Will lightning strike twice?

The theme for the 2012 Kent State gymnastics team this season has been "Can Lightning Strike Twice?" On Saturday, the Golden Flashes will see if they are up to the challenge as the team attempts to make a return trip to the NCAA Championships when Kent State competes in the N.C. State Regional Saturday, April 7 at 4 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum.

It will be the second time this season Kent State will compete at N.C. State; the Golden Flashes participated in a four-team meet in Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 24. Kent State finished second behind the nationally-ranked Wolf Pack.

The Golden Flashes are one of six teams competing at N.C. State's Reynolds Coliseum. Joining Kent State and the host Wolf Pack are top-seeded Florida, Ohio State, Penn State and North Carolina.

The top two teams from each of the six regions will advance to the 2012 NCAA Gymnastics Championship hosted by Georgia Tech at the Gwinnett Center April 20-22. Last season, Kent State became the first team from the Mid-American Conference to advance to the national championship.

Live stats and video streaming will be provided for the meet via N.C. State's athletics website.

Kent State's rotation for the six-team meet will begin on the balance beam, followed by a bye. The Golden Flashes will be on the floor for the third rotation, followed by the vault. Kent State will then have its second bye before wrapping up on the bars.

SCOUTING THE FLASHES

The Golden Flashes are coming off a second-place finish at the 2012 MAC Championships, where Kent State was edged by Central Michigan, 195.675-195.225. It took a season-best score by the Chippewas to edge the Golden Flashes, who entered the conference championship with back-to-back 196 performances.

Leading Kent State is sophomore Marie Case (Erie, Pa.), who was named the 2012 MAC Gymnast of the Year at the conference meet. Senior Rachel Goldenberg (Doylestown, Pa.) was tabbed as the MAC's Co-Specialist of the Year.

For complete stats for the 2012 Kent State gymnastics season, click here.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

In the April 2 release of the Gyminfo rankings, Florida leads the nation with a 197.093 season average. Ohio State is ranked 12^th (196.037), Penn State is 13^th (195.958) and N.C. State is 20^th (195.287). Kent State is just outside the top 25 nationally with a 194.678 season scoring average.