Ball State University
Southeast Missouri State
Gymnastics Places Second at Cardinal Classic
January 24, 2010 | Gymnastics
In a meet that came down to a straighter leg or a more pointed toe, Ball State (3-3, MAC 0-1) finished second with a 190.325 to Southeast Missouri State's (3-0) 190.350 in Sunday's home opener in Worthen Arena. Illinois-Chicago (0-5) finished third with a 186.55.
"We're better than how we performed today," Ball State head coach Nadalie Walsh said. "The girls know it, and I know it. Hopefully this is a learning experience for the team, though, that gymnastics is a sport of numbers and absolutely every tenth matters, and we can grow from here."
The Cardinals opened with a 47.675 on vault, which just topped the Redhawk's 47.65 on the event. SEMO's Jordan Salsberg and Brianna Gaddie grabbed the top two individual places with a 9.7 and 9.65, respectively, while Ball State's Brittney Emmons placed third with a 9.6. The Flames tallied a 45.7 on the event and were led by Kayleigh Kramer's 9.475.
Next up for the Cardinals was the uneven bars, where they were led by Katelyn Busacker's 9.625. Ball State's team score on the event was a 47.6.
On balance beam, Ball State's Emily Wehrle recorded a career-leading 9.725 and she won the event. Wehrle was followed by Busacker who placed second with a career high 9.7. Rachel Montoya of Illinois-Chicago placed third with a 9.675. The Cardinals' team score was a meet-leading 47.275. Illinois-Chicago was second with a 46.7 and SEMO was third with a 46.575.
As the Cardinals marched to their final event, the floor exercise, they led SEMO, who was headed to the uneven bars, by 0.225.
On floor, Ball State's Tiffany Brodbeck turned in a 9.75 performance to tie SEMO's Gaddie for second place. Following Brodbeck in the line-up was Ball State's leading performer on the event, Emmons, who posted a meet leading 9.8.
Despite these performances, however, the Cardinals were unable to top the depth of SEMO's bar line-up, which included the top-three bar scores of the meet, a 9.7, 9.675 and 9.65 by Salsberg, Kelley Krengiel and Christina Sundgren, respectively. SEMO's 48.025 on the event clinched the meet for the Redhawks.
In the all-around, Emmons placed third with a 37.85. She was topped by SEMO's Rikara Turner, 38.225, and Salsberg, 38.1.
The Cardinals' next meet is against Northern Illinois, Jan. 31 in DeKalb, Ill. Ball State's next home event is Feb. 14 against Bowling Green, which is the Cardinals THINK PINK meet at 1 p.m. in Worthen Arena.
Players Mentioned
