Kent State University
Pitt (Exhibition)
Gymnastics Travels to Pitt for Blue/Gold Meet
12/8/2016 4:36:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics team will compete in front of a crowd for the first time this season on Friday when it travels to Pitt to compete in the annual Blue-Gold exhibition meet at 6:30 p.m. inside of Fitzgerald Field House.
The Golden Flashes' veteran roster features 11 letterwinners from last season's squad that posted an undefeated (6-0) record to capture the program's 8th Mid-American Conference regular season championship in the past 11 years and qualified for NCAA Regional competition for the 8th time in the past 9 years.
SCOUTING KENT STATE
A pair of All-MAC performers — junior Rachel Stypinski and senior Jordan Hardison — headline a talented group of Kent State returners. Stypinski, the reigning MAC Gymnast of the Year, added a vault routine to make her collegiate all-around debut at the NCAA Iowa City Regional in April. Hardison earned All-MAC Second Team and MAC All-Tournament Team honors in 2016.
Senior Skyelee Lamano and junior Brooke Timko were the Flashes' top two overall scorers a season ago, as they each competed in three events in all 12 of the team's meets. Lamano scored a team-high 350.225 points, while Timko totaled 347.825 points
Sophomore Dara Williams is the top returner on vault with an average of 9.755 over 10 meets. Junior Ali Marrero averaged a team-best 9.790 on beam last season. Timko led the Flashes on bars with an average of 9.763 and Stypinski led the way with a 9.878 average on floor, which she tied for a third-place finish in at regionals.
Other returnees for Kent State who competed at regionals include seniors Milena Fabry and Samantha Gordon, junior Michaela Romito and sophomores Sarah Lippowitsch and Kennedy Plude. Â Â
SCOUTING PITT
The Panthers return 12 letterwinners from last year's team that captured the first East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) title in program history. Pitt, which lost two of its top three scorers from a year ago, was voted to finish fourth out of six team in the conference's pre-season poll.
Tracey Pearson finished 14th in the all-around at regionals last year and is the Panthers' top returnee on both vault and floor. Kelly Burak is a beam specialist who was an alternate at regionals. Taylor Laymon is the team's top returner on bars. Dani Hall, Erika Reichert and Brittany West were also key performers for Pitt a year ago.
FLASHBACK TO LAST YEAR'S BLUE/GOLD MEET
Kent State defeated Pitt in last year's Blue/Gold Meet at the M.A.C. Center by a score of 192.675-191.125. Trailing by 0.25 heading into the final rotation, the Golden Flashes posted a 48.375 on floor for their highest score of the night while the Panthers scored a 47.300 on beam for their lowest score of the night. Â
The Flashes' other team scores were 48.375 on beam, 47.950 on vault and 47.475 on bars. Rachel Stypinski took first on both floor (9.875) and beam (9.800), while Ali Marrero was first on bars (9.750).
On floor, four Flashes — Jordan Hardison, Skyelee Lamano, Nicolle Eastman and Samantha Gordon — joined Stypinski in scoring a 9.700 or higher to take the 3rd-6th spots. Brooke Timko and Lamano finished second and third, respectively, to give Kent State a sweep of the top three spots on bars.
Tracey Pearson scored 9.800 on vault for Pitt's only event victory of the meet. Lindsay Offutt finished second on both beam and floor.
UP NEXT
Kent State will have a little more than a month-long break before heading to Ohio State for a quad meet to begin the 2017 competition schedule on Sunday, January 14. Michigan and Washington will also compete at the meet.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow the Kent State gymnastics team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
