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Bowling Green State University
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WESTERN MICHIGAN
Falcons Buck Broncos 189.300-189.075
January 20, 2007 | Gymnastics
Jan. 20, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - On Saturday night the Bowling Green State University gymnastics team clipped Mid-American Conference opponent Western Michigan 189.300-189.075. With this win the Falcons improve to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the MAC. Leading the way for the Orange and Brown was junior Jholeen Ponce, who finished third on vault (9.750), fifth on bars (9.350), and first on beam (9.825).
"Jholeen Ponce was our most outstanding performer tonight." head coach Dan Connelly said. "She did a great job on all three events. Also, I just can't say enough about Amber Brewer. She has really stepped it up and is becoming a great competitor. She also did great for us on all three events she competed in."
The Orange and Brown started the meet off with their best team score of the year. They posted a 48.450 on vault and were led by junior Jacque Bernhardt. She hit a solid routine, earning her a 9.800 and a tie for first. This was also her career best and tied her for eighth in Top Vault Performances of All-Time. She was followed by Ponce, and junior Ashlee deLeeuw, who finished fourth scoring a 9.675. For Ponce this was also a career best, beating her old score of 9.650.
Next up were the bars. DeLeeuw didn't skip a beat as she set a career best of 9.700 and a first place finish. Sophomore Katie Follett flipped to a fourth place finish with a 9.575, also a new career best. Following her was Ponce finishing fifth, and freshman Megan Chronister tied for sixth with a 9.300.
The Falcons captured first place in all four events and Ponce's 9.825 won the beam and gave her another career best. The freshmen followed her example as Amber Brewer took fourth (9.525), and Chronister placed fifth (9.500).
Heading onto the floor, the Orange and Brown found themselves only leading by .125 of a point. In a lineup consisting of four freshmen, Connelly hoped they have the impact he had been preparing them for. Fortunately, Brewer met his expectations head on. She danced her way through a flawless routine that earned her a 9.750 and a first place finish. Senior co-captain Allison Swafford got the crowd cheering along to her song and captured second with a 9.675. Freshman Morgan Balzer also had a great routine, scoring 9.600 to finish fourth.
Connelly was very pleased with his team's performance but knows there is still work to be done.
"Tonight there was some very great routines, and then there were some mental lapses. Both teams had a slow start, and then we just traded scores back and fourth. We knew it was going to come down to the end. We certainly have the competitors to compete with anyone; we just need to hit on all events.
The Falcons look to keep the winning going as they travel to Northern Illinois to compete with the Huskies on Sunday, January 28.
"Northern is a team that's about the same as we are. It's going to be a tough meet but if we practice hard this week, we should walk away with a win." Connelly said.
The meet will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET. BGSU will return home to face yet another MAC opponent, Ball State on Saturday February 3. That meet will be inside Eppler at 7:00 p.m.
Results
Bowling Green
Vault
Morgan Balzer 9.625
Jenna Wirtanen 9.500
Amber Brewer 9.600
Ashlee deLeeuw 9.675
Jacque Bernhardt 9.800
Jholeen Ponce 9.750
Bars
Megan Chronister 9.300
Katie Follett 9.575
Morgan Balzer 9.000
Jholeen Ponce 9.350
Ashlee deLeeuw 9.700
Sakura Tomita 8.975
Beam
Megan Chronister 9.500
Katie Follett 9.300
Amber Brewer 9.525
Jillian Stranges 8.725
Jholeen Ponce 9.825
Bethany Kenel 8.900
Floor
Allison Swafford 9.675
Rachel Gourley 9.000
Megan Chronister 8.850
Amber Brewer 9.750
Morgan Balzer 9.600
Jacque Bernhardt 8.800
