Kent State University
Northern Illinois
Flashes Set for Showdown with NIU on Sunday
2/10/2024 12:30:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics program will host conference foe Northern Illinois on Sunday at the M.A.C. Center. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
In a battle between two of the top ranked teams in the MAC, the Golden Flashes (6-3, 0-1) fell to Ball State on Sunday, 196.050-195.525.
Sarah Haxton won her first event title of the season thanks to a career-high 9.900 on beam and Heidi Schultz tied for second with a 9.850. Alyssa Guns set a new season high on the event with a 9.825. Dani Fuertez earned her second-straight top-three finish on floor with a 9.875.
TEN-NESSEE
The Flashes placed second at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic with a program-record 197.725. Kent State also set new program-best scores on floor (49.675) and tied the highest-ever results on bars (49.500) and second-highest on vault (49.300). Including exhibitions, the Flashes hit on 32/32 routines.
Karlie Franz scored a perfect 10.000 on floor, the first Kent State gymnast to do so since Jessie James in 2004 and the first MAC gymnast to go perfect on floor since 2005. Alyssa Guns and Heidi Schultz each received a 10.00 from one judge, finishing second in the meet with a 9.975 each.
QUICK STICKS
- Kent State holds a 45-14 advantage in the all-time series but have lost four of the last six meets, including a 195.375-195.025 last season in DeKalb. Kent State came out victorious in their first meeting this season, beating the Huskies at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic in January, 197.725-196.400.
- The Flashes rank 18th in the nation on floor and first in the Mid-American Conference with an average of 49.319.
- Both Karlie Franz and Alyssa Guns boast the third-highest average on floor in the Mid-American Conference (9.881).
- Average leaders: Kennedy Weinpert (vault - 9.794), Heidi Schultz (bars - 9.862; beam - 9.831), Karlie Franz & Alyssa Guns (floor - 9.881)
- Six Flashes have claimed event victories so far this season - Karlie Franz twice on floor, Heidi Schultz and Sarah Haxton once on beam, and both Alyssa Guns and Dani Fuertez once on floor. Schultz leads the team with five podium finishes.
- Karlie Franz has scored 9.8+ in all four bars routines while both Sarah Haxton and Alyssa Guns have both gone 9.8+ on beam three times.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Huskies (2-5-1, 1-1 MAC) enter Sunday's meet ranked 53rd in the nation. Northern Illinois ranks 47th on vault, 55th on bars, 59th on beam, and 49th on floor. In their last time out, the Huskies fell in their home opener against both Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan, posting a 193.425 team total.
Isabella Ross (116.550) and Emmalise Nock (115.825) are the only gymnasts to total over 100 points so far this season. Isabella Sissi is the only Husky to have competed in the all-around this season, posting a season-best 39.225 at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic. Both Kent State and NIU had record-setting meets in Tennessee, as Northern Illinois set program records in the overall (196.400) and vault (49.150).
Sam Morreale is in her 13th year at the helm of the Northern Illinois program. He sports a 90-85-2 all-time record as head coach.
UP NEXT
Kent State travels to Washington D.C. on Friday, Feb. 16, to face off against George Washington, Towson, New Hampshire, and William & Mary. The meet is slated to get underway at 7 p.m.
The Flashes next compete on their home floor on Sunday, March 3, at 1 p.m. against Eastern Michigan for Hometown Heroes Day.
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
