Bowling Green State University
MAC Championships
One Event Costs Falcons
March 29, 2008 | Gymnastics
March 29, 2008
KENT, Ohio - On Saturday the Bowling Green State University gymnastics team's season came to an end as they disappointingly took seventh out of seven at the Mid-American Conference Championships. The host school and regular season champions Kent State claimed the title of MAC Tournament Champions as they posted a 195.675. Eastern Michigan followed in second at 193.800; they were trailed by Central Michigan (193.675), Northern Illinois (193.375), Western Michigan (192.500), Ball State (192.100), and Bowling Green (192.025). The team score of 192.025 is the first time the Falcons were in the 192 rang this season and it is their fourth highest score on the season. They claim the title of seventh for the second straight year in a row.
"We are pretty disappointed," head coach Kerrie Beach said following the meet. "The team came out very excited and focused, and they did what they practiced all week, hit bars and beam. I was so pleased when we hit both events, that is something we did not do most of the season. We just had some mental let-ups on floor and that cost us."
As stated by Beach the Falcons came out hot on bars and beam. They opened the meet on bars where they posted a 48.025 their fifth best score on the year. Breanne Guy posted the top score for the Falcons at 9.675 a 13th place finish. Jholeen Ponce Was the next Falcon to place in 24th with a 9.625 followed by Michelle Luchini who took 28th with a 9.600.
There has been one event that has hindered the Falcons all season and that was beam. However, tonight they came out determined and posted a 48.275 their highest event score on the night and the highest beam score on the year. This was due mostly to some big scores from Queenita Gamble, Ponce, and Katie Follett. Gamble tied for seventh with a 9.775, tying her career best. Ponce posed her new season high at 9.75 landing her in ninth, while Follett scored a 9.65 putting her in 19th.
The team took the momentum of their first two events over to floor where they thought they would continue to excel. They might have had a little too much momentum as they had two gymnasts step out of bounce and almost all the girls over hitting their routines. Guy claimed the best Falcon score at 9.575 placing her in 28th.
After floor the team knew they had a hole to dig out of if they were going to have any hopes in saving the meet. They came out and did just that as they had their second best score on the night at 48.225. Guy again led the team with the highest score at 9.775 placing her in ninth. Jacque Bernhardt followed right behind in 12th with a 9.750. Jenn Wirtanen who has come on late in the season landed a 9.650 placing her in 24th.
Guy finished the night fifth in the all-around with a total score of 38.600.
Even though BGSU's season improvements were not reflected in their performance at the MACs their hard work did not go unnoticed. The night before (Friday, March 28) the MAC announced that Bernhardt won the award for Specialist of the Year. This is the first time any Falcon has claimed this title. Guy also was noticed by making the All MAC Second Team. Again no other Falcon has been awarded in this category.
Even though their regular season is done it will be announced tomorrow if any gymnasts have made it to Regionals. Be sure to check back at bgsufalcons.com for information that will be posted as soon as it is released. Regionals will take place on April 11th in Baton Rouge, La.
