Kent State University
Texas Woman's
Golden Flashes Travel to The Lone Star State for the TWU Quad Meet
2/20/2026 1:21:00 PM | Gymnastics
DENTON, Texas – The Kent State Golden Flashes head to the Lone Star State for a highly competitive quad meet hosted by Texas Woman's University inside Kitty Magee Arena, joined by Arizona State and Oregon State.
Team Overview
Kent State – Ranked 38th (6-6)
Vault: 35th nationally
Bars: 41st nationally
Beam: 45th nationally
Floor: 37th nationally
Kent State enters the quad meet with a balanced .500 record and solid national positioning across all events. The Golden Flashes have shown improvement throughout the season, with vault and floor emerging as their strongest apparatuses. Led by nationally ranked vaulter Charlie Behner, Kent State brings depth and consistency to Denton, looking to capitalize on a competitive field to post a season-high team score.
Arizona State – Ranked 31st (4-3)
Vault: 29th nationally
Bars: 39th nationally
Beam: 30th nationally
Floor: 33rd nationally
Arizona State enters as the second-highest-ranked team in the quad meet and brings one of the nation's elite all-around performers in Kimberly Smith, who ranks 14th nationally. The Sun Devils feature strong depth across all four events, particularly on vault and beam, where they rank in the top 30 nationally. With multiple nationally ranked gymnasts on floor and beam, Arizona State will look to leverage its balanced attack to control the meet from start to finish.
Oregon State – Ranked 26th (4-7)
Vault: 31st nationally
Bars: 28th nationally
Beam: 20th nationally
Floor: 27th nationally
Oregon State comes in as the highest-ranked team and boasts impressive national rankings across the board, highlighted by a top-20 beam lineup. The Beavers feature nationally ranked performers on both bars and beam, giving them significant scoring potential on two critical apparatuses.Â
Texas Woman's – Ranked 45th (4-9) (Host)
Vault: 45th nationally
Bars: 43rd nationally
Beam: 47th nationally
Floor: 31st nationally
Texas Woman's enters as the host team and will look to leverage home-floor advantage in Kitty Magee Arena. While their overall rankings place them fourth in the quad meet, the Pioneers bring elite-level firepower on floor, ranking 31st nationally and featuring two nationally ranked performers, including Kyleigh Ghanbari, who sits in the top 30. TWU'sfloor lineup could be the difference-maker in a competitive meet where every tenth matters.
Nationally Ranked Gymnasts to Watch
This quad meet is loaded with top-50 nationally ranked talent, featuring 10 ranked performances across three events and the all-around:
Vault
Charlie Behner (Kent State) – 42nd nationally
Sophia Isbell (Texas Woman's) – 45th nationally
Bars
Ellie Weaver (Oregon State) – 48th nationally
Beam
Lauren Letzsch (Oregon State) – 49th nationally
Kayla Lee (Arizona State) – 49th nationally
Floor
Sophia Esposito (Arizona State) – 24th nationally
Kyleigh Ghanbari (Texas Woman's) – 29th nationally
Sophie Hernandez (Texas Woman's) – 43rd nationally
Kimberly Smith (Arizona State) – 48th nationally
All-Around
Kimberly Smith (Arizona State) – 14th nationally
The quad meet features an exceptional concentration of floor talent, with four nationally ranked performers led by Arizona State's Sophia Esposito (24th) and Texas Woman's Kyleigh Ghanbari (29th). Kimberly Smith headlines the entire meet as a top-15 all-around gymnast, capable of delivering elite scores on all four events.
Key Matchups
Floor Showcase
Floor promises to be the marquee event of the quad meet, featuring four nationally ranked performers across three teams. Arizona State's duo of Sophia Esposito (24th) and Kimberly Smith (48th) faces off against Texas Woman's formidable pairing of Kyleigh Ghanbari (29th) and Sophie Hernandez (43rd). Kent State, ranked 37th nationally on floor, will need to maximize its lineup to stay competitive in what could be the highest-scoring rotation of the meet.
Beam Battle
Oregon State enters with a significant advantage on beam, ranking 20th nationally and featuring Lauren Letzsch (49th). Arizona State counters with Kayla Lee (49th) and a strong 30th-ranked lineup. Kent State (45th) and Texas Woman's (47th) will need clean, composed routines to stay within striking distance.
Vault Execution
Vault features a fascinating matchup between Kent State's Charlie Behner (42nd) and Texas Woman's Sophia Isbell (45th). Arizona State (29th) and Oregon State (31st) both rank ahead of Kent State (35th) on vault, making explosive starts and clean landings critical for all four teams. This could be the rotation that sets the tone for the entire meet.
Bars Consistency
Oregon State holds the bars advantage, ranking 28th nationally with Ellie Weaver (48th) leading the way. Arizona State (39th), Kent State (41st), and Texas Woman's (43rd) are tightly bunched, making bars a potential swing event where execution and handstand precision will determine placements. Avoiding deductions will be paramount for all four teams.
What Kent State Needs to Do
To compete for a top finish in this elite quad meet field, the Golden Flashes must:
- Dominate vault with Charlie Behner leading the way, using explosive power and stuck landings to build early momentum and match Arizona State and Oregon State.
- Stay competitive on bars against Oregon State's elite lineup by hitting clean routines with precision handstands and minimal deductions.
- Minimize breaks on the beam, where Oregon State and Arizona State hold ranking advantages, by executing confidently and avoiding wobbles or falls.
- Match the firepower on the floor against elite-level competition from Arizona State and Texas Woman's, delivering controlled tumbling and stuck landings throughout the lineup.
- Leverage depth and consistency across all four events, as Arizona State's all-around threat and Oregon State's beam dominance make every rotation critical.
- Handle the Texas atmosphere and maintain focus in Kitty Magee Arena environment where TWU will have crowd support.
Opponent Strengths to Watch
- Arizona State features Kimberly Smith, a top-15 nationally ranked all-around gymnast who can impact every rotation.
- The Sun Devils boast multiple nationally ranked performers on floor (24th and 48th) and beam (49th), giving them elite-level firepower on two critical apparatuses.
- Oregon State features a top-20 nationally ranked beam lineup (20th) and nationally ranked performers on both bars (48th) and beam (49th), making them dangerous despite their record.
- Texas Woman's brings elite floor talent with Kyleigh Ghanbari (29th) and Sophie Hernandez (43rd), plus home-floor advantage in Kitty Magee Arena.
- The quad meet format creates a highly competitive environment where every tenth of a point matters and any team can surge with a hot rotation.
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