Sunday, February 16
Muncie, IN
1 p.m.
Ball State University
195.750
vs
195.425
Eastern Michigan
SCHOOL RECORD!
February 16, 2020 | Gymnastics
The Ball State gymnastics team turned in a historic performance Sunday, recording a school-record 195.750 team score in a win over Eastern Michigan at Worthen Arena. Never shying from a degree of difficulty, the Cardinals achieved the new record just hours after competing at Georgia on Friday night.
"We are so excited and it was a competitive meet that came down to every routine. It was awesome to have this great performance at home on a double weekend," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "For this group that's kind of younger, to come back after a solid meet on Friday and to break the school record at home is awesome and we are all super excited. We're doing a lot of the right things. Our message to our young ladies is to continue to trust the training and trust the plan. From the beginning, we've tried to come out strong and keep building throughout the season."
With Ball State competing in front of an electric crowd on the back end of a Friday-Sunday competition weekend, Lauren Volpe landed a career-best 9.825 score on balance beam. A beautiful routine, just 40 hours after she'd faltered on beam at Georgia. When she finished her routine, Saleem pointed to her arm. She was showing Volpe that she had goosebumps.
"I told her that it was her moment," Saleem said. "As a captain, she loves this team and this program. She gives everything every day and she hadn't had the perfect routine this season. She had an amazing routine in Pittsburgh (on Jan. 19) but the last few meets she's had a little hiccup here or there. For her to get up and find that zone and compete with such confidence, it was beautiful to watch. That was something to really be proud of."
The Cardinals showed incredible depth and consistency throughout the meet, registering 16 routines at 9.750 or better on the day. Vault and floor continued to be strong events for Ball State, which improved to 8-4 in head-to-head scoring on the season. The crowd was electrified in the final rotation when the Cards totaled 49.225 on floor and five Cards score 9.800 or better. Claudia Goyco matched her career and season best with a 9.900 to put an exclamation point on the day. Stefanie Schweikert and Bri Slonim each stuck 9.850 on vault to lead BSU to a 48.950 mark in that event.
"The focus for Claudia is that she knows to go out there and have fun and do the floor routine that encompasses her to be sassy and have a good time," Saleem said. "We stay away from talking about scores and things like that. She just goes out and does what she's been training to do."
But it was improvement on bars that made the biggest difference and led the team to the school-record score. The Cardinals finished with a 48.900 in that event, far and away the team's best effort this season.
"It was nice to come out and have a solid event on bars," Saleem said. "We've been waiting for that this year. The puzzle pieces are all there, we just had to get it where it all fits. So we did a solid job of that."
Freshman Megan Teter was selected as BSU's MVP of the meet after her career-best 9.825 on bars. Another freshman, Grace Evans, also scored 9.825 on bars.
Ball State will take the momentum from Sunday into another home meet next Sunday. Fans can catch the Cardinals at Worthen Arena Sunday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. Be sure to follow the Cardinals on INSTAGRAM and TWITTER.
"We are so excited and it was a competitive meet that came down to every routine. It was awesome to have this great performance at home on a double weekend," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "For this group that's kind of younger, to come back after a solid meet on Friday and to break the school record at home is awesome and we are all super excited. We're doing a lot of the right things. Our message to our young ladies is to continue to trust the training and trust the plan. From the beginning, we've tried to come out strong and keep building throughout the season."
With Ball State competing in front of an electric crowd on the back end of a Friday-Sunday competition weekend, Lauren Volpe landed a career-best 9.825 score on balance beam. A beautiful routine, just 40 hours after she'd faltered on beam at Georgia. When she finished her routine, Saleem pointed to her arm. She was showing Volpe that she had goosebumps.
"I told her that it was her moment," Saleem said. "As a captain, she loves this team and this program. She gives everything every day and she hadn't had the perfect routine this season. She had an amazing routine in Pittsburgh (on Jan. 19) but the last few meets she's had a little hiccup here or there. For her to get up and find that zone and compete with such confidence, it was beautiful to watch. That was something to really be proud of."
The Cardinals showed incredible depth and consistency throughout the meet, registering 16 routines at 9.750 or better on the day. Vault and floor continued to be strong events for Ball State, which improved to 8-4 in head-to-head scoring on the season. The crowd was electrified in the final rotation when the Cards totaled 49.225 on floor and five Cards score 9.800 or better. Claudia Goyco matched her career and season best with a 9.900 to put an exclamation point on the day. Stefanie Schweikert and Bri Slonim each stuck 9.850 on vault to lead BSU to a 48.950 mark in that event.
"The focus for Claudia is that she knows to go out there and have fun and do the floor routine that encompasses her to be sassy and have a good time," Saleem said. "We stay away from talking about scores and things like that. She just goes out and does what she's been training to do."
But it was improvement on bars that made the biggest difference and led the team to the school-record score. The Cardinals finished with a 48.900 in that event, far and away the team's best effort this season.
"It was nice to come out and have a solid event on bars," Saleem said. "We've been waiting for that this year. The puzzle pieces are all there, we just had to get it where it all fits. So we did a solid job of that."
Freshman Megan Teter was selected as BSU's MVP of the meet after her career-best 9.825 on bars. Another freshman, Grace Evans, also scored 9.825 on bars.
Ball State will take the momentum from Sunday into another home meet next Sunday. Fans can catch the Cardinals at Worthen Arena Sunday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. Be sure to follow the Cardinals on INSTAGRAM and TWITTER.
Players Mentioned
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