Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Places Fourth at Texas Women's University
March 11, 2007 | Gymnastics
March 11, 2007
DENTON, Texas - On March 10, the Bowling Green State University gymnastics team took fourth out of four at Texas Woman's University. They scored a second best team score of 192.575. The University of Kentucky finished first with a score of 196.200, followed by TWU, 194.825, and SEMO, 194.295. The Orange and Brown were led by junior Jacque Bernhardt who set a near perfect score on vault with a 9.925. This is a new career best and places her second on the all time vault scores.
"This was a great accomplishment for Jacque." Head coach Dan Connelly said. "She had a great routine and the judges gave her the score she deserved."
Although the team did not win the meet, there were many great performances. On the vault the team set their fourth best score, but there were many new personal bests were achieved. Besides Bernhardt, Jholeen Ponce finished tied for fifth with a new career high of 9.850. Jenna Wirtanen tied her career best at 9.725.
The team set their second highest score on bars with a 48.375. Sakura Tomita led the Falcons, as she tied for sixth with a score of 9.800. This ties her career best which was set during the last meet at the CAT Classic. Freshman Morgan Balzer stepped up and set a new personal best at 9.750, which placed her tied for ninth. Wirtanen set a new career best with a score of 9.675.
After a shaky start on beam, the team re-grouped to put up their third best team score on the year at 47.625. Ponce led the way with a ninth place finish, scoring 9.750. Following her was Queenita Gamble, who has only competed once this year. She scored a high 9.700. Katie Follett followed her with a 9.575.
Connelly was happy, but not satisfied with his team's performance on beam. "We practiced so hard all week on sticking, and it's frustrating to see us not hit. Gamble did a great job for us on hitting when we needed it the most. We had outstanding competitions, excellent performances, but as a team it was disappointing," Connelly said.
Freshman Balzer stepped up and led the team on floor with her score of 9.725. She would finish tenth with that score. Balzer finished in sixth in the all-around with a score of 38. 550. This is her second best score on the season. Following her was Tomita, who scored a 9.675 on floor in her second time competing this season.
The Falcons will enjoy another weekend off before competing at home in the All-Ohio. This meet will begin at 7:00 p.m. inside the Eppler Complex, and will consist of Kent State and Ohio State. This meet will also act as a fundraiser for Jessica McArthur who did not get to finish her senior season as a result of a kidney transplant.
