Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Kent State
The Golden Flashes' night shines bright as they down the Falcons.
March 03, 2006 | Gymnastics
March 3, 2006
KENT, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team was hoping to upset the Golden Flashes from Kent State University Friday night, however KSU was too much as they downed the Orange and Brown 190.550-193.550. The Falcons were led by Jessica Guyer and Bethany Kenel. The Falcons continue to improve on the road as they record a season high team score of 190.550.
"Tonight the team did a great job," said head coach Dan Connelly. "It's nice to see them do what they are capable of doing." Assistant coach Kerrie Beach was also very pleased with the team's performance.
"The big change tonight was we could see it in their faces. They were alive and they were that way throughout the whole meet".
The Orange and Brown started the meet on the frightful bars. At first glance things seemed to be going down hill. The first two performers struggled and the team had some making up to do. Jenna Wirtanen stepped up to the call as she nailed her routine marking a season best, 9.325. Wirtanen's performance would set the stage for the rest of the team to follow. Ashlee deLeeuw stuck her landing and threw her fists in the air as she recorded a season high and career high, 9.650. Jessica Bradley would lead the team on bars placing fourth with another season best 9.675, and Jholeen Ponce also perform a sold routine to again break a season best and receive a 9.625.
The vault continues to be where the team excels as they marked a 47.950. Vault was led by Jessica Guyer who received a 9.800 by one judge but averaged a 9.725. She would take second, while Allison Swafford continues to be a solid performer placing third with a 9.600. After the two events the team was down by only a point.
The floor would see only one Falcon finish in the top five, as Guyer grabbed a fifth place finish with a 9.750. Unfortunately for the Falcons the Golden Flashes best performer Amy Cucinotta receive a 9.925 followed by Laci Hendress who received a 9.875.
The beam which has been a questionable event for the team this season was their second strongest event tonight. Bethany Kenel who has been quiet in the last few weeks showed up with a bang as she landed a 9.800 and won the event. Unfortunately all of Kent's girls scored 9.600 or higher on the beam the Falcons saw the meet slip away as they would lose by three.
Next week the will be the last of the regular season road trip as the team travels to Williamsburg, Virginia to meet up against William and Mary. The meet will be Friday March 10 at 7:00 p.m. They will then return home close the season as they host Eastern Michigan on senior night. That meet is scheduled to be on Friday March 17 at 7:00 p.m. Connelly was not only pleased with his teams improvement but very optimistic about the next three weeks. "Tonight's performances really set the stage heading into the last three weeks including the Mid America Conference championships. If we can get a few little things together we will have a good shot at MACs"
Bowling Green State University
Bars
Jessica McArthur 8.925
Jayme Stambaugh 8.150
Jenna Wirtanen 9.325
Ashlee deLeeuw 9.650
Jessica Bradley 9.675
Jholeen Ponce 9.625
Vault
Jillian Stranges 9.525
Jessica McArthur 9.275
Jacquelyn Bernhardt 9.525
Jayme Stambaugh 9.575
Jessica Guyer 9.725
Allison Swafford 9.600
Floor
Marissa Saneholtz 8.800
Jenna Wirtanen 9.425
Jillian Stranges 9.075
Allison Swafford 9.600
Jacquelyn Bernhardt 9.675
Jessica Guyer 9.750
Beam
Jholeen Ponce 9.450
Jessica Bradley 9.550
Jillian Stranges 9.400
Allison Swafford 9.500
Jessica Guyer 9.575
Bethany Kenel 9.800
Kent State University
Vault
Shawntelle Thompson 9.350
Jill Kowalski 9.475
Kristen Peters 9.500
Amy Cucinotta 8.900
Stacy Kalberg 9.575
Carrie Mayle 9.750
Bars
Shawntelle Thompson 9.600
Stacy Kalberg 8.775
Carrie Mayle 9.600
Jill Huynh 9.700
Jill Kowalski 9.775
Kristen Peters 9.825
Beam
Laci hendress 9.600
Amy Presan 9.625
Amy Cucinotta 9.625
Kristen Peters 9.675
Jill Kowalski 9.650
Carrie Mayle 9.750
Floor
Jill Kowalski 9.775
Ashley Giannini 9.725
Jill Huynh 9.775
Laci Hendress 9.825
CArrie Mayle 9.725
Amy Cucinotta 9.925
