Falcons Show Big Improvement at Utah State Tri-Meet
Results
LOGAN, Utah – The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team improved their cumulative team score by 2.550 points and earned their first 49.000-or-better event score of the season, as the Falcons competed in a tri-meet at Utah State University on Friday, Jan. 13. The meet also included North Carolina State, who is currently ranked 16th nationally.
BGSU began with the uneven bars for the second straight meet, but this week's result was markedly different. At Penn State, the Falcons suffered multiple falls on the apparatus, which resulted in a paltry team mark of 46.225. There were no falls this time, and Laura Mitchell tied for second in the event with a 9.825. Senior Rachel Reis added a 9.800 after leading the team on bars last week (9.750).
The Falcons' success set a much more positive tone for the meet while continuing to provide areas on which to build for the remainder of the season.
"Today, I saw a steady improvement from the team. I am not satisfied with the performance, but I did see a team effort and the desire to improve under pressure," said BGSU head coach Kerrie Turner. "I expect this momentum to continue as we face new challenges each week. The team has gained valuable experience competing on the road. I feel returning home to Anderson Arena will be a great opportunity to improve next weekend."
The second rotation brought Bowling Green to the balance beam, where they were once again led by their newcomers. Last week, freshman Jovannah East (9.825) and junior transfer India McPeak (9.800) provided the heroics. Against the Aggies and Wolfpack, McPeak again had a good routine that resulted in a 9.775. This time, she was joined by freshman Taylor Worthington. Worthington's 9.750 established a new career high.
BGSU operated short-handed on their third event, the floor exercise. Customarily, teams employ six gymnasts per event so they can drop the lowest score, but the Falcons only had five available for the floor in this meet. All five scores were counted as a result; however, the team was still able to secure a 47.850. Victoria Heath led the effort with a 9.750, while Morris and Kayla Rose added a pair of 9.700s.
The Falcons vaulted in the final rotation and saved their very best for last. The team achieved a meet-best 49.050, and four individuals posted scores of 9.800 or better. Heath tied her career best mark in any event and won the vault with a 9.875. Fellow senior Lauren Feely (9.850) took second place. East and Morris continued the torrid start by Falcon freshmen by each posting 9.800 marks. Worthington added a 9.725.
Bowling Green's class of newcomers is quickly becoming a centerpiece for the team. East's 9.800 on vault gave her three scores of 9.775 or better in four career events. Morris improved her score in the floor exercise and added vault and bars to her list of events. Worthington had significant gains on her scores in vault (9.725) and beam (9.750), while McPeak again impressed on the beam.
These new contributions come in addition to the standards set by the team veterans. Heath and Kayla Rose had top-ten scores on the floor, while Mitchell and Reis were the team's top two scorers on the bars. A pair of seniors, Heath and Feely, finished 1-2 on vault.
Overall, the Falcons finished third of the three teams in the meet with their 193.275. Meet host Utah State won with a 195.400, while North Carolina State finished second at 193.900.
BGSU returns to action at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21 with their home opener against Illinois State. It will be the team's first dual meet of the season and the first of five home meets at Anderson Arena in 2017.
