East, Mitchell Capture Event Titles At Metroplex Invitational

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FORT WORTH, Texas – The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team captured two individual event championships and set several season-best scores on Saturday night at the 2017 Metroplex Invitational. The Falcons competed against George Washington, San Jose State, and Mid-American Conference foe Central Michigan in the quad meet, which was held at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

The Falcons continued its string of excellence on the vault during the team's first rotation. The five counted scores were all 9.725 or better, which helped BGSU post the highest vault team score (48.875). Jovannah East set a new personal record and captured co-gold medalist honors with a spectacular 9.850. She now has two event championships in 2017. Lauren Feely tied for fourth with a 9.800, while Taylor Worthington and Randi Morris each tied for tenth after scoring 9.750. Worthington's mark was also a personal record.

Bowling Green moved to the bars in the second rotation, but the team's struggles on that apparatus have not abated. The team had to count two falls and registered only a 47.200. Despite that, junior Laura Mitchell tied for the event victory by posting a 9.850. It was her season-best score and tied her career best on bars. It was also BGSU's season-best score in the event and was the Falcons' seventh individual championship in 2017. Feely (9.575) and Alex Johnston (9.725) also earned season-best marks.

"Vault, beam and floor went fairly well this evening. I feel that our team adjusted well to competing on the podium. Unfortunately, our team continues on the path of only putting three of the four events together," said BGSU head coach Kerrie Turner. "We have some serious work to do on bars, and we need to make a drastic improvement quickly."

BGSU rebounded with a 48.725 when the team moved to the balance beam. That mark was third out of the four teams but only 0.025 behind Central Michigan. East had another great routine and was given a 9.825, which tied her personal record and the team's season-best. She was joined in the top ten by Mitchell and India McPeak, who both scored 9.750. Feely had another season-best routine on beam, as she posted a 9.700.

The Falcons completed the evening by putting together a 48.750 during the floor exercise. That mark is the team's best in their first four meets. Mitchell (9.800), Kayla Rose (9.775) and Rachel Creagh (9.700) all had their best routines of the season, while Heath (9.800) tied hers. Heath and Mitchell each tied for fifth overall; Rose finished in a seven-way tie for seventh.

Bowling Green ended the meet fourth with a total score of 193.550, just behind San Jose State's 193.650. Central Michigan (194.125) took second place, and George Washington won the meet championship with a 196.150.

"At this point, expectations have not been met, and our staff will be paying close attention to trying to put our uneven bars workers under even more pressure in practice so they are ready to handle every meet situation," said Turner. "We also need to continue to focus on small details on every event, such as sticking landings."

The remaining eight meets on the Falcons' regular season schedule are all dual events, six of which are against MAC opponents.

Bowling Green returns to action next weekend with a pair of meets. First, the Falcons travel to DeKalb, Ill. for their first MAC dual of the season against Northern Illinois on Friday, Feb. 3. Then, 48 hours later, BGSU returns home on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2:00 p.m. for a dual against Western Michigan. The Falcons will celebrate Military Appreciation Day against the Broncos.

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Rachel Creagh

Jovannah East

Lauren Feely

Alex Johnston

India McPeak

Laura Mitchell

Randi Morris

Kayla Rose

Taylor Worthington

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