Kent State University
Ball State
Haxton Wins on Beam as Flashes Fall to Ball State
2/4/2024 4:00:00 PM | Gymnastics
MUNCIE, Ind. – In a battle between two of the top-ranked gymnastics teams in the Mid-American Conference, Kent State fell to Ball State on Sunday afternoon, 196.075-195.525.
Sarah Haxton won her first event title of the season with an impressive routine on beam, scoring 9.900 to set a new career high.
ROTATION 1 – BARS
Karlie Franz led the way for the Flashes in the first rotation, scoring a team-high 9.800 after sticking her landing to start off her meet. Both Charlie Behner and Kyndall Gilbert followed just behind her, going 9.775. All six Golden Flashes hit on their routines and totaled 48.850 as a squad, holding a narrow advantage over the Cardinals after the opening rotation.
ROTATION 2 – VAULT
Kent State combined for a 48.775 in the second rotation. Kennedy Weinpert earned a 9.825 to finish second in the event and Nastia Rudnitskaya scored 9.800, good enough for third place. Weinpert has now scored 9.8+ in three consecutive meets while Rudnitskaya has hit or eclipsed that mark in three of her four meets this season. Just off the podium, Gabby Riley tied for fourth with a 9.750.
ROTATION 3 – FLOOR
Dani Fuertez finished tied for third on floor, earning a podium finish for the second consecutive meet. The freshman paced Kent State with a 9.875. Weinpert and Heidi Schultz each earned a 9.825 as the Flashes combined for a 49.875. Heading into the final rotation, Ball State held a razor-thin advantage over Kent State, 146.750-146.700.
ROTATION 4 – BEAM
Haxton set the bar high in the final event, earning her first-ever 9.900 on beam from the lead-off spot. The Indiana native had scored 9.875 four times in her career, most recently against Western Michigan a season ago, but had not cracked the 9.900 threshold before Sunday afternoon. Heidi Schultz, the beam anchor, tied for second with a 9.850. Schultz has scored 9.8+ on three of her four collegiate beam routines. Finishing just behind her, Alyssa Guns set a new season-high score with a 9.825 as the Flashes totaled 48.825 as a squad. Riley made her Flashes debut on beam after solely competing on vault in the first three meets of the season, scoring her second 9.750 of the afternoon. However, Ball State put together their best event total of the day on floor to keep the Flashes' attempt at a last-minute comeback at bay.
FLASHES BY EVENT
Vault
Kennedy Weinpert – 9.825 (2nd)
Nastia Rudnitskaya – 9.800 (3rd)
Gabby Riley – 9.750
Bars
Karlie Franz – 9.800
Charlie Behner – 9.775
Kyndall Gilbert – 9.775
Beam
Sarah Haxton – 9.900 (1st)
Heidi Schultz– 9.850 (t-2nd)
Alyssa Guns – 9.825
Floor
Dani Fuertez – 9.875 (t-3rd)
Heidi Schultz – 9.825
Kennedy Weinpert – 9.825
UP NEXT
Kent State returns to the M.A.C. Center on Sunday, February 11, for a Mid-American Conference matchup with Northern Illinois at 1 p.m. A season ago, the Flashes fell to the Huskies 195.375-195.025. Karlie Franz took second on floor with a then-career-high 9.925 in DeKalb.
As part of the "Dreaming of Warmer Weather" promotion, fans are encouraged to wear their best beach-themed attire and can take home Kent State Gymnastics beach towels, frisbees, and more.
The 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
