Despite turning in its best team score of the season, the Ball State gymnastics team suffered a 195.750 to 195.575 setback to Central Michigan Sunday afternoon on Superhero and Princess Day in Worthen Arena.
“At the end of the day, we have to focus on our gymnastics,” head coach Joanna Saleem said. “Where did we do things well, what are some areas we didn’t do as well as we normally do, and where can we continue to grow through the season. Every day in the gym we have to be very intentional about making sure we are going big and strong, and were landing confidently, so we can bring that out on the competition floor.”
Despite the setback, the Cardinals did have some heroic performances, led by junior Zoe Middleton who collected her third 9.900 and fifth straight floor event victory. Middleton also earned her third consecutive all-around title with a season-best effort of 39.275.
Perhaps the biggest event win of the day, however, came on vault with graduate student Suki Pfister earning a score of 9.875 in just her second competitive vault of the season. No other competitor scored better than 9.825 on the day.
Sophomore Ashley Szymanski also turned in a solid effort tying for the event win on beam with a season-best 9.850, while placing second on bars with her fourth 9.875 of the season.
Senior Carissa Martinez also turned in a solid effort on floor, placing second overall with a score of 9.850.
Overall, the Cardinals turned in nine scores of 9.800-or-better, while earning a pair of career best performances.
Rotation 1: Vault (48.675)
– In the opening rotation, Pfister put an exclamation mark on her return, landing a 9.875 to win the event
– Middleton anchored the group with a 9.750, while sophomore Lindsay Girard earned a 9.725
– The Cardinals also counted a 9.700 from freshman Karli Mercer and a 9.625 from senior Cai Afalla
Rotation 2: Bars (48.925)
– Szymanski earned her fourth 9.875 of the season to place second overall
– Middleton was not far behind, tying her season best with a 9.800
– The Cardinals also counted a 9.775 from senior Grace Sumner, a 9.750 from sophomore Ava Molina and a 9.725 from junior Mary Rose Bellan
Rotation 3: Beam (48.875)
– The Cardinals turned in a season-high 48.875 on beam, with each of its last three competitors scored above a 9.800
– Szymanski won the beam title with a season-best score of 9.850, while Middleton’s 9.825 was a season-high and sophomore Delaney McMahon’s 9.825 tied her career high
– Ball State also counted a 9.750 from leadoff gymnast Molina and a 9.625 from Sumner
Rotation 4: Floor (49.100)
– Ball State saved it’s best for last, with Middleton closing the meet with the team’s highest score of the day at 9.900 to win the floor competition
– Martinez, who placed second in the event, earned a season-best 9.850 and was followed by a career-high 9.800 from Girard
– The Cardinals also counted 9.775s from Molina and Sims, while Afalla added a 9.750
All-Around
– Middleton logged the Cardinals best all-around score of the season with her 39.275 … The effort included a 9.900 on floor, a 9.825 on beam, a 9.800 on bars and a 9.750 on vault
Up Next
The Ball State gymnastics team returns to action next Sunday when it travels to Denver for the Denver Quad. Along with the Cardinals and host Pioneers, Oregon State and Texas Women’s University will be competing in the meet which starts at 3:45 p.m. ET / 1:45 p.m. MT
