academic world, 12 were named to the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll.

Looking Ahead

Though the team will lose six seniors and graduates, three seniors announced their return for a fifth year in 2025: Clark, Mangahas and White will all be coming back next season. Between them, they have 26 scores of 9.9 or better this year, led by 12 from White. They also have 16 combined event titles in 2024.

Other contributors returning in 2025 are junior Alex Theodorou, sophomores Kimberly Smith and Kayla Lee, and freshmen Halle Gregoire and Lilia Purler. Arizona State has also signed three freshmen: Nina Laurito, Tiara Platkin and Jenna Timmons.