Saturday, March 19
Muncie, Ind.
2:00 PM
Bowling Green State University
195.625
at
MAC Championships
Gymnastics Makes History at MAC Championships
March 19, 2016 | Gymnastics
Photo Gallery
NCAA Scoresheet
Final Standings
Event Results
All-Around Results
Post meet interview: Kerrie Turner
Muncie, Ind. -- The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team finished third at the Mid-American Conference Championships on Saturday, scoring a 195.625, the highest mark at a conference championship in school history and good for 10th in the BGSU record books. The third-place finish is the team's best since 2014.
The Falcons boasted two MAC Champions, as sophomore Laura Mitchell won balance beam, tying a school record 9.925 and junior Lauren Feely placed first in all-around, earning a 39.300. The program hasn't had an all-around champion since 2001 (Marny Oestreng). The last time the Orange and Brown had two conference champions was three seasons ago (2013) when Alyssa Nocella and Jamilah Ali won beam and vault, respectively. The duo made the 2016 All-Tournament Team.
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"It has been an absolutely amazing day," said head coach Kerrie Turner. "Our athletes fought from the very first routine to the very last routine. I'm so proud of them."
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Eastern Michigan won the championship with a 196.425, while the host school Ball State placed second with a 195.650. The Falcons finished in third, with Central Michigan in fourth (195.600), Kent State (195.325) fifth, Northern Illinois (194.975) sixth, and Western Michigan (194.900) seventh. This is the Falcons' first win over the Chippewas -- regular season and conference championships -- since 2008.
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With the help of Mitchell's career-high, BGSU broke the school record on balance beam with a 49.250, as the team finished second on the event. Senior Caroline Ellingboe's experience shined through, as she scored a 9.875. Feely earned a career-high 9.850 on the apparatus and Nocella received an identical score, as Rachel Reis scored a 9.750.
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"We knew we needed to have a great balance beam rotation more than anything for that regional qualifying score. They were so aggressive in competition. They deserve that. They are a great balance beam team and it was awesome to see them break that record again," added Turner.
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The Falcons began the meet on floor (following a bye), placing sixth with a score of 48.950 – the team's best floor score at MACs since 2013. Feely and Nocella led the way with a pair of 9.875s, Victoria Heath and Kayla Rose scored 9.8s and Erika Houser rounded out the top five with a 9.600.
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BGSU moved to vault after another bye, with the team scoring a 48.625. Feely tied for second overall on the event, scoring a team-high 9.850. Victoria Heath (9.750), Shannon Goniwiecha (9.725), Katie Morsefield (9.700) and Nocella (9.600) all scored for the Orange and Brown.
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Following the team's last bye of the meet, the Falcons competed on uneven bars. BGSU placed third with a 48.800, the team's highest event place of the meet, as well as the team's highest bars score at MAC Championships in the Turner era. Ellingboe earned a 9.850, the highest individual bar score at MACs in Turner's nine seasons as head coach. Nocella scored a 9.775, Reis a 9.750, Feely a 9.725 and Mitchell a 9.700 to complete the scoring for the Falcons.
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The awards ceremony followed after the conclusion of the meet, where it was announced that Nocella was named MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year, as voted on by the league coaches. This is her first "of the year" award in her career as a Falcon. The last BGSU gymnast to win such an award was Feely with Freshman of the Year in 2014 when the Falcons had their best MAC Championship finish in 22 years, finishing third. Nocella is the third ever Falcon to win the Senior Gymnast of the Year award, joining Melissa Popovich (2004) and Marny Oestreng (1999).
BGSU led the MAC this season in weekly awards, totaling seven. Nocella (two gymnast of the weeks, one scholar athlete of the week), Feely (one gymnast of the week, one scholar athlete of the week), Mitchell and Heath (one gymnast of the week each) earned the honors throughout the season. The next closest team was Eastern Michigan with five.
The Orange and Brown had two All-Conference members this season, with Nocella earning first-team and Feely on second-team.
Bowling Green entered the meet ranked No. 37 (195.290 regional qualifying score) and needed over a 194.800 to improve its RQS. With the 195.625, the Falcons as a team are officially locked in for a NCAA Regionals spot for the first time since 1991. BGSU's RQS improved to 195.455, sending the team to its first team regional competition in 25 years. The NCAA Gymnastics Selection Show will air at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 21.
