Kent State University
West Virginia
Golden Flashes Host West Virginia and Fisk in Tri-Meet Showdown
1/16/2026 5:35:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, Ohio – The Golden Flashes welcome West Virginia and Fisk University to the M.A.C. Center for an exciting tri-meet.
Team Overview
Kent State - Ranked 28th
- Vault: 26th nationally
- Bars: 30th nationally
- Beam: 37th nationally
- Floor: 28th nationally
West Virginia - Ranked 48th
- Vault: 15th nationally
- Bars: 50th nationally
- Beam: 59th nationally
- Floor: 41st nationally
Fisk University - Ranked 74th
- Vault: 72nd nationally
- Bars: 77th nationally
- Beam: 64th nationally
- Floor: 76th nationally
Nationally Ranked Gymnasts to Watch
The competition features four nationally ranked athletes who will add star power to the meet:
Kent State:
- Jersey Bingman - 23rd on Vault (9.875 average)
- Charlie Behner - 35th on Vault (9.850 average)
- Zoe Rankin - 34th on Floor Exercise (9.875 average)
West Virginia:
- Carlee Nelson - 35th on Vault (9.850 average)
Key Matchups
Vault Battle: With Kent State's Jersey Bingman leading the charge alongside teammate Charlie Behner, and West Virginia's Carlee Nelson bringing her own firepower, the vault rotation could determine momentum for the entire meet. All three gymnasts have proven they can hit scores in the 9.850 range, making this event a must-watch.
All-Around Competition: Kent State's Avery Compson (9.725 vault), Charlie Behner (9.850 vault, 9.850 floor), and Zoe Rankin (9.700 vault, 9.725 beam, 9.875 floor) will look to accumulate points across multiple events. West Virginia's Kayla Smith posted an impressive 38.525 all-around score and will be a key threat.
Floor Exercise: Zoe Rankin's 34th national ranking on floor gives Kent State an edge, but strong performances from teammates Heidi Schultz (9.800) and Mya Migliore (9.775) add depth that could make the difference.
What Kent State Needs to Do
For the Golden Flashes to secure a home victory, they'll need to:
- Capitalize on vault strength - With two nationally ranked vaulters, this event should be a scoring opportunity.
- Minimize mistakes on bars - The team's weakest event nationally requires clean execution.
- Maintain beam composure - Consistent performances from gymnasts like Nastia Rudnitskaya (9.750) and Charlie Behner (9.850) will be crucial.
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Players Mentioned
