You could see this coming a few months ago. Michigan State's men's hockey team and women's gymnastics team were both slicing through their Big Ten competition, on a crash course for a championship Saturday in March.
A championship Saturday where both finales would be played on MSU's campus, less than 1,000 feet apart -- gymnastics at Jenison Field House, hockey at Munn Ice Arena.
And that's exactly what happened.
Michigan State's Athletic Department was ready. The facilities team. The communications team. Dozens upon dozens of workers making sure that everything would go off without a hitch. Even Athletic Director Alan Haller was involved, seen applying extra tape to the steps heading up to the beam apparatus before the gymnastics evening session started.
Finally, it was time for the Spartan athletes to execute.
And it was on the north side of Kalamazoo St. that the action started in a packed Jenison Field House.
After Rotation 1 (floor for MSU):
Michigan State 49.575
Minnesota 49.375
Michigan 49.275
Ohio State 49.225
After Rotation 2 (vault for MSU):
Michigan State 98.950
Minnesota 98.800
Michigan 98.650
Ohio State 98.650
The Spartans headed off to the uneven bars, knowing that they would need some strong performances to fend off the overperforming Minnesota team.
MSU led after three rotations, but the question remained -- will it be enough?
Michigan was the No. 4 floor exercise in the nation and would likely make up ground.
After three rotations:
MSU 148.325
Minn 148.275
OSU 147.800
UM 147.800
But had the Wolverines dug themselves too deep of a hole?
The Gophers nipping at the Spartans heels, but they had vault up next.
The Spartans controlled their own destiny, as long as they could put up a good score on beam.
Things did not start off well for Michigan State, though, and the pressure was on.
In order to win the championship, the Spartans would need to put up five solid-to-spectacular beam performances in a row.
One by one, they took their turn.
MaKayla Tucker -- 9.825
Delanie Harkness -- 9.750
Safe scores, but they weren't going to cut it with a 9.250 sitting on the Michigan State scoreboard, needing to be removed by five higher beam scores.
Skyla Schulte doing what she does -- 9.900
Things were looking promising. MSU needed to average just under a 9.900 for each of its last two gymnasts.
But if either one of them fell off the beam, it would be over for the Spartans. There would be no way to make up the gap.
Then Baleigh Garcia posted the highest Spartan beam score of the night -- a 9.925.
Michigan State was in the driver's seat. It would come down to the final beam performance of the night.
And, since every other apparatus was done, all eyes in Jenison Field House were on Gabi Stephen as she took to the beam.
She did put up a good score -- 9.875 -- and when it flashed on the screen the Spartans knew the championship was theirs.
The celebration began.
Skyla Schulte was the all-around champion for the Big Ten Championships.
The Spartans had the best team -- and the best gymnast overall.
Then it was time for fans and media to make the quick 5-minute walk over to Munn Ice Arena. Another Big Ten Championship was on the line.
It was the Spartans and the Wolverines, again.
This time for the Big Ten Ice Hockey Tournament Championship.
Michigan had gotten on the board quickly and led 1-0 before everyone had a chance to find their seats.
The Spartans were able to find the equalizer, though.
Then the Spartans took the lead.
Things were looking up.
Unbelievably, the rest of the second period would feature two more goals by the Wolverines and two more goals by the Spartans.
In quick order.
Michigan tied the score at 4 with 17:06 left in the game.
A Munn Ice Arena capacity crowd of 6,555 was on the edge of their seat as MSU continued to have chances but were unable to retake the lead.
In fact, neither team would find the net and the championship game would head to overtime. First goal wins everything. It was going to end suddenly, one way or another.
And then it happened.
The Spartans put one home and Munn Ice Arena got loud.
It was quite the night in East Lansing. You couldn't have two more disparate sports happening at the same time, with the conference stakes as high as they could be for both of them.
Two separate Big Ten Championships earned less than five hours apart.
Confetti flying, horns blaring, fight song being sung.
Students dancing, athletes celebrating.
On this night, it was the Spartan gymnasts and the Spartan hockey players who both made history, each team winning their first ever Big Ten postseason championship.
Conference championship banners will hang in perpetuity in both Jenison and Munn -- and they were earned on the same night, on March 23, 2024.
Champions, the both of them.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Join the discussion on this article in our premium forums by clicking here.
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Threads, TikTok, and Instagram.
For video content, including our Red Cedar Radar podcast, find us on YouTube and consider subscribing.