NCAA Scoresheet
Final Standings
Event Results
All-Around Results
Post meet interview: Kerrie Turner
Muncie, Ind. -- The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team finished third at the Mid-American Conference Championships on Saturday, scoring a 195.625, the highest mark at a conference championship in school history and good for 10th in the BGSU record books. The third-place finish is the team's best since 2014.
The Falcons boasted two MAC Champions, as sophomore Laura Mitchell won balance beam, tying a school record 9.925 and junior Lauren Feely placed first in all-around, earning a 39.300. The program hasn't had an all-around champion since 2001 (Marny Oestreng). The last time the Orange and Brown had two conference champions was three seasons ago (2013) when Alyssa Nocella and Jamilah Ali won beam and vault, respectively. The duo made the 2016 All-Tournament Team.
Â
"It has been an absolutely amazing day," said head coach Kerrie Turner. "Our athletes fought from the very first routine to the very last routine. I'm so proud of them."
Â
Eastern Michigan won the championship with a 196.425, while the host school Ball State placed second with a 195.650. The Falcons finished in third, with Central Michigan in fourth (195.600), Kent State (195.325) fifth, Northern Illinois (194.975) sixth, and Western Michigan (194.900) seventh. This is the Falcons' first win over the Chippewas -- regular season and conference championships -- since 2008.
Â
With the help of Mitchell's career-high, BGSU broke the school record on balance beam with a 49.250, as the team finished second on the event. Senior Caroline Ellingboe's experience shined through, as she scored a 9.875. Feely earned a career-high 9.850 on the apparatus and Nocella received an identical score, as Rachel Reis scored a 9.750.
Â
"We knew we needed to have a great balance beam rotation more than anything for that regional qualifying score. They were so aggressive in competition. They deserve that. They are a great balance beam team and it was awesome to see them break that record again," added Turner.
Â
The Falcons began the meet on floor (following a bye), placing sixth with a score of 48.950 – the team's best floor score at MACs since 2013. Feely and Nocella led the way with a pair of 9.875s, Victoria Heath and Kayla Rose scored 9.8s and Erika Houser rounded out the top five with a 9.600.
Â
BGSU moved to vault after another bye, with the team scoring a 48.625. Feely tied for second overall on the event, scoring a team-high 9.850. Victoria Heath (9.750), Shannon Goniwiecha (9.725), Katie Morsefield (9.700) and Nocella (9.600) all scored for the Orange and Brown.
Â
Following the team's last bye of the meet, the Falcons competed on uneven bars. BGSU placed third with a 48.800, the team's highest event place of the meet, as well as the team's highest bars score at MAC Championships in the Turner era. Ellingboe earned a 9.850, the highest individual bar score at MACs in Turner's nine seasons as head coach. Nocella scored a 9.775, Reis a 9.750, Feely a 9.725 and Mitchell a 9.700 to complete the scoring for the Falcons.
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The awards ceremony followed after the conclusion of the meet, where it was announced that Nocella was named MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year, as voted on by the league coaches. This is her first "of the year" award in her career as a Falcon. The last BGSU gymnast to win such an award was Feely with Freshman of the Year in 2014 when the Falcons had their best MAC Championship finish in 22 years, finishing third. Nocella is the third ever Falcon to win the Senior Gymnast of the Year award, joining Melissa Popovich (2004) and Marny Oestreng (1999).
BGSU led the MAC this season in weekly awards, totaling seven. Nocella (two gymnast of the weeks, one scholar athlete of the week), Feely (one gymnast of the week, one scholar athlete of the week), Mitchell and Heath (one gymnast of the week each) earned the honors throughout the season. The next closest team was Eastern Michigan with five.
The Orange and Brown had two All-Conference members this season, with Nocella earning first-team and Feely on second-team.
Bowling Green entered the meet ranked No. 37 (195.290 regional qualifying score) and needed over a 194.800 to improve its RQS. With the 195.625, the Falcons as a team are officially locked in for a NCAA Regionals spot for the first time since 1991. BGSU's RQS improved to 195.455, sending the team to its first team regional competition in 25 years. The NCAA Gymnastics Selection Show will air at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 21.
Players Mentioned
Beam, Vault
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