Ball State University Athletics
Gymnastics Finds Success In 2007
April 03, 2007 | Gymnastics
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State University women's gymnastics team ended its 2007 season at the Mid-American Conference Championships on Saturday, March 31 at Eastern Michigan.
The Cardinals earned a fourth place finish which was their highest finish since 2001, with a team score of 193.400. BSU's team total was the highest of the season and the best score under second-year head coach Lisa Simonton. The team also performed a season-high on beam (48.375) and on bars (48.425). With the fourth place finish the Cardinals defeated No. 45 Northern Illinois, No. 50 and defending MAC Champions Western Michigan and No. 52 Bowling Green. Ball State ended the season with a regional placing of 57 with a final regional qualifying score of 190.795, which is an improvement from last season's 62nd place finish with an RQS of 187.860.
“The 2007 MAC Championship meet was an incredible record-breaking experience for the team,” said Simonton. “I am so very proud of how the team performed at the championship. They displayed determination and confidence. This team believed in each other 100 percent and trusted their training without question.”
Seniors Jenna Tarkington and Kelly Watson found individual success at the MAC's. Both were named First Team All-MAC with Tarkington taking the MAC title on vault. It was the second time in Tarkington's career she has received the honor. Ball State has not had two gymnasts receive First Team All-MAC honors since 2002. Watson took second place with a career-high all-around score of 38.900. Watson's runner-up performance is the first at the MAC's for BSU since Sarah Mikrut did it in 1996. Watson also tallied a personal best on bars (9.750), which tied her for fifth.
Over the course of the season Simonton has directed five upperclassmen to achieve career best performances. Junior Brittany George set a personal high score on bars (9.650) three times, and classmate Erica Gilkerson tallied a 9.800 on vault, which was her highest recorded score on any event. She also had a career best twice on floor (9.775). Junior Kristin Sprague collected career performances on bars (9.725) and beam (9.575). Junior Lauren West also had a personal best 9.700 on beam at the MAC Championships. Watson ended her tenure with career scores during the 2007 season on vault (9.775), bars (9.750), floor (9.850) and in the all-around, setting or tying her record four times with a final 38.900 at the MAC's.
The Ball State gymnastics team ended the season with four wins against MAC opponents, which is the most league wins since 2000.
Players Mentioned
