Golden Flashes travel to Muncie for Ball State Tri-Meet

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Kent State Golden Flashes head to Indiana for a competitive tri-meet hosted by Ball State, joining Illinois State inside Worthen Arena.

Team Overview

Kent State – Ranked 42nd

Vault: 37th nationally
Bars: 44th nationally
Beam: 45th nationally
Floor: 41st nationally

Kent State enters the tri-meet looking to continue its upward momentum with balanced lineups across all four events. The Golden Flashes have consistently produced strong vault and floor scores this season, while beam and bars remain key focus areas as the team pushes for higher NQS positioning. Kent State brings a nationally ranked vaulter and multiple gymnasts capable of delivering high-9.7 performances.

Ball State – Ranked 39th (Host)

Vault: 33rd nationally
Bars: 48th nationally
Beam: 21st nationally
Floor: 54th nationally

Ball State enters as the highest-ranked team in the tri-meet and boasts one of the strongest beam lineups in the country, ranking 21st nationally. The Cardinals are led by one of the nation's top all-around competitors and will look to leverage home-floor advantage, particularly on beam, where they consistently post big scores.

Illinois State – Ranked 53rd

Vault: 53rd nationally
Bars: 54th nationally
Beam: 58th nationally
Floor: 53rd nationally

Illinois State rounds out the field and brings a scrappy, competitive lineup capable of producing strong individual routines, especially on vault and floor. The Redbirds will look to stay close early and capitalize on consistency as the meet unfolds.

Nationally Ranked Gymnasts to Watch

This tri-meet features three nationally ranked gymnasts inside the top 50:

Kent State

Charlie Behner – Vault, 49th nationally

Ball State

Zoe Middleton – Vault, 31st nationally
Zoe Middleton – All-Around, 27th nationally

Behner anchors Kent State's vault lineup with one of the strongest averages in the MAC, while Middleton headlines the meet as a top-30 all-around gymnast capable of impacting every rotation.

Key Matchups

Vault Showdown

Vault will be one of the marquee events of the meet, featuring two nationally ranked vaulters. Kent State's Charlie Behner and Ball State's Zoe Middleton both bring explosive starts and clean landings, making vault a critical early scoring opportunity.

Beam Battle

Ball State's beam lineup ranks 21st nationally and could create separation if the Cardinals hit at home. Kent State will need composed, confident routines to stay within striking distance on an apparatus ranked 45th nationally.

Floor Consistency

Kent State (41st) and Illinois State (53rd) enter relatively close on floor rankings. Strong landings and controlled tumbling will be essential for the Golden Flashes to gain ground late in the meet.

Bars Execution

With all three teams ranked in the mid-40s to mid-50s on bars, this event could come down to execution and handstand precision. Avoiding deductions will be key in keeping scores tight.

What Kent State Needs to Do

To put itself in position for a strong finish in Muncie, the Golden Flashes must:

Capitalize on vault, led by Charlie Behner's nationally ranked performances
Limit mistakes on beam against Ball State's elite lineup
Stay competitive on floor, particularly in the final rotation
Be clean on bars, where small deductions could swing placements
Handle the road environment, especially with Ball State competing at home

Opponent Strengths to Watch

Ball State features one of the nation's top beam lineups and a nationally ranked all-around gymnast in Zoe Middleton.
Illinois State brings depth and consistency, particularly on vault and floor, and could factor into individual event standings.

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