Sunday, January 22
Ypsilanti, MI
1 p.m.
Ball State University
195.650
at
193.975
Eastern Michigan
Photo by: Nick Lawler - Ball State Sports Link
Henry’s All-Around Performance Leads Gymnastics Past EMU
January 22, 2023 | Gymnastics
YPSILANTI, Mich. - - Led by another brilliant all-around performance from junior Victoria Henry, the Ball State gymnastics team closed a busy weekend with a 195.650-193.975 victory over Eastern Michigan Sunday afternoon at the Gervin GameAbove Center.
"We came out a little flatter than we did on Friday, but that can happen on a double weekend," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "In addition, this is the first time we have competed in a dual meet this year, and the energy and rhythm are completely different. I think they did really well with the change of pace. Overall, while we made a couple mistakes, we were able to keep things within the lines of where we want them to be as far as quality gymnastics."
Henry finished the day by tying the fourth-best all-around in program history with a score of 39.325. The effort included the outright victory on floor (9.875), as well a first-place ties on vault (9.825) and bars (9.875).
"I am really excited for Victoria," Saleem added. "We have known for a while how talented she is. Victoria has been applying herself in the gym and approaching meets with a no nonsense, highly competitive type of mentality. When it's time to compete, she is standing up there ready to go. In between routines, she out there having fun and helping motivate her teammates. I'm really excited watching her be successful."
Overall, the Cardinals (7-4; 1-0 Mid-American Conference) boasted an individual winner in each of the four events, with senior Taylor Waldo also tying for first on beam at 9.825. BSU's student-athletes also finished the day with 11 total scores of 9.800-or-better.
Ball State also picked up team wins on vault, beam, and floor on its way to tying the 11th-best team score in program history.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Rotation 1 – Bars (48.875):
- Victoria Henry paced the Cardinals and tied for first on bars, turning in a season-best score of 9.875 which is BSU's second-best bars routine of the season.
- Grace Evans and Megan Teter were not far behind, earning 9.825s
- The Cardinals also counted a 9.700 from Grace Sumner and a 9.650 from Zoe Middleton
Rotation 2 – Vault (48.925)
- The Cardinals turned in the top four overall scores on vault, led by 9.825s from Victoria Henry and Hannah Ruthberg.
- Suki Pfister was not far behind, placing third overall with a score of 9.800
- Ball State also counted a career-best 9.775 from Leah White and a 9.700 from Zoe Middleton, both freshmen.
Rotation 3 – Floor (49.000)
- For the third straight rotation, Victoria Henry led the Cardinals, this time scoring a 9.875 to win the floor competition.
- Suki Pfister and Megan Teter were right behind, earning scores of 9.850.
- The Cardinals also counted a 9.775 from Taylor Waldo and a 9.650 from Hannah Ruthberg
Rotation 4 – Beam (48.850)
- Taylor Waldo tied for the top overall spot on beam, earning a 9.825.
- Grace Sumner added a strong effort of her own, scoring a 9.800.
- The Cardinals also counted 9.750s from Victoria Henry and Hannah Ruthberg, along with a 9.725 from Lauren Volpe.
All-Around:
- Victoria Henry turned in another amazing all-around performance, tying the fourth-best score in program history with a 39.325. The effort included 9.875s on bars and floor, as well as a 9.825 on vault and a 9.750 on beam.
- Hannah Ruthberg was also solid in the all-around, earning a score of 38.575. Her day was paced by tying for first on vault at 9.825. She also scored a 9.750 on beam.
Next Time Out:
The Ball State gymnastics team returns to action next Sunday (Jan. 29) when it hosts Fisk, Pittsburgh, and Southeast Missouri for Squishmallow Day in Worthen Arena. Join us for fun, games, and Squishmallow prizes thrown out for high scores starting at 1 p.m.
"We're coming home at the right time," Saleem added about next Sunday's home meet. "They are really excited to be able to stay home and go out and perform in front of the home crowd. To show our fans some of the hard work they have been doing."
"We came out a little flatter than we did on Friday, but that can happen on a double weekend," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "In addition, this is the first time we have competed in a dual meet this year, and the energy and rhythm are completely different. I think they did really well with the change of pace. Overall, while we made a couple mistakes, we were able to keep things within the lines of where we want them to be as far as quality gymnastics."
Henry finished the day by tying the fourth-best all-around in program history with a score of 39.325. The effort included the outright victory on floor (9.875), as well a first-place ties on vault (9.825) and bars (9.875).
"I am really excited for Victoria," Saleem added. "We have known for a while how talented she is. Victoria has been applying herself in the gym and approaching meets with a no nonsense, highly competitive type of mentality. When it's time to compete, she is standing up there ready to go. In between routines, she out there having fun and helping motivate her teammates. I'm really excited watching her be successful."
Overall, the Cardinals (7-4; 1-0 Mid-American Conference) boasted an individual winner in each of the four events, with senior Taylor Waldo also tying for first on beam at 9.825. BSU's student-athletes also finished the day with 11 total scores of 9.800-or-better.
Ball State also picked up team wins on vault, beam, and floor on its way to tying the 11th-best team score in program history.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Rotation 1 – Bars (48.875):
- Victoria Henry paced the Cardinals and tied for first on bars, turning in a season-best score of 9.875 which is BSU's second-best bars routine of the season.
- Grace Evans and Megan Teter were not far behind, earning 9.825s
- The Cardinals also counted a 9.700 from Grace Sumner and a 9.650 from Zoe Middleton
Rotation 2 – Vault (48.925)
- The Cardinals turned in the top four overall scores on vault, led by 9.825s from Victoria Henry and Hannah Ruthberg.
- Suki Pfister was not far behind, placing third overall with a score of 9.800
- Ball State also counted a career-best 9.775 from Leah White and a 9.700 from Zoe Middleton, both freshmen.
Rotation 3 – Floor (49.000)
- For the third straight rotation, Victoria Henry led the Cardinals, this time scoring a 9.875 to win the floor competition.
- Suki Pfister and Megan Teter were right behind, earning scores of 9.850.
- The Cardinals also counted a 9.775 from Taylor Waldo and a 9.650 from Hannah Ruthberg
Rotation 4 – Beam (48.850)
- Taylor Waldo tied for the top overall spot on beam, earning a 9.825.
- Grace Sumner added a strong effort of her own, scoring a 9.800.
- The Cardinals also counted 9.750s from Victoria Henry and Hannah Ruthberg, along with a 9.725 from Lauren Volpe.
All-Around:
- Victoria Henry turned in another amazing all-around performance, tying the fourth-best score in program history with a 39.325. The effort included 9.875s on bars and floor, as well as a 9.825 on vault and a 9.750 on beam.
- Hannah Ruthberg was also solid in the all-around, earning a score of 38.575. Her day was paced by tying for first on vault at 9.825. She also scored a 9.750 on beam.
Next Time Out:
The Ball State gymnastics team returns to action next Sunday (Jan. 29) when it hosts Fisk, Pittsburgh, and Southeast Missouri for Squishmallow Day in Worthen Arena. Join us for fun, games, and Squishmallow prizes thrown out for high scores starting at 1 p.m.
"We're coming home at the right time," Saleem added about next Sunday's home meet. "They are really excited to be able to stay home and go out and perform in front of the home crowd. To show our fans some of the hard work they have been doing."
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