Ball State University Athletics
Gymnastics Travels to Kentucky for Season Opener
January 07, 2016 | Gymnastics
MUNCIE, Ind. - - After wowing the celebrity judges at the Red & White Meet in mid-December, the Ball State gymnastics team officially opens the 2016 season Friday, when it travels to Lexington, Ky., to battle the Kentucky Wildcats in Excite Night at 7 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.
Fans not able to attend can watch the meet live on WatchESPN (Online / App for iOS or Android) or follow along with Live Results.
Under the direction of third-year head coach Joanna Saleem, the Cardinals return 17 letterwinners from last season's squad including two-time defending Mid-American Conference floor exercise champion senior Denasiha Christian.
“I'm excited to get the season started,” Saleem said. “The girls have worked long and hard this preseason, and I believe they can confidently show what they have been working on against Kentucky. The Wildcats also bring a high level of competitiveness that will be great as we start our season.”
Christian, who has also earned back-to-back nods on the All-MAC Second Team and MAC All-Tournament Team, won the MAC floor title as a sophomore with a score of 9.925, while tying for the top spot last season with a score of 9.900. Christian owns a career-best floor score of 9.950 set at Southern Utah her freshman season. Christian is also one of Ball State's top gymnasts on vault (career-best 9.875) and beam (9.825), including a victory on the vault last season at Kentucky with a score of 9.875.
Junior Kayla Beckler is Ball State's top returning all-around gymnast, placing sixth among all-around performers at last season's MAC Championships with a score of 38.425. She set a career-best in the all-around at Kent State last season with a score of 39.175. She owns career-best marks of 9.850 on vault, bars and floor, while her career-best bars score is 9.800.
In addition to the 17 returning letterwinners, the Ball State squad welcomes four newcomers to the roster.
For more news on Ball State gymnastics, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateGym, and @CoachSaleem.
