Kent State Dazzles With Win Over Northern Illinois
Nine season or career bests fall in 195.525-193.625 win over Huskies
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics team put together its best meet performance of the year Sunday afternoon as the team put up season bests on all four events in the Golden Flashes' 195.525-193.625 win over Northern Illinois.
"We're encouraged by what we saw today," said head coach Brice Biggin. "It's what we've been expecting and what we're capable of, and we feel there is still room to improve."
Sophomore Marie Case (Erie, Pa.) won the beam (9.800), tied for the win on the floor (9.850) and was the team's second-best score on the bars (9.850) for her best all-around score of the year. Kent State posted or tied nine season or career bests on Sunday. Freshman Amiah Mims (Indianapolis, Ind.) had career-highs on both the balance beam and floor exercise to aid the Flashes.
"It felt good to do well today," said Mims of the team's overall performance. "It's the confidence boost we needed. We've been hitting at practice, so it's good to see our hard work show today."
The Golden Flashes got off to a good start on the vault, bolstered by a meet-best 9.850 mark by Lauren Wozniak (Pittsburgh, Pa). The team's effort was capped off by a 9.825 by Rachel Goldenberg (Doylestown, Pa.), as Kent State finished with a 48.950 on the vault for a season-high team score.
Kent State kept up the pressure with a team score of 49.075 on the bars to build a one-point lead through two rotations. Lindsay Runyan (Maineville, Ohio) culminated Kent State's effort with a 9.875 to win the event.
On Kent State's third rotation, the Golden Flashes were solid on the beam, posting a 48.600 team score. Case led the way with a 9.800 score to cap Kent State's team performance, while Mims notched a 9.750 for her career best.
The Golden Flashes concluded with a season-best 48.900 on the floor, as a trio of Golden Flashes scored 9.850: Mims, Case and Goldenberg.
"Our first performers really did great today," said Biggin. "Especially on beam and bars, to have the first four performers be able to start strong lets everyone be relaxed and perform well."
Next up for Kent State is a four-team meet at N.C. State Friday, Feb. 24. Along with the Wolfpack, the Golden Flashes will face Michigan State and Towson.
