Kent State University
West Virginia
Flashes Finish Third in Morgantown
1/13/2023 9:30:00โฏPM | Gymnastics
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.ย โ The Kent State gymnastics team got its 2023 season underway on Friday night at the West Virginia Tri-Meet against the host Mountaineers and Maryland.ย
The Golden Flashes opened the season with a 194.475,ย their seventh-highest opening meet score in program history. Maryland won the meet with a total of 195.425, while West Virginia posted a 195.100 on its home floor.
Kent State started the season on floor and started out strong, posting a 49.050 in the event, its highest mark of the night. Seniors Rachel DeCavitch and Karlie Franz both posted 9.850s to tie for floor winner. Sophomores Alyssa Guns and Grace Wehry both eclipsed the 9.8 mark, tallying a 9.825 and a 9.800, respectively.
DeCavitch led the Flashes on vault with a 9.800. Senior Olivia Amodei and juniors Kyndall Gilbert andย Kennedy Weinpertย all posted a 9.775 to help lead the Flashes to a 48.775 in the second rotation. At the meet's midway point, the Flashes held a narrow lead on the field.
On bars, senior Taylor Wentland made her Kent State debut and posted a team-high 9.800, which gave her a share of the event title. DeCavitch and Weinpert continued their strong nights in the third rotation with scores 9.775 and 9.750. Sophomore Brynne Tsipis started her season off strong as well, scoring a 9.700 as part of a 48.575 effort from the squad.
Junior Sarah Haxton led the way for the Flashes in the final rotation with a 9.725 on beam. Wehry scored a 9.700, a career-best, as the Flashes combined for a 48.075 mark.
A pair of freshman also made their debuts in the blue and gold leos. Nastia Rudnitskaya competed on bars and Zoe Rankin made her first collegiate appearance on beam.
FLASHES BY EVENT
Vault
Rachel DeCavitch โ 9.800
Olivia Amodei โ 9.775
Kyndall Gilbert โ 9.775
Kennedy Weinpert โ 9.775
Bars
Taylor Wentland โ 9.800 (T-1)
Rachel DeCavitch - 9.775
Kennedy Weinpert โ 9.750
Beam
Sarah Haxton โ 9.725
Grace Wehry โ 9.700
Floor
Rachel DeCavitch โ 9.850 (T-1)
Karlie Franz โ 9.850 (T-1)
Alyssa Guns โ 9.825
Grace Wehry โ 9.800ย
All-Around
Rachel DeCavitch โ 38.875
NEXT UP
On Friday, Jan. 20, the Flashes head to Lebanon, Tennessee, for the Tennessee Collegiate Classic at the Farm Bureau Expo Center. Kent State will compete alongside Ball State, Lindenwood, Southeast Missouri State, and Fisk.ย ย
TICKET TIME
Fans can purchase season tickets for the 2023 seasonย hereย or by calling the Kent State Ticket Office atย 330-672-4455. Single meet tickets are also availableย here.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
For more information on the Kent State gymnastics team, follow Kent State Gymnastics onย Instagram,ย Twitterย andย Facebook, and visitย kentstatesports.comย for additional information.
Players Mentioned
