Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Falcons Make it Two in A Row With A Win Over the Huskies
January 28, 2007 | Gymnastics
Jan. 28, 2007
DEKALB, Illinois - The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team made it two in a row against Mid-American Conference opponents as they defeated Northern Illinois 190.200-188.225. This score marks the highest on the season for the Orange and Brown. It was a team effort as seven different Falcons finished in the top five in all four events. Leading the way was junior Jholeen Ponce, who finished first on vault (9.825) and first on beam (9.675). For the second week in a row she broke her career high on vault, which was set last week at 9.750.
"Jholeen had another great night for us tonight. She hit big on vault, and her beam score helped us get the win." Head coach Dan Connelly said.
Connelly was also very pleased about how his team handled the visitors' fans. "When we were heading to floor the fans became very loud, and our captains pulled the team together. They realized that they needed to hit on floor, and I think that conference made the difference because we had our best floor score of the year tonight."
The Falcons recorded their second best bars score with a 47.075. After having a difficult time last week, senior co-captain Sakura Tomita finished first with a score of 9.700. Following her in fourth was freshman Morgan Balzer, Ashlee deLeeuw in fifth (9.525), and Megan Chronister in sixth (9.400). After this event the Falcons would find themselves behind for the first and only time during the meet.
Next up on the vault the team would reach a new total score of 48.100, also their highest event score on the day. Starting off for BGSU were two freshmen, Amber Brewer and Balzer. They scored 9.625 and 9.575 respectively. However, landing the big scores were juniors Ponce 9.825 and Jacque Bernhard 9.775. They finished first and second respectively. With the score of 9.825, Ponce now leads the MAC in vault scores.
After last week's meet, Connelly said the floor would be a focal point in practice. It paid off, as the Orange and Brown posted their best floor score of 48.000, also placing them third in overall MAC floor scores. The young Falcons looked more like seasoned veterans as Balzer placed second (9.700), followed by Brewer and freshman Rachel Gourley who tied for fourth with their scores of 9.650.
Heading into the last event, beam, the Falcons had built up a 2.35 lead. Ponce (9.675) and Chronister (9.575) made sure that would be enough as they finished first and second, respectively.
With the win the Orange and Brown improve to 3-1 in the MAC, 4-1 overall. They will return home to host Ball State on Saturday Feb. 3. The meet will begin at 7:00 p.m inside the Eppler Complex.
Connelly was pleased with the win, but happy to return home. "I think after tonight the girls are starting to realize that they are capable of scoring even higher. I look for us to carry the momentum into next week's game against Ball State. It's always good coming home to compete inside Eppler, especially with the crowds we have been getting."
Vault
Balzer 9.575
Brewer 9.625
Stranges 9.300
deLeeuw 9.200
Ponce 9.825
Bernhardt 9.775
Bars
Chronister 9.400
Follett 8.600
Balzer 9.550
Ponce 8.900
deLeeuw 9.525
Tomita 9.700
Beam
Chronister 9.575
Follett 9.400
Brewer 9.100
Stranges 9.175
Ponce 9.675
Kenel 9.200
Floor
Kenel 9.525
Chronister 9.475
Gourley 9.650
Balzer 9.700
Brewer 9.650
Bernhardt 9.125
