Kent State University
Ball State
Gymnastics Sends Seniors Out with Season-High 196.425
3/10/2017 11:33:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics team put on a show while posting its best score since March 8, 2015 on Friday night at the M.A.C. Center. The Golden Flashes defeated Ball State, 196.425-195.000, on Senior Night.
The Flashes (5-8, 3-3 MAC) scored a 49.250 on beam, which ties for the fifth-highest mark in program history, and also had a season-best 49.200 on bars. They scored a 49.175 on floor and a 48.800 on vault to win all four events.
"Beam is an event at the beginning of the year we felt we should be really solid," said head coach Brice Biggin. "We have some good leadership from upperclassmen that compete on beam. It took a few weeks to gel into that, but I think right now we have a team over there that is one of the best we've ever had at Kent State. "
Competing at the M.A.C. Center for the final time, Kent State's seniors went out with a splash. Jordan Hardison took a pair of individual titles and scored a meet-high 29.500 points. Hardison posted a season-best 9.925 on floor and won vault with a 9.825. Skyelee Lamano was right behind Hardison on floor, finishing second with a season-high 9.875. Milena Fabry performed her best beam routine as a Flash and earned a career-high 9.875 to tie for third. Kiernan Roseland scored a 9.500 on floor and Ellen Demarest exhibitioned on floor and earned a 9.050.
"If we perform like we did today again next weekend, then I think that we will give ourselves a great chance at winning another MAC Championship," Biggin said. "You always hold your breath because there is so much emotion involved in a senior meet. These young ladies have given their heart and soul for four years to this program. We talked about the importance of being able to stay focused and not let it get to them, and to their credit, they did a wonderful job of doing just that."
Junior Rachel Stypinski surpassed 50 career individual titles by matching her career-high on bars and beam. Stypinski's 9.950 on beam is tied for the fifth-highest score in program history, and she earned a 9.900 on bars. She also tied for second on vault with a 9.775.
Junior Brooke Timko matched her career-high in two of her three events. Timko scored a 9.875 for second on bars and earned a 9.850 to tie for third on beam.
Sophomore Dara Williams tied for second on vault with a 9.775 and matched her career-high of 9.825 to take third on bars.
Junior Ali Marrero tied for third on beam with a season-high 9.850.
Sophomore Sarah Lippowitsch earned a career-high 9.800 on bars and tied for fourth with junior Michaela Romito.
On floor, freshman Jade Brown and sophomore Alyssa Quinlan tied for fourth with a 9.800.
Kent State will head to Bowling Green for the 2017 MAC Championships on Saturday, March 18. Competition is scheduled to begin at 2 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. Kent State  196.425
2. Ball State    195.500
Individual Event Winners
Vault: Jordan Hardison (KSU) – 9.825
Bars: Rachel Stypinski (KSU) – 9.900
Beam: Rachel Stypinski (KSU) – 9.950
Floor: Jordan Hardison (KSU) – 9.925
Players Mentioned
