Ball State University Athletics
Gymnastics Sends Five Cardinals to Regionals
March 21, 2016 | Gymnastics
MUNCIE, Ind.-- The NCAA announced the competitors of the teams and athletes that qualified for regional competitions around the nation Monday, Mar. 21 at 4 p.m. For the first time since 2013 the Ball State gymnastics team is sending five Cardinals to Regionals in Iowa City, Iowa, Saturday, Apr. 2 at 4 p.m. local time.
"It's a pretty big deal for Ball State gymnastics to be able to have more than one individual going to Regionals," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "We haven't had anybody go in the past couple of years that I've been head coach of the program. To have four gymnasts competing and a fifth as the alternate is pretty exciting. It just shows the depth of this team and opens the door to what they are capable of in future seasons."
VAULT
Denasiha Christian- Ball State
Jessi Buis- Western Michigan
Sarah Ebeyer- Ball State
ALT. Jordyn Penny- Ball State
UNEVEN BARS
Jordyn Penny- Ball State
Jessie Peszek- Western MIchigan
Jessica Juncaj- Western Michigan
ALT. Kayla Beckler- Ball State
BALANCE BEAM
Rachel Underwood- Western Michigan
Jessie Peszek- Western Michigan
Baylee Bell- Ball State
ALT. Jordyn Penny- Ball State
FLOOR
Denasiha Christian- Ball State
Rachel Underwood- Western Michigan
Sarah Ebeyer- Ball State
ALT. Audry Merritt- Western Michigan
At the Mid-American Conference Championships the Cardinals finished out their season scoring season highs on vault (48.975), beam (48.850) and floor (49.275). The team managed a score of 48.550 on bars.
Denasiha Christian opened the meet strong, by winning her first vault title at the MAC Championships with a score of 9.900. The performance marked the sixth individual vault title in program history. Sarah Ebeyer finished fourth with a score of 9.775.
Jordyn Penny swung into fourth place on bars with a score of 9.850. Kayla Beckler stood thirteenth with a 9.750.
On beam Baylee Bell earned fourteenth place with a score of 9.825 matching her career high. Jordyn Penny placed twenty-seventh with a score of 9.750.
The Cardinals finished on floor. Denasiha Christian was honored as the 2016 Mid-American Conference floor champion for the third consecutive year scoring a 9.950, matching her career high. Christian is now recognized as the fourth gymnast in program history to win two MAC Champion event titles in the same season.
"I think its already set the bar a little higher for next year," Saleem said. "When we first originally looked at the statistics we knew some of our athletes would qualify for regional competition. This announcement is a great reward to the end of the 2016 season. For some it's not over yet and we are excited to continue onto regionals in Iowa."
For more news on Ball State gymnastics, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateGym and @CoachSaleem on Twitter.
