Kent State and NIU Pick Up Conference Victories
Sunday's Results
Kent State 195.800, Bowling Green 194.075
Northern Illinois 195.700, Ball State 194.700
Western Michigan 195.025, Towson 193.100
Stories Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
Kent State
Results
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics team scored a season-high 195.800 and earned its first Mid-American Conference win of the season over Bowling Green. The all-around score is the highest score by a MAC team this season.
The Golden Flashes set season-highs in all four events: 48.975 on bars, 48.800 on vault, 49.050 on floor and 48.975 on beam.
The Flashes started on bars, where freshman Madison Trott and senior Dara Williams each recorded a career-high 9.850 to tie for the individual bars title. Junior Jade Brown also tied a career-high 9.800 and finished tied for fourth place. The 48.975 on bars is the highest score in the event by a MAC team this season.
On vault, Kent State was led by sophomore Abby Fletcher who achieved a career-high 9.850 and tied for first place. Junior Sarah McCarty tied a career-high 9.825 to finish in fourth place. Williams finished in fifth place.
For the second straight meet, the Flashes recorded a score better than 49.000 on the floor. This time the team scored a season-high 49.050.
Fletcher tied a season-high 9.875 and finished in third place, while McCarty recorded a season-high 9.850 to finish in fourth place.
Freshmen Cami Klein and Samantha Henry paced the Flashes on beam. Klein scored a career-high 9.850 to win the individual title, while Henry also posted a career-high score of 9.825 to finish in second place.
Senior Kennedy Plude recorded a 9.800 and finished tied for third.
Bowling Green was led by junior Jovannah East, who posted an all-around score of 38.800. East took home the individual floor title (9.975), tied for first on vault (9.850) and tied for third on beam (9.800).
Northern Illinois
Results
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team put together its best meet of the season across all four events to earn its highest overall score of the season – and tie for the sixth-highest total in school history – in a 195.700-194.700 victory over Ball State Sunday in Worthen Arena.
"We had a good day," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "We put a four-event meet together, and the last time we did that was probably in the season opener at Alabama. Last week we came close and today we kept getting better as the day progressed. Everyone worked really hard on being consistent, and they trust each other to get the job done."
For the second time this season, the NIU floor squad broke the school record for highest team total on that event as their total of 49.425 broke the mark of 49.375 set on January 27 in a tri-meet versus Bowling Green and UIC. All five NIU gymnasts scored a 9.850 or higher, led by anchor Anna Martucci (Clarkston, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes HS), who scored a season-high 9.950 on a gorgeous routine to win the floor exercise. Freshman Tara Kofmehl (Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain HS) contributed to the record-breaking total with her career-high score 9.900 on floor.
"We knocked it out of the park on floor," Morreale said. "It's no secret that's one of our best events, and the floor team is not done. They are driven to be even better. Today, we tumbled really well. Tara got a huge score, for her to come through as a freshman was awesome to see. Paige Nicholas started us off with a beautiful 9.85. Anna was outstanding like she always is, we've come to expect those kind of routines from her."
After trailing Ball State through the first two events, the Huskies' floor domination allowed them to overtake Ball State en route to the win, thanks to a solid performance on beam in the fourth rotation.
The Huskies had four scores of 9.700 or higher on beam and did not count a fall as they earned a 48.550, led by anchor Mia Lord (McCordsville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern HS) who contributed a team-best 9.775 to take second place. While beam was the one event where NIU did not earn a season-high team score, Morreale said he was impressed with how the Huskies finished the meet on that apparatus.
"I'm super proud of how we finished on beam, coming off that big floor performance it was really important to follow that up like we did," Morreale said. "Ball State is a good team and there was good competition. It definitely came down to the last rotation. It is a conference meet so getting the win keeps our regular season MAC Championship goal alive."
NIU opened the meet with a season-high 48.900 score on uneven parallel bars as freshman Morgan Hooper(Lincoln, Neb./St. Pius X HS) scored a career-best 9.875 to tie for first. The Huskies scored a 48.825 on vault, another season-high, with sophomore Gabby Welch (Greenbrier, Tenn./Aaron Academy [Home School]) leading the way with a 9.800 and Kofmehl and Cinny Lamberti (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake HS)both adding 9.775s.
The win over Ball State improves the Huskies' record 10-3 overall, 4-1 in the MAC.
Western Michigan
?Results
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan gymnastics team secured its second win of the season, posting a 195.025 to 193.100 victory over visiting Towson Sunday afternoon at University Arena. It was also the second time this year the Broncos totaled over a 195 as a final.
Western Michigan outscored Towson in each rotation and had the top individual in every event, as well as the all-around. WMU's best event score was on the uneven bars, coming in with a 48.975.
WMU had the top four scores on vault, as freshman Shailyn St. Brice took first with a 9.800, sophomore Morgan Spence and senior Rachael Underwood tied for second with a 9.750 and junior Taylor Buis placed fourth with a 9.725.
The Broncos went 1-2-3 on the uneven bars. Spence was the champion with a career-high 9.900. Junior Amelia Mohler was the runner-up with a 9.850, just ahead of sophomore Stacie Harrison's 9.825 in third.
Underwood was the winner on the balance beam, scoring a 9.875. Buis placed third with a 9.825. Underwood and Spence tied for first on the floor exercise, both recording a 9.825.
Spence was the all-around champion, totaling a career-high 39.1250.
Western Michigan is on the road for two weeks in a row. The Broncos travel to North Carolina State for a 7 p.m. meet on Feb. 22 and to Kent State for a 7 p.m. meet on March 1.
