Kent State University
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Western Michigan
Flashes Post Third-Highest Score in Program History En Route to MAC Regular Season Championship
3/13/2022 4:32:00โฏPM | Gymnastics
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - On Sunday, the Kent State gymnastics team took on Western Michigan in a road dual meet that served as both the regular season finale and a battle for first place in the Mid-American Conference. The Broncos showed up well, as they have all season, posting a score of 196.725. But the Golden Flashes showed up in an even bigger way, posting a score of 196.850, their third-highest score of all-time and highest since 2004. Thus, the Flashes beat the Broncos and earned the well-deserved title of regular season MAC Champions.
Coming into the meet, Western Michigan was ranked slightly above Kent State in NQS at 195.895, good enough for 36th in the nation (the Flashes had an NQS of 195.805 and were ranked 41st in the country). However, a lot can change in a day, and it certainly did on Sunday for the Flashes. Kent State knew that they had to execute on all of their events to have a chance against the Broncos, who have sat atop the MAC rankings all season. And that's exactly what the Flashes did, putting on Kent State's greatest gymnastics performance since the 2004 MAC Championships, when most of the athletes involved on Sunday were mere toddlers.
The Flashes' best single event score of the day came on floor, where they posted a 49.550, their highest floor total of the season and fifth-highest ever. They were led on the event by freshman Alyssa Guns, whose 9.950 was first in the meet. Junior Karlie Franz had a nice score of 9.925 on the event as well.
On bars, the Flashes found their second-highest total of the mark with a score of 49.250, beating Western Michigan's bars score of 49.000. Sophomore Sarah Haxton was first among either team with a score of 9.875.
After posting a 48.850 on vault in the second rotationย compared to Western's 49.125, the Flashes put on their dazzling floor routine in the third rotation. With one rotation left, Kent State was going to need a strong finish on the balance beam to reach glory.
And for the third meet in a row, the Flashes did get that superb beam performance, posting a score of 49.200 compared to WMU's 49.125. Senior Cami Klein's 9.925 was first in the meet and a new personal record for the Zionsville, Indiana native.
With that, Kent State was officially crowned MAC Regular Season Champs.
Junior Rachel DeCavitch, the reigning MAC Gymnast of the Week,ย finished tied for first in the all-around category with a score of 39.300.
Now, head coach Brice Biggin's red-hot Golden Flashes will travel to Ypsilanti, Michigan on Saturday, to compete in the MAC Championships. Stay tuned to kentstatesports.com for more information on that meet.
Players Mentioned
