Kent State University
Central Michigan
Kent State Posts Season-High at Pink Meet
2/19/2017 7:56:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics team posted a new season-high for the second meet in a row in a narrow defeat to Central Michigan, 195.775-195.675, during Sunday afternoon's Pink Meet at the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes' score is the fourth-best in the Mid-American Conference this season. Kent State posted a 49.150 on floor, 49.050Â on bars, 48.925 on vault and 48.550 on beam. Individually, junior Rachel Stypinski won the all-around (38.925) and floor (9.925) titles.
"This is a difficult loss because we felt we really did a good job," said head coach Brice Biggin. "The girls have really improved over the last couple of weeks, and we're certainly really excited about that."
Kent State trailed by 0.825 after three rotations, but several solid floor performances kept the Flashes in contention until Central Michigan's Katy Clements scored a career-high 9.925 on the guest's final routine of the meet.
Stypinski quickly put a fall on beam behind her and delivered a clutch performance on floor to bring the meet to a close. Freshman Jade Brown and seniors Jordan Hardison and Skyelee Lamano all scored a 9.825 to tie for fifth.
The Flashes displayed their improved vault lineup by coming within 0.050 of the season-high in the opening rotation. Hardison and Stypinski led the way, tying for second with a 9.850.
On bars, Stypinski finished third with a 9.850, while junior Brooke Timko and sophomore Dara Williams tied for fourth with a 9.825. It was a career-best vault for Williams.
Sophomore Kennedy Plude led Kent State on beam, finishing fourth with a 9.775. Junior Ali Marrero and sophomore Sarah Lippowitsch tied for fifth with a 9.725.
Voted the favorite in the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Kent State is now 1-3 in conference competition with an average margin of defeat of 0.117. The Flashes have been unlucky the past two meets, scoring the second-best score in the conference each weekend while competing against the team with the highest score.
"We talked in our huddle at the end of the meet about how our goal of winning the regular season is over," Biggin said. "We can't worry about it, but what we can do is use these close losses as motivation and do something about it at the MAC Championships. We know we're right there and that we have the talent. It's going to be our turn to turn the tables on everyone else."
Kent State will compete in a tri-meet at North Carolina State along with George Washington at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday (Feb. 25).
Be sure to follow the Kent State gymnastics team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
Final Results
1. Central Michigan             195.775
2. Kent State                          195.675
Individual Event Winners
Vault: Denelle Pedrick (CMU) – 9.875
Bars: Kaley Janowicz (CMU), Bryttany Kaplan (CMU) – 9.875
Beam: Katy Clements (CMU) – 9.925
Floor: Rachel Stypinski (KSU) – 9.925
All-Around: Rachel Stypinski (KSU) – 38.925
Players Mentioned
