Falcons Drop 2023 Gymnastics Opener at NIU on Sunday

Sunday, January 8

DeKalb, Ill.

2 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

192.675

194.750

Northern Illinois

January 08, 2023 | Gymnastics

Final Results (PDF)Support Our Student-Athletes

By: by Vincent Briedis, BGSU Strategic Communications

DeKalb, Ill. – The Bowling Green Falcons competed well but fell in the end to Northern Illinois on Sunday afternoon in the opening gymnastics meet of the season, 194.725-192.675. The meet was contested at the NIU Convocation Center.

Kathryn Weilbacher narrowly missed the all-around with a score of 38.925.

Bowling Green won the team vault (48.575) over NIU, while the Huskies won the bars 49.075-48.350. Multiple falls on floor and on beam held BGSU back from winning the meet.

Inside the Scoresheet
• Megan Bingham (Louisville, Ky.) made her collegiate debut on beam (9.725) and bars (8.750)
• Charniya Brown (Franklin, Tenn.) made her collegiate debut on vault (9.700)
• Madison Coburn (Sanatoga, Pa.) made her collegiate debut on vault (9.675) and floor (9.375)
• Isabella Rivelli (Bartlett, Ill.) made her collegiate debut on bars (9.775) and shared the team's highest score on the event with Weilbacher
• Baylie Lawrence's 8.800 on floor was a personal best
• Katrina Mendez Abolnik notched a 9.800 on floor, which is her second-best score in her career

Taylor Jensen also recorded a 9.800 on beam, tying her with Kathryn Weilbacher for tops on the team and second in the meet overall 🤸‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/AXCFQby8ym
— BGSU Gymnastics (@bgsuwgym) January 8, 2023

From the Locker Room
"Our team had a great start. Bars has improved immensely from last season, and I can see a new level of confidence in our bar lineup. We had some shaky routines on floor and a bit of a rough start on beam however the team showed good character and regrouped to finish strong.
Our team is capable of better results, and I know they are hungry to train for a great meet next weekend. We will learn from this first meet and continue to improve as we focus on the task to hit all four events." – Kerrie Turner Bowling Green gymnastics head coach

Next Up
Bowling Green is next in action on Sat., Jan. 14 when BGSU travels to Tucson, Ariz., for Arizona's quad-meet with Illinois and Texas Woman's University. The start time is 4 p.m. Illinois is ranked No. 23 in the preseason by the WCGA and Arizona is ranked No. 25.