Gymnastics Shines At MAC Championships

YPSILANTI, Mich. - - There was a lot for the Ball State gymnastics team to be proud of Saturday afternoon at the 2022 Mid-American Conference Championships hosted by Eastern Michigan at the Gervin GameAbove Center.

The Cardinals finished with the third-best team score in program history at 195.900. They tied the program record on beam with a 49.150. They earned five podium finishes and sophomore Suki Pfister was named the MAC Specialist of the Year.

"I am really proud of this team," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "There are tons of distractions in a competition like this. Getting their heads into a place where they could just be present was the thing we were striving for, and they came out and did that. We made a few mistakes here and there, but they did not let that derail their performances. They stayed in it from the first routine to the last."

Overall, the team effort lifted the Cardinals to a fourth-place finish at the meet, its best MAC Championship finish since placing second in 2016. In fact, the Cardinals were just .375 behind Central Michigan which won the title with a score of 196.275.

"This is the first time in a long time we've have come out and had a nice, solid meet at the MAC Championships," Saleem added. "This is a tough meet, and to be within a few tenths of first place is exciting. I know our squad is energized by it and excited about it. Knowing we can build on this, that's the next part of the legacy, getting to the championships and finishing out the season on top."

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Rotation 1 - Vault (48.900)

Sophomores Suki Pfister and Victoria Henry led the way for the Cardinals on vault, tying with the second-highest score on the apparatus at 9.850.
Junior Alivia Ostendorf started the day off strong, leading off by tying her second-best vault of the year at 9.750.
The Cardinals were also able to count 9.725s from seniors Sandra Elsadek and Stefanie Schweikert.

Rotation 2 - Bars (48.875)

Senior Sandra Elsadek made sure her final bars routine was her best, landing a career-best and team-leading 9.850. The effort tied as the third-best individual score of the event.
Freshman Grace Sumner added a career-best routine of 9.800 of her own, while senior Marissa Nychyk and junior Megan Teter also scored 9.800.

Rotation 3 - Beam (49.150)

The Cardinals hit a program record for the second time this season on beam, counting six scores of 9.800-or-higher for a 49.150.
Freshman Grace Sumner and junior Taylor Waldo led the way at 9.850.
Junior Alivia Ostendorf and sophomore Hannah Ruthberg followed with 9.825s.
Rounding out the solid scores were seniors Sandra Elsadek and Lauren Volpe at 9.800. Elsadek's score also tied as a career-best.

Rotation 4 - Floor (48.975)

The Cardinals saved their best for last, as junior Megan Teter and sophomore Victoria Henry closed out the competition with back-to-back 9.900s. It was a career-best effort for Henry, while both gymnasts tied for the second-highest score in the floor competition.
Those efforts were proceeded by a 9.850 from freshman Erica Cooper, tying as her second-best score of the season.

All-Around

Senior Sandra Elsadek turned in a solid effort in the all-around, collecting 38.100 total points, let by her career-high scores of 9.850 on bars and 9.800 on beam.

MORE FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA SALEEM:
"I am so glad Suki was named the MAC Specialist of the Year. She's worked so hard to be consistent this year and make her vault so much better. It's impressive to watch. It's a well-deserved honor."

"There were so many great routines today. Victoria doing that full and landing it, and Suki does and amazing vault. Sandra did awesome, turning in the best bars routine of her career and earning a spot on the podium. It was cool to see all of her work on a new routine pay off.

On beam, that whole group has been so consistent this year. I am so proud of them to come back after last week and just know they are going to do solid gymnastics. They just went out and did solid balance beam, and I am extremely proud of them.

On floor, Megan and Victoria's routines were fun to watch, and Erica turned in her best routine of the season.

There's not one thing I could point to as that's the best part of the day. It's the whole team effort.

UP NEXT:
Several Ball State gymnasts are in contention to advance as individuals into the NCAA Regionals which take place March 31-April 2. The NCAA Selection Show airs Tuesday at Noon on NCAA.com.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Erica Cooper

Sandra Elsadek

Victoria Henry

Marissa Nychyk

Alivia Ostendorf

Suki Pfister

Hannah Ruthberg

Stefanie Schweikert

Grace Sumner

Megan Teter

Lauren Volpe

Taylor Waldo