Kent State University
Mid-American Conference
Fletcher Claims Floor Title at MAC Gymnastics Championships
3/24/2018 8:16:00 PM | Gymnastics
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – Freshman Abby Fletcher won the individual floor exercise title to lead Kent State at the 2018 Mid-American Conference Gymnastics Championships Saturday inside of McGuirk Arena. The Golden Flashes posted a 194.375 team score to finish sixth.
Five members of Kent State's floor lineup placed in the top-10 and posted a 49.375 to top the closest opponent by 0.200 points. Fletcher earned a 9.925 to match her career-high. Sophomore Sarah McCarty and freshman Toshi Richard each scored a 9.875 to tie for this and freshman Nasha Manitkul-Davis and junior Alyssa Quinlan tied for eight with scores of 9.850. Richard, who competed in just her second collegiate meet, received a 9.950 from one of the four judges and did a terrific job of replacing injured senior Rachel Stypinski in the lineup. Quinlan matched her personal-best in her final MAC Championships appearance.
The Flashes posted the third-best score on vault with a 48.900, which tied for the team's second-highest score of the season. Manitkul-Davis and McCarty both scored a 9.800 to lead the way and tie for seventh-place. Fletcher and junior Dara Williams finished in a tie for 9.775, which tied for 15th.
A shorthanded balance beam lineup posted a 48.175. Junior Kennedy Plude led the Flashes with a 9.850, which tied for 11th. Quinlan posted a 9.800 to tie for 18th. Sophomore Nuriya Mack earned a personal-best 9.775 and tied for 22nd.
Senior Michaela Romito tied for sixth on uneven bars, matching her career-high with a 9.850.
Following the meet, Rachel Stypinski was announced as the 2018 MAC Gymnast of the Year and joins former Kent State standout Marie Case as the only three-time winners of the award. Stypinski, who did not compete on Saturday, was also named MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year. Brice Biggin was named MAC Coach of the Year for the 11th time.
Kent State awaits to learn where it will compete at NCAA Regionals on Saturday, April 7. The NCAA Selection Show will air on NCAA.com at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 26.
Be sure to follow the Kent State gymnastics team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
2018 MAC Postseason Awards
Gymnast of the Year: Rachel Stypinski, Kent State
Specialist of the Year: Anna Martucci, Northern Illinois
Senior Gymnast of the Year: Rachel Stypinski, Kent State
Freshman of the Year: Morgan Spence, Western Michigan
Coach of the Year: Brice Biggin, Kent State
2018 MAC Championship Results
1. Central Michigan 197.025
2. Northern Illinois 195.875
3. Bowling Green 195.850
4. Eastern Michigan 195.275
5. Western Michigan 194.775
6. Kent State 194.375
7. Ball State 194.225
2018 MAC Championship Event Winners
Vault: 4 competitors – 9.850
Bars: Stacie Harrison (WMU) – 9.925
Beam: Katy Clements (CMU) – 9.950
Floor: Abby Fletcher (KSU) – 9.925
All-Around: Gianna Plaksa (CMU) – 39.350
2018 MAC Championship All-Tournament Team
Jovannah East, Bowling Green
India McPeak, Bowling Green
Laura Mitchell, Bowling Green
Katy Clements, Central Michigan
Bryttany Kaplan, Central Michigan
Gianna Plaksa, Central Michigan
Hayley Porter, Central Michigan
Sydney Williams, Central Michigan
Lacey Rubin, Eastern Michigan
Abby Fletcher, Kent State
Amanda Bartemio, Northern Illinois
Ashley Potts, Northern Illinois
Katherine Prentice, Northern Illinois
Stacie Harrison, Western Michigan
Players Mentioned
