Guns, Schultz Named MAC Gymnasts to Watch; Flashes Tabbed Fourth in Preseason Poll
1/5/2024 11:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio – After placing third at the conference championship meet last March, the Kent State gymnastics team was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference by the league's seven head coaches on Friday.
Junior Alyssa Guns and sophomore Heidi Schultz were named to the MAC Gymnasts to Watch List. Fourteen gymnasts across the conference were recognized.
Ball State and Central Michigan tied for the most votes in the preseason poll while the Cardinals received five votes to win the MAC Championship. Western Michigan narrowly beat out the Golden Flashes for third in the preseason poll, garnering 26 points compared to Kent State's 24.
The full poll and Gymnasts to Watch list can be found below.
Head coach Brice Biggin enters his 33rd season at the helm of the Golden Flashes program with a roster that features both veteran leadership and underclassmen looking to step into a larger role. Guns and Karlie Franz return after competing at the NCAA Regional at Oklahoma last April.
The Flashes will kick off the 2024 season on the road on Saturday, January 13, at 4 p.m. against Pitt. The first home meet of the new year will see the Flashes take on West Virginia in the M.A.C. Center on Sunday, January 28, at 1 p.m.
Single-meet and season tickets are available now and can be purchased here. Â
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2024 MAC Gymnastics Preseason Coaches' Poll (First Place Votes)
T1. Ball State – 32 points (4)
T1. Central Michigan – 32 points (2)
3. Western Michigan – 26 points
4. Kent State – 24 points (1)
T5. Bowling Green – 12 points
T5. Eastern Michigan – 12 points
7. Northern Illinois – 9 points
MAC Tournament Champion: Ball State (5), Central Michigan (1), Western Michigan (1)
2024 MAC Gymnasts to Watch
Zoe Middleton, Sophomore, Ball State
Grace Sumner, Junior, Ball State
Isabella Rivelli, Sophomore, Bowling Green
Kathryn Weilbacher, Junior, Bowling Green
Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Sophomore, Central Michigan
Lia Kmieciak, Junior, Central Michigan
Raisa Boris, Senior, Eastern Michigan
Jacquelyn Patterson, Freshman, Eastern Michigan
Alyssa Guns, Junior, Kent State
Heidi Schultz, Sophomore, Kent State
Alyssa Al-Ashari, Senior, Northern Illinois
Isabella Sissi, Junior, Northern Illinois
Amanda Gruber, Graduate Student, Western Michigan
Payton Murphy, Graduate Student, Western MichiganÂ
