Henry, Pfister Lead Strong Gymnastics Effort At Rutgers

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - - The Ball State gymnastics team turned in a solid effort Saturday afternoon at Jersey Mike's Arena, earning a team score of 195.450 at the Rutgers January Meet.

"I am glad we came out and put together a solid meet," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "We performed well as a group. We made a few mistakes here and there, but they handled it like pros and were able to make some really good things happen today."

The effort ties as the 18th-best team score in program history and gave the Cardinals (2-4) the head-to-head victory over Wisconsin-Oshkosh (192.425).

Overall, Ball State's student-athlete tallied nine more scores of 9.800-or-higher on the day, led by the first 9.900 of the season from junior Suki Pfister to win the vault competition. Pfister also added a career-best floor routine of 9.850 to tie for second overall.

In the all-around, junior Victoria Henry tied for the win by matching the 12th-best individual score in program history with a 39.175. She counted a 9.825 on both bars and floor as highlights of the day.

BSU also received a 9.850 from senior Megan Teter to round out the day's highest scores.

Unfortunately, Ball State's team total was not enough to get past Towson (195.850), who went 3-0 on the day, and host Rutgers (195.850), which tallied a 2-1 mark in the competition.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Rotation 1 - Bars (48.900)
- Ball State saved the best for last in a solid opening rotation, with senior Megan Teter tallying a 9.850 to lead the squad on bars.
- Junior Victoria Henry was not far behind with a score of 9.825.
- BSU also counted a career-best 9.750 from freshman Zoe Middleton, a 9.750 from sophomore Grace Sumner, and a 9.725 from senior Grace Evans.

Rotation 2 - Beam (48.500)
- Sophomore Grace Sumner turned in Ball State's first 9.800-or-better on beam this season, leading the Cardinals with a 9.800.
- Junior Victoria Henry added a career-best 9.750, while junior Hannah Ruthberg rounded out Ball State's top three in the event with a 9.700.

Rotation 3 - Floor (49.050)
- All six Ball State gymnasts scored at least 9.775, with the Cardinals counting four scores of at least 9.800.
- Junior Suki Pfister led the way with a career-best 9.850, followed by a 9.825 from classmate Victoria Henry.
- Freshman Zoe Middleton added a career-best score of 9.800, which was matched by senior Megan Teter.

Rotation 4 - Vault (49.000)
- For the second straight week, the Cardinals tied the 17th-best team vault score in program history with a 49.000.
- With a season-best score of 9.900, junior Suki Pfister became the first Ball State student-athlete to hit a routine of 9.900-or-better this season.
- Junior Hannah Ruthberg finished her all-around performance with a 9.800, her best score of the day.
- Junior Victoria Henry added a 9.775 to cap her solid all-around day, while senior Megan Teter matches the score.

All-Around
- Junior Victoria Henry finished the day with a career-best all-around score of 39.175, which tied for first at the meet and ties as the 12th-best all-around score in program history … She scored a 9.825 on both bars and floor, while adding a 9.775 on vault and a 9.750 on beam.
- Junior Hannah Ruthberg added a fourth-place effort in the all-around with a score of 38.325, highlighted by a 9.800 on vault.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA SALEEM:
Suki really looked great on vault and floor today and Victoria was amazing in the all-around. It was great to see her go out and hit all four events.

There were a lot of things to build on from today. We were also able to provide some of our new gymnasts with competition experience, including Leah White making her debut on vault and Mary Rose Bellan exhibitioning on bars and floor.

I really like the way they kept their focus, had a good time, and didn't get rattled. They were competitive today and that's something we've been working on.

UP NEXT:
The Ball State gymnastics team returns to action Friday, when it travels to the Farm Bureau Expo Center in Lebanon, Tennessee, for the Tennessee Collegiate Classic. In addition to the Cardinals, Fisk, Kent State, Lindenwood, and Southeast Missouri State will compete in the five-team event which is slated to start at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT.

Ball State will also be in action next Sunday for its Mid-American Conference opener at Eastern Michigan for a scheduled 1 p.m. start.

Henry, Pfister Lead Strong Gymnastics Effort At Rutgers

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Players Mentioned

Mary Rose Bellan

Grace Evans

Victoria Henry

Zoe Middleton

Suki Pfister

Hannah Ruthberg

Grace Sumner

Megan Teter

Leah White