Kent State University
Northern Illinois
Flashes Post Third-Highest Total in Program History in Win Over NIU
2/11/2024 4:54:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics team posted its third-highest team total in program history to secure a 196.925-195.325 victory over Northern Illinois on Sunday afternoon inside the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes (7-3, 1-1 MAC) captured all four event titles for the first time this season and multiple gymnasts either set or matched career-high scores. Alyssa Guns stood atop the podium twice after scoring 9.925 in both of her events, while Kennedy Weinpert and Heidi Schultz both earned a pair of top-three finishes.
ROTATION 1 – VAULT
Competing in Olympic order, the Flashes started the afternoon on vault. Kennedy Weinpert earned her first event win of the season, tying for first with a career-high 9.875. Weinpert has now earned a top-three finish on vault in three consecutive meets. Kyndall Gilbert, debuting a new vault, placed third with a 9.850, which matched her season high. Nastia Rudnitskaya earned a 9.825 to finish just off the podium as Kent State combined for a 49.075. Despite earning their second-highest vault score so far this season, the Flashes trailed slightly after the first rotation, 49.100-49.075.
ROTATION 2 – BARS
The Flashes took the lead in the second rotation and never looked back. Sarah Haxton led the way for Kent State and took home the event title with a career-high 9.950. Heidi Schultz matched her career-best score with a 9.900 to finish third. Both Rudnitskaya and Karlie Franz scored 9.850 and Charlie Behner added a 9.825 as the Flashes combined for a 49.375, the fourth-best score in the event in program history.
ROTATION 3 – BEAM
Alyssa Guns won on beam for the first time during her junior campaign thanks to a career-high 9.925. Schultz earned her second top-three finish of the afternoon with a 9.850 from the anchor spot, coming in third in the event. The sophomore has earned a spot on the podium on beam in back-to-back meets. Freshman Ashley Morgan tallied a 9.800 after earning a 9.750 on vault in her Golden Flashes debut. Kent State combined for a 49.000 team total, the second-highest mark in the event so far this year. Heading into the final rotation, the Flashes held a 147.450-147.100 advantage over the Huskies.
ROTATION 4 – FLOOR
A trio of Flashes won on floor as the squad combined for a 49.475 total in the final rotation, the second-highest floor score of the season so far. Guns, Franz, and Dani Fuertez all scored 9.925 to share the top step on the podium. Franz has now won on floor three times this season, while Guns and Fuertez each have captured the event title twice. Fuertez' score also matched her career best. Weinpert and Zoe Rankin each added a 9.850 as the Flashes posted five of the top-six scores in the event on the afternoon.
FLASHES BY EVENT
Vault
Kennedy Weinpert – 9.875 (t-1st)
Kyndall Gilbert – 9.850 (3rd)
Nastia Rudnitskaya – 9.825
Bars
Sarah Haxton – 9.950 (1st)
Heidi Schultz – 9.900 (3rd)
Karlie Franz – 9.850
Nastia Rudnitskaya – 9.850
Beam
Alyssa Guns – 9.925 (t-1st)
Heidi Schultz– 9.850 (3rd)
Ashley Morgan – 9.800
Floor
Dani Fuertez – 9.925 (t-1st)
Alyssa Guns – 9.925 (t-1st)
Karlie Franz – 9.925 (t-1st)
UP NEXT
Kent State will hit the road for the nation's capital on Friday, Feb. 16, to kick off a three-meet road trip. The Flashes will compete against George Washington, Towson, William & Mary, and New Hampshire at 7 p.m. before traveling north to face Central Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 24.
The Flashes will next compete within the friendly walls of the M.A.C. Center on Sunday, March 3, at 1 p.m. when they host Eastern Michigan as part of Kent State Gymnastics' 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
