Kent State University
Eastern Michigan University
Top Four MAC Teams Tangle at Eagle Invitational
2/5/2021 12:30:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics team will look to continue its undefeated start to the 2021 season as they travel to Ypsilanti, Mich., to take on Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Ball State in the Eagle Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 4 p.m.
The Flashes are in search of their first 4-0 start since the 2008 season. It will be no easy task as the top four teams in the Mid-American Conference go head-to-head. The Eagle Invitational will be the team's first and only meet this season that features more than one opponent.
"We are very excited about the opportunity to compete this weekend," said Head Coach Brice Biggin. "All four teams will be very solid, and this will be a huge test for our team. We need to go in there confident and work together as a team. If we do that, I think we will be just fine."
Last Time Out
Senior Abby Fletcher was named the MAC Gymnast of the Week after her spectacular performance on Senior Day, the conference announced Tuesday. She posted a career-high 9.900 on vault to tie for the individual event title, and she scored a career-best 9.850 on vault to take home the individual title.
Fletcher also crushed her floor routine, winning her third straight individual floor title to start the season with a score of 9.875. Her three individual titles on Sunday bring her total to five for the season and at least one individual title in all three meets this season.
Along with Fletcher, fellow seniors Jade Brown and Toshi Richard both showed impressive floor routines on Senior Day. They each tied for the individual title with Fletcher on floor and earned their first wins of the season.
Kent State knocked off Eastern Michigan, the No. 2 ranked team in the Mid-American Conference heading into the meet. The Flashes have now posted three-straight 194.600+ scores to begin the 2021 season and are the 31st-ranked team in the country.
Scouting Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan and Kent State will be competing against one another for the second straight week. The Flashes got the best of the Eagles last week to improve their record to 55-26 in the rivalry.
The Eagles are led by Head Coach Katie Minasola and are currently ranked third in the MAC. As a team, they are second in the conference on the balance beam.
Three EMU gymnasts rank inside the top-five in the MAC on beam, led by Shannon Gregory who ranks second. Caitlin Satler and Haydn Crossen rank third and fifth, respectively. Senior Courtney Bezold ranks second in the MAC on bars.
Scouting Western Michigan
Kent State holds a 59-22 all-time series record against Western Michigan, including a remarkable 44-6 stretch since 1996.
The Broncos are currently the second ranked team in the MAC on average and have posted the MAC-high score of the season (195.425). They are the only school in the conference to post a score of 195+.
WMU shines on beam and bars, ranking first and second in the conference on those two events, respectively. Their MAC-leading beam lineup is led by Payton Murphy who leads the conference on the event. The Broncos are led on bars by Alexis Olivier (T-6th) and Stacie Harrison (T-9th).
Scouting Ball State
The Flashes hold a 59-20 series lead over the Cardinals, but Ball State has won the last three meetings between the two teams.
Ball State is currently ranked fourth in the MAC. They lead the conference on bars and rank second in the MAC on both vault and floor.
Four Cardinals rank in the top-10 on bars, led by Arden Hudson who is tied for sixth. Their vault lineup is led by Marissa Nychyk and Victoria Henry, who are both tied for fifth in the MAC on the event. Claudia Goyco is Ball State's best on the floor (T-4th).
How to Follow the Eagle Invitational
Live stats of the Eagle Invitational can be viewed on EMU Athletics.
Be sure to follow the Kent State gymnastics team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad, including live updates during the Eagle Invitational and much more!
Up Next
The team will travel to Ypsilanti again on Valentine's Day, Sunday, Feb. 14, and will host Western Michigan on Thursday, Feb. 18. The Flashes will then take on MAC-rival Central Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 21, inside the M.A.C. Center.
