Kent State University
Nebraska
Gymnastics Travels to Nebraska for Masters Classic
3/1/2018 3:02:00 PM | Gymnastics
Kent State will head to Lincoln, Nebraska to compete in the Masters Classic quad meet against No. 16 Nebraska, No. 23 Iowa State and No. 2 UCLA at 3 p.m. at Davaney Center.
The Golden Flashes are No. 37 in the country with a Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 195.160, ranking second in the Mid-American Conference. Kent State is No. 14 and No. 24 nationally on uneven bars and floor exercise, respectively. The Flashes have a MAC-best RQS of 49.100 ranking on both events.
Senior Rachel Stypinski is 11th in the country with an all-around RQS of 39.415 and owns the top six all-around scores in the MAC this season. Stypinski's top event is balance beam with a 9.910 RQS that ranks seventh in the country. She is 13th nationally on floor exercise with a 9.895 and 18th on uneven bars with a 9.885.
Seniors Brooke Timko and Michaela Romito are top performers for the Flashes' bar rotation. Timko is second in the MAC on uneven bars with an average of 9.843, while Romito's 9.771 average ranks eighth. Both gymnasts set personal-best scores in the last meet.
Freshman Abby Fletcher ranks third in the MAC with a 9.846 average on floor exercise. Junior Alyssa Quinlan ranks eighth with a 9.796 average.
LAST TIME OUT
Kent State fell to Mid-American Conference opponent Eastern Michigan, 194.875-193.925, in its annual Pink Meet. Despite the loss, the Golden Flashes posted new season-highs of 49.000 on vault and 49.325 on floor exercise. Kent State scored a 49.025 on uneven bars to record a 49.000 or higher on three events for the second time this season.
Stypinski won her sixth all-around title this season, matching her career-high which is also tied for third all-time in program history (39.550). The senior matched her career-high score on floor for the second time as well (9.975). Stypinski also took first on beam with a score of 9.925.
All six gymnasts on the vault lineup posted a 9.700 or higher. Stypinski and sophomore Sarah McCarty tied for third place (9.825), while freshman Abby Fletcher took fifth place (9.800).
The Flashes dominated on floor with its season-high 49.325. Freshman Nasha Manitkul-Davis posted a career-high 9.900 to tie for second place. Senior Michaela Romito and junior Alyssa Quinlan tied their season-high score of 9.825 to tie for fifth place.
Senior Brooke Timko took home first place on uneven bars with a career-high 9.900. Junior Sarah Lippowitsch and senior Michaela Romito also had career-bests on the event, both scoring a 9.850 and tying for second place. Rachel Stypinski took fifth place with a 9.825.
SCOUTING NO. 2 UCLA
The Bruins (10-2) and No. 2 in the nation with a RQS of 197.610 and a high of 198.075. UCLA ranks first on beam (49.520), third on vault (49.395) and floor (49.435), and fourth on bars (49.335).
Olympians Madison Kocian and Kyla Ross are among standout performers for the Bruins. Kocian earned four All-American honors during her freshman season a year ago, but has been limited primarily to balance beam this season. Ross has the team-best 39.579 all-around average and is No. 4 in the country on bars with a 9.935 RQS.
Peng-Peng Lee ranks in the top 10 nationally on beam and floor. Lee has an RQS of 9.935 on beam with two perfect 10s and 9.905 RQS on uneven bars. Katelyn Ohashi is third with a 9.925 RQS on beam and 16th on floor with two perfect 10s on the event.
SCOUTING NO. 16 NEBRASKA
The Huskers (6-1) are ranked No. 16 in the nation with a RQS of 196.135. Nebraska beat Pittsburgh, 196.425-193.600, in their last meet.
Vault is the Husker's best event, ranking 14th in the country (49.085). Sienna Crouse leads on the event ranking 12th in the nation with a RQS of 9.890 and a 9.975 high.
Abbie Epperson is a top all-around performer for Nebraska. She is seventh in the Big Ten with a 39.005 RQS. Taylor Houchin is third in the conference on uneven bars (9.880), while Grace Williams is tied for second on balance beam (9.870).
SCOUTING NO. 23 IOWA STATE
The Cyclones are 15-2 overall and No. 23 in the country with an all-around RQS of 195.665. In its last competition, Iowa State took first place in a tri-meet against Illinois State and Lindenwood, scoring its season-high of 196.450.
Haylee Young is a key all-around competitor for the Cyclones with a RQS of 39.310 to rank 16th in the country. In the Big 12, Young ranks sixth on beam (9.875), seventh on floor (9.850), eighth on vault (9.850).
Meaghan Sievers ranks 19th in the country on vault with a 9.875 RQS, while Hillary Green is 37th on bars with a 9.855.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State is 0-3 all-time vs. Nebraska. In the last meeting with the Huskers, the Golden Flashes lost, 196.550-194.525, at the NCAA Regional in Iowa City.
Kent State is 1-5 all-time vs. Iowa State. The Golden Flashes have not competed against the Cyclones since 2014 at the NCAA Regional in Baton Rouge. The Flashes' one win against the Cyclones came at the 2011 NCAA Ann Arbor Regional. Kent State defeated Iowa State, 195.450-194.800, and advanced to the 2011 NCAA Championships.
Kent State's only competition against UCLA came at the 2011 NCAA Championships in Cleveland. The Bruins came out on top, 196.500-195.000.
UP NEXT
Kent State will return to the M.A.C. Center on Friday, March 9. The Flashes will host MAC opponent Bowling Green at 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow the Kent State Gymnastics team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad. Live meet updates will be available through Twitter.
Players Mentioned
