Kent State University
Bowling Green
Gymnastics Celebrates MAC Regular Season Co-Championship with Senior Day Win
3/17/2024 5:08:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio – With a 197.100-195.750 win over Bowling Green on senior day, the Kent State gymnastics team earned a share of the Mid-American Conference regular season title heading into the conference championship meet. The Golden Flashes tied with Ball State atop the conference table as both teams finished the season 5-1 in conference meets.Â
Kent State's 197.100 sets the third-highest score in program history and the third-best mark so far this season. This year's squad has set five of the six-highest score in program history.
The Flashes, who entered Sunday's meet ranked No. 24 in the country, won on all four events and have secured their spot in the upcoming NCAA Championships. They have also now scored 49+ on all four events in three consecutive meets.
ROTATION 1 – VAULT
Competing in Olympic order (on the Flashes' Olympic Day), Kent State started the afternoon on vault, combining for a 49.075 team total. Nastia Rudnitskaya and Kennedy Weinpert led the way for the Flashes, tying for first with a 9.850 each. Mya Migliore made her collegiate debut in the final meet of the year at the M.A.C. Center, placing third with a 9.825. Charlie Behner continued her strong run in the event, adding a 9.800.
ROTATION 2 – BARS
The Flashes earned a 49.325 on bars, their third-highest score in the event this season. Rudnitskaya earned her second event win of the afternoon and was joined atop the podium by Sarah Haxton after each scored 9.925. Rudnitskaya's score set a new career high and marked her first win on bars this season, while Haxton has now claimed three titles in the event during her senior season. A trio of Flashes – Heidi Schultz, Brynne Tsipis, and Kyndall Gilbert – tied for third after each earned a 9.825. After holding a slim lead heading into the apparatus, the Flashes' strong second rotation put them in the driver's seat for the rest of the meet.
ROTATION 3 – BEAM
Alyssa Guns won her third beam title of the season with a 9.875. Haxton continued to be rock-solid as the beam leadoff, scoring 9.825 to kick off the rotation.  Schultz, Dani Fuertez, and Gabby Riley all added a 9.800 as the Flashes combined for a 49.100 heading into floor.
ROTATION 4 – FLOOR
With a regular season title on the line, the Flashes put together one of their strongest performances on floor, earning a 49.600 team total. Fuertez led the way for Kent State, earning a career-best 9.975 to win the event after receiving a 10.00 from one judge. Schultz scored a 9.950 to finish second while Alyssa Guns earned a third-place finish with a 9.925. Karlie Franz and Zoe Rankin each scored 9.875 to give the Flashes their second-highest floor score of the season and secure the senior day win and their second MAC regular season title in the past three seasons.Â
FLASHES BY EVENT
Vault
Nastia Rudnitskaya – 9.850 (t-1st)
Kennedy Weinpert – 9.850 (t-1st)
Mya Migliore – 9.825 (t-3rd)
Bars
Sarah Haxton – 9.925 (t-1st)
Nastia Rudnitskaya – 9.925 (t-1st)
Heidi Schultz – 9.825 (t-3rd)
Brynne Tsipis – 9.825 (t-3rd)
Kyndall Gilbert – 9.825 (t-3rd)
Beam
Alyssa Guns – 9.875 (1st)
Sarah Haxton – 9.825
Gabby Riley – 9.800
Dani Fuertez – 9.800
Heidi Schultz – 9.800
Floor
Dani Fuertez – 9.975 (1st)
Heidi Schultz – 9.950 (2nd)
Alyssa Guns – 9.925 (3rd)
UP NEXT
The Flashes will travel back to Muncie, Ind., for the 2024 Mid-American Conference Championship next weekend. The seven-team competition will get underway at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, and will be streamed on ESPN+. The Flashes last championship meet victory came in the 2016 season, their 12th in program history.
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
