Kent State University
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Western Michigan
Gymnastics Dazzles in Home Opener, Beats Western Michigan
1/20/2017 11:10:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics team showed great improvement from its season opener just six days earlier and defeated Western Michigan, 195.525-193.750, in Friday's home opener at the M.A.C. Center. The Golden Flashes improved their overall score by 2.550 points to earn a victory in the Mid-American Conference opener, while the Broncos fell to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in conference despite posting their highest score of the season.
Kent State (1-3, 1-0 MAC) won vault (48.775), bars (49.125) and floor (49.400) while tying on beam (48.225) despite increasing its score by a full point from last weekend.
"I think we bounced back pretty well tonight on three events," said head coach Brice Biggin. "Our focus remains on taking every routine one at a time and not getting ahead of ourselves. All four events are important. We can do really well on three events, but it hurts us if that fourth event is down a little bit."
Junior Rachel Stypinski won all four events and earned a 39.525 all-around score to tie Jessie James for the fourth-best mark in school history. Stypinski captured her second all-around title in as many competitions this season, as she set a new personal-best on vault (9.825) and matched her personal-best on bars (9.900). The junior has focused on performing consistent routines and scored a 9.925 on floor and 9.875 on beam for the second straight meet.
"Rachel makes things look so easy and it's incredible to watch her perform as an athlete because that's what athletics is all about," Biggin said. "She is such a great performer and has taken it to a different level this year."
The Flashes pulled away with a 49.400 on floor in the final rotation. Only #1 Oklahoma and #2 LSU had scored better in the event through the first two weeks of the season. Kent State claimed the top six spots in the event. Seniors Jordan Hardison and Skyelee Lamano and freshman Jade Brown all earned a 9.875 to tie for second. Sophomore Alyssa Quinlan received a 9.850 for fifth and senior Samantha Gordon rounded out the lineup with a 9.750.
Uneven bars was another event dominated by the Flashes. Junior Brooke Timko tied for second on bars with a 9.850. Junior Michaela Romito and Lamano each earned a 9.800 to tie for fourth, while sophomores Sarah Lippowitsch and Dara Williams were right behind them with a 9.775.
Hardison and Williams tied for fourth on vault with a score of 9.775 with sophomore Kennedy Plude posting a 9.725 to finish in a tie for sixth.
Senior Milena Fabry finished fourth on beam with a 9.750.
"We struggled a little bit on beam," Biggin said after his team counted its third fall in two meets. "That's something that hurts our team score and is going to have a huge difference in where we place in a big meet."
Kent State goes back on the road for a tri-meet at Northern Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 29 to compete against the Huskies and Southeast Missouri State.
Be sure to follow the Kent State gymnastics team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
Final Results
1. Kent State 195.525
2. Western Michigan 193.750
Individual Event Winners
Vault: Rachel Stypinski (Kent State) – 9.825
Bars: Rachel Stypinski (Kent State) – 9.900
Beam: Rachel Stypinski (Kent State) – 9.875
Floor: Rachel Stypinski (Kent State) – 9.925
All-Around: Rachel Stypinski (Kent State) – 39.525
Players Mentioned
