Friday, January 6
Gainesville, Fla.
6:45 p.m.
Ball State University
194.100
at
197.750
Florida
Photo by: Ball State Sports Link
Gymnastics Opens Season With Strong Showing at No. 2 Florida
January 07, 2023 | Gymnastics
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - - The Ball State gymnastics team opened the 2023 season with a solid showing Friday evening, tallying a team score of 194.100 in a quad meet hosted by No. 2 Florida at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
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The score was the second-best in a season-opening meet in program history, trailing only the 194.475 set at Kentucky to open the 2018 campaign, and earned the Cardinals the head-to-head victory over Lindenwood (193.125).
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"Our team performed really well on vault and floor, which is what we have been training to do and exactly where we need to be," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "Starting the season on beam in a sold-out arena with a very high energy level took, it took us a little time to adjust and settle in. But once we did, we were able to do the gymnastics we have been training to do."
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The host and second-ranked Gators won the meet with a score of 197.750, while No. 33 West Virginia scored 194.925 to also top Ball State and Lindenwood.
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Overall, Ball State finished the meet with seven scores of 9.800-or-better, led by another strong performance from junior Suki Pfister on vault.Â
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Pfister opened the season with a 9.875 to place third overall on vault, including topping four of the six Florida competitors, including eight-time All-American Leanna Wong. Pfister also shined in her first career appearance in the floor lineup, scoring a 9.825.
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Juniors Hannah Ruthberg and Victoria Henry also tallied a pair of scores at-or-above 9.800 in solid all-around performances. Ruthberg tied her career-high with a 9.825 on vault, while Henry registered Ball State's second-best individual score of the day with a 9.850 on floor.
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Rotation 1 - Beam (47.800)
- Ball State saved the best routine for last in its opening rotation, as senior Taylor Waldo started her season with a 9.700 as the squad's anchor in the event.
- Junior Hannah Ruthberg also turned in a solid performance, scoring a 9.650 in her first routine of the year.
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Rotation 2 - Floor (49.000)
- Ruthberg set the tone early for the Cardinals on floor, opening the second rotation with a 9.800. It was one of four scores of 9.800-or-higher for Ball State on floor.
- Junior Victoria Henry led the way with a 9.850, just off her career-high set at last season's MAC Championships
- In her floor debut, junior Suki Pfister added a 9.825, while senior Megan Teter also scored 9.825.
- Zoe Middleton was the first seven true freshmen to see action for the Cardinals, opening her collegiate career with a 9.600.
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Rotation 3 - Vault (49.000)
- The reigning MAC Specialist of the Year, Pfister picked up right where she left off last season with a team-best 9.875 on vault.Â
- Ruthberg tied her career-best on vault with a 9.825, while Henry also finished the day with a 9.825.
- In her second collegiate event, Middleton added a 9.750, while Karah Vargo tallied a 9.650 in her collegiate debut.
- Ball State's 49.000 on vault ties as the 17th-best team vault score in program history.
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Rotation 4 - Bars (48.300)
- Once again, the Cardinals save the best for last as Teter closed the meet with a team-high score of 9.775 on bars.
- In her third and final event, Middleton added a 9.625 to cap a solid debut
- The Cardinals also counted a 9.675 from Ruthberg and a 9.575 from Henry
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All-Around
- Ruthberg turned in a solid effort, placing second of the four all-around competitors with a 38.950, including a sixth-place score of 9.825 on vault
- Henry also went all-around for the Cardinals, scoring a 38.250 which included a 9.850 on floor and a 9.825 on vault.
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FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA SALEEM:
"We did excellent over on floor and had a lot of solid landings and showmanship. We've been working on that, and it showed in a positive way tonight.
Â
"I am so incredibly proud of Suki and what she did on floor today. That is something she has been doing in the gym, and we were super excited to watch it spill out onto the competition floor.Â
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"Hannah did a really a really nice job performing today. I like that she settled in, she was no nonsense and had lots of energy. She did a really good job for the team, and I am so super proud of her and all-around that she did.
Â
"We had several things to look forward too, including building on a strong performance from freshman Zoe Middleton. I am excited for where we are headed, and we are looking forward to getting back to work in the gym next week to prepare for another quad meet at Rutgers next weekend.
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UP NEXT:
The Ball State gymnastics team returns to the Atlantic Coast next Saturday when it competes in a 2 p.m. quad meet at Rutgers. Joining the Cardinals and host Scarlet Knights are Towson and Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
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The score was the second-best in a season-opening meet in program history, trailing only the 194.475 set at Kentucky to open the 2018 campaign, and earned the Cardinals the head-to-head victory over Lindenwood (193.125).
