Kent State University
Eastern Michigan
Three Golden Flashes Capture Individual Titles at Eastern Michigan
2/10/2017 10:03:00 PM | Gymnastics
YPSILANTI, Mich. – Kent State had three gymnasts earn individual titles and posted the third-highest score in the Mid-American Conference this season in a loss at Eastern Michigan, 195.750-195.550, Friday night. The Golden Flashes are now 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the MAC, while the Eagles (6-2) remain in first place with a 3-0 conference record.
Junior Rachel Stypinski scored a 39.175 to win her third all-around competition of the season. Stypinski equaled her career-best with a 9.950 on beam, which is tied for the fifth-best score in program history. She also took first on floor by earning her third 9.925 of the season. Freshman Jade Brown also scored a 9.925 on floor, a new career-high, to share the title with Stypinski. Senior Jordan Hardison scored a career-high on vault for the third straight meet and won the event with a 9.900.
"Anytime we lose, we're not happy," said head coach Brice Biggin. "I think the effort the girls put in today was way improved over last week. We just didn't give ourselves a good chance on our first event and fell behind way too much. We scored really well on floor and vault. That is probably the best set of vaults we've done as a team. Finishing on beam is not an easy thing, but they fought until the end. Our last two performers, Kennedy Plude and Rachel Stypinski, were both phenomenal."Â
Kent State returned to form on floor with a 49.300. In addition to Brown and Stypinski sharing first, Hardison scored a 9.875 to tie for third and senior Skyelee Lamano posted a 9.850 and tied for fifth. Junior Michaela Romito rounded out the scoring with a season-best 9.725.
The Flashes impressed on vault with a season-high 48.975, as all six gymnasts in the lineup earn a score of 9.750 or higher. Hardison's 9.900 was 0.100 higher than any other competitor for the meet's largest margin of victory. Lamano and sophomore Kennedy Plude both matched their career-best on vault with a 9.775 and tied for third along with sophomore Dara Williams. Stypinski and junior Brooke Timko both earned a 9.750.
Plude set a new career-high on beam, finishing fourth with a 9.875. Hardison tied for sixth with a 9.750.
On bars, Timko tied for second with a 9.825, while Romito and Williams each earned a 9.725.
Kent State returns to the M.A.C. Center for the annual Pink Meet on Sunday, February 19. The Flashes will host Central Michigan at 1 p.m.
Be sure to follow the Kent State gymnastics team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
Final Results
1. Eastern Michigan            195.750
2. Kent State                         195.550
Individual Event Winners
Vault: Jordan Hardison (KSU) – 9.900
Bars: Catie Conrad (EMU) – 9.875
Beam: Rachel Stypinski (KSU) – 9.950
Floor: Jade Brown (KSU), Rachel Stypinski (KSU) – 9.925
All-Around: Rachel Stypinski (KSU), Catie Conrad (EMU) – 39.175
Players Mentioned
