Kent State University
Eastern Michigan
Flashes Post Highest Season Total on Senior Day
3/6/2022 5:21:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio - On Sunday, the Kent State gymnastics team celebrated Senior Day during its last home meet of the season, hosting Eastern Michigan and Ohio State. And for the second meet in a row, the Golden Flashes posted a new season-high overall score, registering a 196.550.
The Flashes honored six seniors on Sunday, who bid farewell to competition in the M.A.C. Center: Riley Danielson, Sam Henry, Maddie Iannuzzo, Cami Klein, Kendra Lindway, and Maddie Trott.
After partaking in a tri-meet on Friday at Ohio State and posting a then-season-high score of 196.375, Kent State had a quick turnaround for Sunday's meet. But head coach Brice Biggin's team didn't show any signs of fatigue, and it was clear that they brought their best for the crowded arena jam-packed with loud and loyal fans.
As is custom for home meets, the Flashes started this meet on vault. Alyssa Guns, the promising freshman who has made major contributions to for Kent State all season, once again put on the performance of a seasoned veteran, leading the team on the event with a score of 9.875. This score tied Guns' personal best on the event and was third overall. Junior Rachel DeCavitch also performed well on the vault, posting a 9.850 and second-place finish among the Golden Flashes on the event.
Speaking of DeCavitch, she also tied for the team-high score on beam at 9.875, her highest mark of the year on that event. But DeCavitch shared that 9.875 beam score with her teammate, sophomore Sarah Haxton, who tied her season-high on the event. Kent State's total score on beam was 49.250, which also breaks their season record of 49.225 on the event set on Friday.
On floor, Kent State posted an overall score of 49.300. Junior Karlie Franz and sophomore Kennedy Weinpert each registered scores of 9.900 to lead the Flashes. That score is a season-high for Weinpert and tied for a season high for Franz. It was also the second-highest floor score of the meet.
And finally on bars, senior Maddie Iannuzzo posted a career-best score of 9.850 to cap off her last home meet. Rachel DeCavitch was the next-highest-scoring Flash on the event with a score of 9.800. Additionally, DeCavitch posted an all-around score of 39.350, beating out two members of Eastern Michigan to finish first.
Unfortunately for Kent State, Ohio State was nearly flawless in all events on Sunday, taking first place in the meet with an overall score of 197.525. But this is the second meet in a row in which the Flashes gave the 18th-ranked Buckeyes a run for their money, showing that they do in fact belong on the same floor as them. And Kent State beat conference opponent Eastern Michigan by a sizable margin, who only scored 194.575.
If this weekend is any indication, the Golden Flashes are heating up at just the right time. With one regular season meet remaining next Sunday at Western Michigan, the Flashes and Broncos will likely be competing for the rights to first place in the Mid-American Conference heading into the conference championship. And given the momentum that Kent State has been building, anyone paying attention had better respect what they can do moving forward.
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Players Mentioned
