Three Gymnastics Teams Compete on Saturday
Saturday's Results
Denver 196.175,
Central Michigan 193.250, Texas 190.200, Sacremento State 190.150
UIC 195.200,
Bowling Green 194.825
Oklahoma 197.000, North Carolina 195.150,
Ball State 193.600
Central Michigan
Results
DENVER -- The Central Michigan gymnastics team scored a season-low 193.250 on Saturday in placing second behind Denver in a nonconference quad at the Pioneers' Hamilton Gymnasium.
Denver, which is ranked eighth, won the meet with a 196.175 team score. Sacramento State and Texas Woman's tied for third with 190.150.
The Chippewas are 6-1 on the season. In finishing behind Denver, it was CMU's first loss of the season.
"I think there were several contributing factors," CMU coach Jerry Reighard said. "One thing we knew was going to happen was that the altitude affected us a lot more than we expected. We had really nice routines (on bars) until we got to the end and then we started making mistakes that made it seem like we're out of shape, and I know we're not."
The Chippewas' best-scoring event of the meet came in the first rotation when they posted a 48.475 on bars. CMU scored 48.150 on the floor exercise – they came in averaging 49.113, which was the ninth best nationally – in the event. The Chippewas scored 48.400 on vault and 48.225 on balance beam.
Bowling Green
Results
Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team made drastic improvements in its second meet of the year, tying a program record score in a home opener with 194.825 Saturday afternoon against UIC. But the Flames were slightly more consistent in scoring 195.200 to get the dual meet victory.
Bowling Green posted team scores of at least 49.000 on three events for the first time since the 2017 MAC Championships. The Falcons outscored the Flames on vault and beam and posted 49.025 on floor. But a 47.575 on bars was too much for BGSU to overcome. The Falcons' 49.175 on beam was the best event score of the day for either team.
Ball State
Results
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Ball State gymnastics team put together focused and competitive routines in three events and head coach Joanna Saleem noted the excitement of new faces in the lineup and a week of constant improvement while competing alongside the nation's top-ranked team in Oklahoma.
Sandra Elsadek, in her second career collegiate meet, competed in all four events. Kaitlyn Menzione, with an all-around score of 37.825, did as well and led Ball State in the floor routine (9.825). Rachel Benoit registered a beam routine scoring a team-best 9.825 and Marissa Nychyk was the team's best on the bars (9.700).
"I was super excited for Rachel's beam routine," Saleem said. "The last four on the team did a nice job and we started fairly strong on the floor. Honestly, we had three strong events. It was a lot to build on and our goal is to keep building each week."
Maddie Macdonald was BSU's best on the vault (9.725) and Saleem said the Cards were solid in that event.
Oklahoma, the No. 1 team in the nation, finished the tri meet with 197.000, placing 1-5 in three events. Host UNC, which Ball State has seen two weeks in a row, totaled 195.150 to BSU's 193.600.
Ball State has a short turnaround before competing again this week. Only two practice days and then it's off to Eastern Michigan for a dual meet Thursday, Jan. 24. Fans can follow on social media at @BallStateGym as well as the program's Facebook page.
