Ball State University
Mid-American Conference
Gymnastics Travels to Central Michigan for MAC Championships
March 21, 2018 | Gymnastics
MUNCIE, Ind.-- Following an exciting regular season, the Ball State gymnastics team will travel to Mount Pleasant, Mich., for the 2018 Mid-American Conference Championships Saturday, Mar. 24 at 2 p.m. hosted by Central Michigan.
CONFERENCE RANKINGS- The Cardinals are currently ranked No. 42 nationally above Eastern Michigan (No.47) and Western Michigan (No.48). After this season the 2018 MAC rankings are: Eastern Michigan (3-3), Northern Illinois (3-3), Central Michigan (5-1), Kent State (3-3), Ball State (2-4), Western Michigan (2-4) and Bowling Green (3-3). Additionally, Ball State is ranked No.1 on vault with a regional qualifying score of 48.940, fourth on bars (48.835), fifth on beam (48.735) and sixth on floor (48.925), among the seven teams in the MAC conference.
RQS RANKINGS-Â The Regional Qualifying Score is based on the team's six best regular season meets. Included in those meets, are three away competitions. To calculate a team's RQS, drop the highest team score and average the remaining scores together. Currently the Cardinals RQS sits at 195.235.
BALL STATE AT MAC- Last season, the Cardinals finished seventh place out of seven teams with a team score of 194.750. Ball State started the Championships on the vault. Current junior, Kaitlyn Menzione and senior, Jordyn Penny both scored a 9.750 landing the pair in twentieth place. After vault the team rotated to a Bye where they prepared for bars. The bar team added to history by claiming fourth place in the Ball State gymnastics record book with its season high score of 49.125. Former gymnasts Madison Howell and Kayla Beckler scored 9.850 landing them in eighth place. On beam Jordyn Penny claimed ninth with a score of 9.850 and current senior, Baylee Bell earned a 9.800 landing her in eighteenth. The Cardinals finished the competition on floor. Former athlete, Kayla Beckler and Kaitlyn Menzione tied for twenty-first place with scores of 9.825.
THE CARDINALS 2018 SEASON HIGH- Ball State finished their regular season 9-9. The Ball State gymnastics team claimed a new season high score (195.600) during a home victory against Kent State (193.600). The team claimed three season high event totals on vault (49.075), beam (48.875) and floor (49.325). The vault score marks the second-best team total in the Ball State record book. The Cardinals opened their MAC competition on vault, where five Cardinals took the spotlight. Bri Slonim claimed first (9.875) and Maddie Macdonald (9.850) followed in second place, both with personal record scores. Jordyn Penny stood third with a 9.800. Sydney Finke and Kaitlyn Menzione tied for fourth place with 9.775. On bars, Senior Jackie Duffy won with an impressive routine scoring a 9.825 which marks a new career high. Vicky Garcia earned third place with a 9.775 and Penny followed in fourth with a score of 9.725. The team had a three-way tie on beam. Vicky Garcia, Rachel Benoit (PR), Baylee Bell shared the spot at second place with scores of 9.800. The Cardinals finished the competition on floor. Sydney Finke won the event with the first 9.900 of the season. Tia Kiaku and Kaitlyn Menzione followed in second with score of a 9.875. Menzione won the all-around competition with a 39.150, breaking her career high.
FOLLOW THE CARDINALS-Â Â For fans unable to attend the competition follow the links above to live scores and a live video broadcast brought to you by ESPN3.Â
PURCHASE YOUR SEAT- Tickets for the MAC Championships are available through the Central Michigan Ticket Office, Ball State students with their student ID gain free admission into the meet.Â
For more news on Ball State gymnastics, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateGym and @CoachSaleem on Twitter.
