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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Picked To Finish Third
January 09, 2004 | Gymnastics
Jan. 9, 2004
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The coaches of the Mid-American Conference have made their selections, and the Bowling Green State University gymnastics team has been picked to finish third in the 2004 season. Kent State was projected to capture the regular season title, while Central Michigan is the favorite to win the 2004 tournament title.
Kent State returns nine letterwinners from 2003's MAC runner-up squad, including reigning MAC balance beam co-champion, junior April Zentko. KSU finished the 2003 regular season second in the league with a record of 10-10 overall and 5-1 in the MAC. At the 2003 conference championship, the Golden Flashes placed second.
Despite the loss of five seniors from 2003's title team, Central Michigan has been voted to finish second in the league's regular-season competition and repeat as MAC champions. CMU returns junior Kara Reighard, who captured three titles at the 2003 MAC Championship, including the all-around title by posting a conference-record 39.625. The Chippewas tallied a perfect league record of 6-0 in 2003 and an overall mark of 21-5, en route to a MAC title and an NCAA regional bid.
Fresh faces lead the conference's third-place selection, Bowling Green. With only three returning seniors and eight freshmen, the Falcons will be looking for a youthful advantage in 2004. BGSU posted a 2003 overall record of 4-14 and a league mark of 2-4 and finished fourth at the league championship.
Coming in fourth in the preseason poll is Northern Illinois, which returns both 2003 MAC Gymnast of the Year Kristina Campos and Freshman of the Year Ashlee Williams. The Huskies finished sixth at the 2003 MAC Championship and posted records of 9-12 overall and 3-3 in the MAC.
Finishing fifth in the poll is Eastern Michigan. The Eagles will look for leadership from senior Leah Hashimoto, a 2002 All-MAC honoree. Eastern Michigan tabbed a 2003 record of 6-10 overall and 2-4 in the MAC and finished third at the 2003 MAC Championship.
Tabbed to finish sixth during the regular season is Western Michigan. The Broncos graduated only one senior from last year's team and return all three of their regional participants. Senior Julia Haines-LaPenta, junior Tristin Thomas and sophomore Cherisse Marier are expected to lead the Broncos once again. Western Michigan tallied a 2003 record of 7-12, 1-5 in the MAC and finished fifth at the league championship.
Ball State wraps up the 2003 field, picked seventh by the coaching group. The Cardinals will look to their nine returning letterwinners, including seniors Cassie Anthony and Quiana Williams, to improve upon 2003's seventh-place conference meet finish. Anthony competed on the uneven bars at the 2003 Central Regional, while Williams served as a regional alternate. The Cardinals ended the 2003 season 8-16 overall, 2-4 in the MAC.
Bowling Green kicks-off their season on Wednesday night inside Eppler Complex when they host the Eastern Michigan Eagles at 7:00 p.m.
2004 Gymnastics Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Kent State 2. Central Michigan 3. Bowling Green 4. Northern Illinois 5. Eastern Michigan 6. Western Michigan 7. Ball StateMAC Champion:
Central Michigan
