Ball State University Athletics
Gymnastics 2008 Season Preview
January 13, 2008 | Gymnastics
MUNCIE, Ind. - Nadalie Walsh will debut her first season as Ball State University's head women's gymnastics coach this year. The Cardinals will open the home portion of the 2008 season with its home opener Friday, Jan. 18, vs. Illinois State at 6 p.m. in Irving Gym.
Walsh brings a plethora of experience with her after spending the last four years (2003-07) as the head women's gymnastics coach at The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Walsh is the fifth head gymnastics coach in Ball State University history.
Walsh's former team claimed the 2007 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship, the Division III National Title, March 23, 2007. She was named NCGA Coach of the Year in 2006 after guiding the Titans to a third place national finish. In 2005, Walsh was tabbed the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Coach of the Year after directing her team to a third place conference finish.
Two seniors from last year's team, Jenna Tarkington and Kelly Watson were named First Team All-Mid-American Conference with Tarkington taking the MAC title on the vault. Ball State had not had two gymnasts receive First Team All-MAC honors since 2002. Watson also took all-around second place with a score of 38.900, which gave Ball State its first runner-up performance in over a decade.
Walsh has a talented core of returning gymnasts to work with this year including four letterwinners. Last year's team finished fourth in the MAC which was Ball State's best finish since 2001. The team amassed a score of 193.400, which, was also the highest score the team had earned since 2005.
The Cardinals' roster also includes two transfers, senior Teresa Phipps and junior Kayla Sirmans. In addition, four other seniors will lead the team this year in Brittany George, Erica Gilkerson, Kristin Sprague and Lauren West.
The Cardinals return one junior from last year in Cobie Zuk.
Ball State will also bring back 10 sophomores this season. Brittney Bauer, Sloan Burdick, Megan Cherry, Megan Howard, Ashley Jacob, Allyson McGaha, Brittani Ricks, Bibiana Rodriguez, Laura Shockey and Alex Tuthill will all be all-around competitors for the Cardinals.
Freshmen for Ball State include Nina Fogle from Seattle, Wash. (West Seattle), Rebecca Mclaughlin from Burridge, Ill. (Hinsdale South), and Indiana native, Paige Oswalt, from Mooresville, Ind. (Mooresville).
Last season, the Cardinals went 4-12 overall (1-7 Mid American Conference) and finished in fourth place at the MAC Championships. The Cardinals ended the season by gaining some momentum, winning three of their last four meets.
Four returning gymnasts achieved career best performances last season. Senior Brittany George set a personal high score on bars (9.650) three times, while classmate Erica Gilkerson tallied a 9.800 on vault, which is her highest recorded mark on any event. She also earned her career best twice on floor (9.775). Senior Kristin Sprague collected career bests on bars (9.725) and beam (9.575). Senior Lauren West also had a best (9.700) on beam at the MAC Championships.
Ball State opens the 2008 campaign Sunday, Jan. 13 against MAC foe Western Michigan. The Cardinals first home stand will begin Friday, January 18 against Illinois State.
The month of February marks Breast Cancer Awareness month for gymnastics. The Cardinals have planned to dedicate their home meet February 8 against Bowling Green to the cause.
Players Mentioned
