Kent State University
MAC Championships
Flashes Post Season-High Score at MAC Championships
3/18/2023 8:33:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics posted a season-high score at the Mid-American Conference Gymnastics Championships in front of a home crowd in the M.A.C. Center on Saturday.
The Golden Flashes placed third in the meet with a 196.175, narrowly trailing champion Central Michigan's 196.525 and Ball State's 196.325. Senior Rachel DeCavitch finished in the top two in two events as well as took home second place in the all-around competition, while junior Kyndall Gilbert also added a top-three finish. Overall, Kent State had 12 gymnasts finish in the top-10 throughout the meet.
DeCavitch's all-around score (39.450) set a new career high in her final career meet in the M.A.C. Center.
ROTATION TWO
After a bye in the first rotation, the Flashes started the day on floor. Senior Karlie Franz and sophomore Alyssa Guns, who were both named All-MAC Second Team along with DeCavitch prior to the start of the meet, led the way for Kent State, both totaling 9.900 to tie for fourth place. DeCavitch added a 9.875 with her routine, while junior Kennedy Weinpert scored a 9.850. The Flashes opened the meet with a 49.275, a strong start in their highest-ranked event.
ROTATION FOUR
The Flashes were on vault following another bye. Gilbert tied for third in the event with a 9.850, which matched her season high. Weinpert followed closely behind Gilbert with a 9.825, while DeCavitch and freshman Zoe Rankin each scored 9.775 as the Flashes combined for a 48.975 on the apparatus.
ROTATION SIX
The Flashes posted a 49.450 on bars following the third and final bye, the second-highest bars score in program history and the highest since 2000. All six Flashes hit on their routines, highlighted by DeCavitch's 9.925. The senior received a 10.000 from one judge after a stuck landing and finished tied for second in the event. Her score is also tied for the ninth-highest in program history. Junior Sarah Haxton matched her career-high mark and freshman Nastia Rudnitskaya set a new personal best, each scoring a 9.900 to tie for fourth. Gilbert (9.875) and sophomore Brynne Tsipis (9.850) also set new career-high marks to cap of a stellar rotation for Kent State.
ROTATION SEVEN
DeCavitch led the way for the Flashes again on beam, finishing with a 9.875 to tie for second once again. Haxton tied for fourth place in the event with a 9.850, matching her season high. Guns and graduate student Cami Klein each tallied 9.775 as the Flashes combined for a 48.475 in the event. Central Michigan and Ball State both hit on all six routines in the final rotation to narrowly edge out the Flashes.
FLASHES BY EVENT
Vault
Kyndall Gilbert – 9.850 (t-3)
Kennedy Weinpert – 9.825 (t-8)
Rachel DeCavitch – 9.775
Zoe Rankin – 9.775
Bars
Rachel DeCavitch – 9.925 (t-2)
Sarah Haxton – 9.900 (t-4)
Nastia Rudnitskaya – 9.900 (t-4)
Kyndall Gilbert – 9.875 (t-8)
Brynne Tsipis – 9.850 (t-10)
Beam
Rachel DeCavitch – 9.875 (t-2)
Sarah Haxton – 9.850 (t-4)
Cami Klein – 9.775
Alyssa Guns – 9.775
Floor
Karlie Franz – 9.900 (t-4)
Alyssa Guns – 9.900 (t-4)
Rachel DeCavitch – 9.875
Kennedy Weinpert – 9.850
All-Around
Rachel DeCavitch – 39.425 (2nd)
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
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Players Mentioned
