Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
BALL STATE
Off to A Great Start
February 04, 2007 | Gymnastics
Feb. 4, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - For the first time since the 2001-02 season, the Bowling Green State University gymnastics team has recorded three Mid-American Conference victories. The third win came tonight, as the Falcons set a season high team score of to defeat Ball State University, 191.425 to 188.925.
"We are excited to get another win," assistant coach Kerrie Beach said. "It is also a great start in the MAC, making this three in a row for us. Even better is that as a team, we keep improving both our team scores and our event scores. We are going to take this momentum with us into Central Michigan next week."
With their second-best vault score of the year, the Falcons set the pace just minutes into the meet. Junior Jacque Bernhardt landed a career best of 9.825, but her score only granted her second. Ball State's Jenna Tarkington executed a 9.850 to capture first. Finishing behind Bernhardt was junior Ashlee deLeeuw, who also set a new career best at 9.775 to take third. Freshman Morgan Balzer and senior Allison Swafford both tied for sixth with a 9.625. After the first rotation, BGSU had built a 2.275 point lead.
"Morgan, as a freshman, has really stepped up. She competed in the all-around for the first time this evening. We are really pleased with her progress, and we expect next week that she will improve on bars and really be an outstanding all-arounder."
Bars were the weakest of the four events for the Orange and Brown. However, deLeeuw did place first with a 9.700. Junior Katie Follett followed with a third place finish. After the second event, BGSU saw their lead dwindle down to only .925 of a point.
Prior to tonight, senior Bethany Kenel has been quiet on the beam, as her highest score was a 9.600. Tonight, however, she put the Falcons on her back and landed a 9.850, a new personal best. This score not only placed her first, it also ties her for eighth all-time on beam scores, and places her first in MAC scores this season. Other top performers include Balzer in fourth place (9.675), followed by Follett (9.475) and deLeeuw (9.350) in fifth and six, respectively. The team also set a new season high on beam with a 47.600.
Beach was very pleased Kenel's performance. "Bethany did an outstanding job on beam tonight. She improved her confidence and we expect her to continue to be a star."
Kenel was also very pleased with her score. "For me, it felt really good to get back on track so we can keep the momentum going. Tonight was also very good for the team, because for the first time this season every event was together. We didn't have to count any falls on floor and vault, which was also a great improvement."
On the floor the Flacons set another season high with a 48.250. Swafford handed her best performance of the season with a 9.750. Behind her were freshman Rachel Gourley (9.675) in second and Megan Chronister (9.650) in third. Kenel took fifth (9.600) and Balzer (9.575) finished tied for sixth. With their high scores on floor, the Falcons sealed the deal on another MAC victory.
The Orange and Brown will take to the road to keep the steak alive, as they compete against Central Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 11. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. The Falcons will return home on Sunday, Feb. 18 to host Kent State. The meet will be held inside the Eppler Complex at 2:00 p.m.
"Going into next week we will look to make big improvements on the beam. We are also going to work on being more consistent on bars." Beach said.
"It feels good to get three in a row in the MAC." Kenel said. "I don't think any of the seniors have experienced that before, so it's a great thing to be a part of. We want to continue to improve heading into next week, but this win tonight will really pump us up and helps keep the momentum going."
