Kent State University
MAC Championship
Gymnastics Returns to DeKalb for MAC Championships Saturday
3/22/2019 11:37:00 AM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics team will make its second trip to DeKalb, Illinois this season for the 2019 Mid-American Conference Gymnastics Championship on Saturday, March 23. Competition is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
Follow the #MACTION
Fans can follow the MAC Championships online with live results here. The meet will also be streamed on ESPN3.
Last Time Out
Kent State fell to Eastern Michigan, 196.025-193.300 to conclude its regular season schedule. The Golden Flashes posted scores of 48.875 on floor, 48.600 on vault and bars, and 47.825 on beam.
Senior Dara Williams earned a 9.825 on vault and bars to finish first and third in the events, respectively. Sophomore Abby Fletcher finished in third place on vault (9.750), fourth place on beam (9.775) and ninth place on floor (9.775). Sophomore Toshi Richard finished third on floor with a 9.825, while freshman Madison Trott and junior Jade Brown both scored a 9.800 on floor to finish in fifth place.
Dara Williams All-MAC Second Team
Williams has competed on vault and bars this season for the 38th-ranked Golden Flashes. She has the second best average in the MAC on bars (9.805) and ranks second on vault (9.800). Williams is one of just three MAC competitors with a top-six NQS in multiple events.
The team captain recorded a career-best 9.925 on bars against Western Michigan, which is the highest score on bars by any MAC gymnast this season. She has a 100 percent success rate this season and has scored a 9.650 or higher on every routine.
All-Around
Kent State is ranked 38th in the country with a 195.270 NQS, which is second in the MAC trailing only Central Michigan.
Vault
Kent State ranks seventh in the MAC with a team NQS of 48.595. Individually, Williams leads the Golden Flashes with a 9.805 NQS which is tied for sixth in the conference. Fletcher is ranked 22nd in the MAC with a 9.755.
Uneven Bars
The Golden Flashes are second in the MAC with a 48.860 RQS on bars. Williams also leads the Flashes on the event, and she is tied for second place in the MAC with a 9.835 NQS. Junior Jade Brown (9.780) and freshman Madison Trott (9.765) are also key competitors for Kent State's bar rotation, ranking 13th and 14th in the MAC, respectively. Freshman Madison Iannuzzo is 24th in the conference with a 9.735 NQS.
Balance Beam
The Flashes are first in the MAC on beam with a 48.900 NQS. The team also holds the second highest score of the season (49.175). Senior Kennedy Plude is sixth in the conference with a 9.820 NQS. Senior Sarah Lippowitsch is ninth in the MAC with a 9.800, while sophomore Abby Fletcher and freshman Cami Klein are tied for 12th (9.790). Freshman Riley Danielson is tied for 22nd in the conference with a 9.750.
Floor Exercise
Kent State is third in the MAC on floor with a team NQS of 48.990. Fletcher leads the Golden Flashes on the event with a NQS of 9.865. Junior Sarah McCarty is tied for 12th place (9.830), sophomore Toshi Richard and Brown are tied for 20th with a 9.795.
Up Next
NCAA Regionals are next on the calendar should the Golden Flashes qualify. Currently ranked 38th in the country, the Flashes need to jump into the top-36 to qualify for NCAA Regionals. Regional host sites include Oregon State, LSU, Georgia and Michigan and are scheduled for April 19-20.
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
