Bowling Green State University
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Falcons Improve but Come up Short Against Central Michigan
February 11, 2007 | Gymnastics
Feb. 11, 2007
MOUNT PLEASANT, Michigan - The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team went into today's event with two goals: continue to improve as a team and beat Central Michigan. They reached their first goal with a new season-high team score of 192.775. However, CMU was just too strong, as they ended the Falcons three meet Mid-American Conference win streak with a score of 195.125. With this new team high, it marks the first time the Falcons have scored 192 or higher since the 2004-05 season against Ball State. It is also the highest score an opponent has recorded since Kent State (195.375) in 2005.
"I am very proud of our girls," head coach Dan Connelly said after the meet. "We put together a really good team performance; unfortunately they were just a little better than us today. The team is very excited with their performance and I am very pleased with how they have continued to improve."
Connelly was also delighted because out of the 24 girls that performed, 22 stuck their routines.
The Orange and Brown began the meet on bars, where as a team they set a new season best of 48.475. Leading the team was senior co-captain Sakura Tomita, who finished tied for fourth with a 9.750. Freshman Morgan Balzer and Ashlee deLeeuw tied for sixth with a 9.725, a new career best for Balzer. Katie Follett finished in eighth with her new career best of 9.650.
Next, the team headed to the vault where Jacque Bernhardt landed her routine earning her a 9.700 and a fourth place finish. Balzer and Jenna Wirtanen tied for eighth, followed by deLeeuw with a score of 9.550. After two rotations, the team found themselves down by a point and had to fight the home crowd of 1,000 that had gathered to cheer on the Chippewas.
Megan Chronister picked up right where she left off last week on floor with her performance of a 9.775, a new career high and a season high for the team. Unfortunately, that score was only good enough for fourth as CMU's Julie Passey recorded a 9.850. Balzer finished right behind Chronister with a career best 9.750. Bethany Kenel finished ninth with a 9.650.
On beam, the Falcons did all they could to chip away at the lead. Kenel posted a 9.825 followed by Jholeen Ponce 9.775 finishing second and third respectively. Follette captured another career high, marking 9.650 and a seventh place finish. Balzer finished right behind her with a 9.650 and rounded out her day capuring a second place finish in the all-around (38.675). This score places her in sixth place in the BGSU all time all-around scores.
The Falcons will need to keep their momentum going as they welcome the Kent State Golden Flashes on Sunday, Feb. 18. The meet will begin at 2:00 p.m. inside the Eppler Complex. BGSU will then take to the road to compete in the CAT Classic at Missouri on Feb. 23-24.
"We are really excited to be coming home," Connelly said. "We are hoping to continue the momentum and with a performance like today's, we are looking good to face Kent State."
