Kent State University
West Virginia
Flashes Come Up Short in Home Opener
1/28/2024 4:50:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio. – The M.A.C. Center was buzzing for Kent State's gymnastics home opener on Sunday, but the Golden Flashes fell to West Virginia, 194.825-194.050.
Dani Fuertez earned the first event win of her career with an impressive 9.925 on floor and Sarah Haxton placed top-three in two events, but the Mountaineers were able to secure the victory with their highest team total of the season
ROTATION 1 – VAULT
Competing in Olympic order, the Flashes kicked off the first home meet of the season on vault, posting a 49.025 total. Kennedy Weinpert and Charlie Behner led the way with a 9.850 each, tying for second in the event. Weinpert's vault set a new season high and tied her career best. Nastia Rudnitskaya, Gabby Riley, and Kyndall Gilbert all went 9.775 to give the Flashes a slight lead heading into the second rotation.
ROTATION 2 – BARS
Rudnitskaya paced Kent State, finishing second with a 9.775. Sarah Haxton placed third with a 9.750 and Behner came in right behind her, scoring 9.725. Kent State combined for a 47.550 in the event.
ROTATION 3 – BEAM
Haxton and Nene Alvine led the way for Kent State on beam, each earning a team-best 9.800 to finish tied for second in the event. Both gymnasts have scored 9.8+ in their last two beam routines. Heidi Schultz added a 9.775 as the Flashes totaled 48.275 in the third rotation.
ROTATION 4 – FLOOR
The Flashes saved their best for last, posting their highest event score of the afternoon on floor with a 49.200. Fuertez tied for the win in the event with a career-high 9.925. Karlie Franz finished third with a 9.900, her third-straight 9.9+ to begin the season. Alyssa Guns also continued her excellent start to the year on floor, scoring a 9.875.
FLASHES BY EVENT
Vault
Kennedy Weinpert – 9.850 (t-2nd)
Charlie Behner – 9.850 (t-2nd)
Bars
Nastia Rudnitskaya – 9.775 (2nd)
Sarah Haxton – 9.750 (3rd)
Charlie Behner – 9.725
Beam
Sarah Haxton – 9.800 (t-2nd)
Nene Alvine – 9.800 (t-2nd)
Heidi Schultz – 9.775
Floor
Dani Fuertez – 9.925 (t-1st)
Karlie Franz – 9.900 (3rd)
Alyssa Guns – 9.875
UP NEXT
The Flashes will hit the road to open the month of February, traveling to Muncie to start Mid-American Conference competition against Ball State on Sunday, Feb. 4. It will be the second time in three weeks that the Cardinals and Flashes have faced one another, last having met at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic. Ball State won the meet with a new program record of their own, scoring 198.025.
Kent State will return to the M.A.C. Center the following week to host Northern Illinois on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 1 p.m. That meet will be streamed on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
For more information on the Kent State gymnastics team, follow Kent State Gymnastics on Instagram, X and Facebook, and visit kentstatesports.com for additional information.
Players Mentioned