Â
"Our team performed really well on vault and floor, which is what we have been training to do and exactly where we need to be," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "Starting the season on beam in a sold-out arena with a very high energy level took, it took us a little time to adjust and settle in. But once we did, we were able to do the gymnastics we have been training to do."
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The host and second-ranked Gators won the meet with a score of 197.750, while No. 33 West Virginia scored 194.925 to also top Ball State and Lindenwood.
Â
Overall, Ball State finished the meet with seven scores of 9.800-or-better, led by another strong performance from junior Suki Pfister on vault.Â
Â
Pfister opened the season with a 9.875 to place third overall on vault, including topping four of the six Florida competitors, including eight-time All-American Leanna Wong. Pfister also shined in her first career appearance in the floor lineup, scoring a 9.825.
Â
Juniors Hannah Ruthberg and Victoria Henry also tallied a pair of scores at-or-above 9.800 in solid all-around performances. Ruthberg tied her career-high with a 9.825 on vault, while Henry registered Ball State's second-best individual score of the day with a 9.850 on floor.
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Rotation 1 - Beam (47.800)
- Ball State saved the best routine for last in its opening rotation, as senior Taylor Waldo started her season with a 9.700 as the squad's anchor in the event.
- Junior Hannah Ruthberg also turned in a solid performance, scoring a 9.650 in her first routine of the year.
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Signed, sealed, and delivered by @hannah_ruthberg… as always ??#WeFly | #PTS pic.twitter.com/SDadttA1XK
— BallState Gymnastics (@BallStateGYM) January 7, 2023
Rotation 2 - Floor (49.000)
- Ruthberg set the tone early for the Cardinals on floor, opening the second rotation with a 9.800. It was one of four scores of 9.800-or-higher for Ball State on floor.
- Junior Victoria Henry led the way with a 9.850, just off her career-high set at last season's MAC Championships
- In her floor debut, junior Suki Pfister added a 9.825, while senior Megan Teter also scored 9.825.
- Zoe Middleton was the first seven true freshmen to see action for the Cardinals, opening her collegiate career with a 9.600.
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Freshman's first floor competition? No problem.
— BallState Gymnastics (@BallStateGYM) January 7, 2023
Zoe Middleton with the FLARE??#WeFly | #PTS pic.twitter.com/cUB0qWGgap
Rotation 3 - Vault (49.000)
- The reigning MAC Specialist of the Year, Pfister picked up right where she left off last season with a team-best 9.875 on vault.Â
- Ruthberg tied her career-best on vault with a 9.825, while Henry also finished the day with a 9.825.
- In her second collegiate event, Middleton added a 9.750, while Karah Vargo tallied a 9.650 in her collegiate debut.
- Ball State's 49.000 on vault ties as the 17th-best team vault score in program history.
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Feels like home for Karah Vargo??#WeFly | #PTS pic.twitter.com/ZZVWIGntJP
— BallState Gymnastics (@BallStateGYM) January 7, 2023
Rotation 4 - Bars (48.300)
- Once again, the Cardinals save the best for last as Teter closed the meet with a team-high score of 9.775 on bars.
- In her third and final event, Middleton added a 9.625 to cap a solid debut
- The Cardinals also counted a 9.675 from Ruthberg and a 9.575 from Henry
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Finishing the night strong with Grace Sumner ????#WeFly | #PTS pic.twitter.com/OuAKmDwvwM
— BallState Gymnastics (@BallStateGYM) January 7, 2023
All-Around
- Ruthberg turned in a solid effort, placing second of the four all-around competitors with a 38.950, including a sixth-place score of 9.825 on vault
- Henry also went all-around for the Cardinals, scoring a 38.250 which included a 9.850 on floor and a 9.825 on vault.
Â
FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA SALEEM:
"We did excellent over on floor and had a lot of solid landings and showmanship. We've been working on that, and it showed in a positive way tonight.
Â
"I am so incredibly proud of Suki and what she did on floor today. That is something she has been doing in the gym, and we were super excited to watch it spill out onto the competition floor.Â
Â
"Hannah did a really a really nice job performing today. I like that she settled in, she was no nonsense and had lots of energy. She did a really good job for the team, and I am so super proud of her and all-around that she did.
Â
"We had several things to look forward too, including building on a strong performance from freshman Zoe Middleton. I am excited for where we are headed, and we are looking forward to getting back to work in the gym next week to prepare for another quad meet at Rutgers next weekend.
Â
UP NEXT:
The Ball State gymnastics team returns to the Atlantic Coast next Saturday when it competes in a 2 p.m. quad meet at Rutgers. Joining the Cardinals and host Scarlet Knights are Towson and Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
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