Ruthberg Ties All-Around Mark As Gymnastics Shines At Mizzou

COLOMBIA, Mo. - - It was another big night for Ball State gymnastics which earned the second-highest team score in program history with a 196.425 in Friday night's quad meet at No. 17 Missouri.

"This environment was a great leadup for the MAC Championships and the postseason," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "It was loud, it was fast, it was competitive. I think it was awesome to have this type of opportunity at the end of the season."

While the No. 34 Cardinals (16-5) saw its 12-match head-to-head winning streak come to an end with a loss to the host Tigers (10-3), BSU picked up a crucial victory over No. 36 North Carolina as it looks to remain in NCAA Regional Qualifying position in the NQS.

Mizzou finished the meet with a team score of 197.250, while the Tar Heels (15-6) scored 196.275. Ball State also picked up its third head-to-head win of the season over Southeast Missouri, who scored 194.675.

Ball State saved its best effort for the final rotation, with the team counting 9.900s from both Hannah Ruthberg and Grace Sumner on the way to the fourth-highest beam score in program history at 49.200.

Thanks to her career-best effort of 9.900 on beam, Ruthberg would finish the meet by tying the program's individual all-around record with a score of 39.400. The mark also included 9.850s on vault and bars, as well as a 9.800 on floor.

"It has been awesome to watch Hannah's gymnastics and approach evolve," Saleem said. "After a bit of a tough warmup, she relied on the gymnastics and doing what we do practice. It paid off for her in a big way. She was able to find that spot competitively; find the energy and drive when the routines mattered. That just shows the growth and maturity she's had."

Victoria Henry, who originally set the program's all-around record versus Central Michigan earlier this season, would go on to pick up her second consecutive individual title on vault, tying her career-best score with a 9.925.

Suki Pfister was not far behind in second, with a 9.875, as the Cardinals tallied the third-best team vault score in program history at 49.225.

Overall, the Cardinals tallied 16 scores of 9.800-or-higher on the night, including three scores of 9.900-or-better.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Rotation 1 – Floor (48.850):
- Megan Teter led the Cardinals in the opening rotation, scoring a 9.850
- Zoe Middleton was close behind, with a 9.825
- BSU also counted a 9.800 from Hannah Ruthberg, as well as a 9.775 from Taylor Waldo, and a 9.600 from Victoria Henry

Rotation 2 – Vault (49.225)
- The Cardinals found a rhythm on vault, earning the third-best team score in program history at 49.225
- For the second straight week, Victoria Henry tied her career best with a 9.925 to earn the event victory on vault.
- Suki Pfister added her second straight 9.875 to finish in a tie for second, while Hannah Ruthberg scored 9.850.
- Rounding out Ball State's countable routines were a 9.800 from Zoe Middleton and a 9.775 from Megan Teter

Rotation 3 – Bars (49.125)
- Ball State tied the sixth-best bars team score in program history with a 49.125
- Hannah Ruthberg turned in the top routine at 9.850
- Zoe Middleton, Grace Sumner, and Megan Teter each scored 9.825s, with Middleton's effort tying her career-best
- Victoria Henry rounded out Ball State's countable scores with a 9.800

Rotation 4 – Beam (49.225)
- The Cardinals finished the night with the fourth-highest team beam score in program history at 49.225
- Hannah Ruthberg and Grace Sumner led the way with 9.900s, with Ruthberg's effort being a career-best.
- Lauren Volpe chipped in a 9.875, Grace Evans scored a 9.800, and Taylor Waldo finished with a 9.750.

All-Around:
- Hannah Ruthberg led the way by tying the program record with a score of 39.400 to place second overall on the night.
- Victoria Henry chipped in a 38.325, including her win on vault at 9.925.

More From Saleem:
- We started on floor, and it was not our best performance of the year. But they left that there and went over to vault and came back strong. That fighting spirit until the very end is what we stress and hold our standard to. It was really cool to see them do that, especially knowing we are going to need every routine as we head into the next couple of meets.

Next Time Out:
The Ball State gymnastics program closes the regular season Sunday when it welcomes Western Michigan to Worthen Arena for Senior Day.

Following the conclusion of the meet, the Cardinals will honor seniors Grace Evans, Megan Teter, Lauren Volpe, and Taylor Waldo.

Ruthberg Ties All-Around Mark As Gymnastics Shines At Mizzou

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Players Mentioned

Grace Evans

Victoria Henry

Zoe Middleton

Suki Pfister

Hannah Ruthberg

Grace Sumner

Megan Teter

Lauren Volpe

Taylor Waldo