Strong Start Leads Gymnastics to Road Win at Central Michigan

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - - Led by solid performances on bars and vault, the Ball State gymnastics team improved to 3-0 in Mid-American Conference play with a 196.000 to 195.325 victory over Central Michigan Friday evening at McGuirk Arena.

"It's always a competitive meet up here and I'm glad we were able to go out and have a solid performance," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "We had some mistakes here and there, but how they are handling themselves when those mistakes happen is the name of the game at this point."

The Cardinals (10-1; 3-0 MAC) turned in team scores of 49.100 in each of its opening two rotations to set the tone early. That effort helped Ball State go on to boast the individual winner in all four events, along with a pair of gymnasts tied for the all-around title.

"Our consistency at the top is one of the things I am really excited about," Saleem added. "Having event winners week-in and week-out is awesome, but those names are changing each meet because we have such strong athletes on our team."

The hot start also helped Ball State pick up its first win in Mount Pleasant since Feb. 17, 1996, when the Cardinals topped the Chippewas (6-4; 3-1 MAC) by a score of 191.650 to 189.950. CMU had won the last 14 meets on its home floor before tonight's BSU victory.

Leading the solid effort on bars was graduate Megan Teter who won the event with her second 9.900 of the season, to go along with her perfect 10.0 at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic. Sophomore Zoe Middleton and freshman Ashley Szymanski were right behind at 9.825, while junior Grace Sumner threw in a 9.800 to give BSU four scores of 9.800-or-high in the opening rotation.

Ball State followed with three routines above the 9.800 threshold in the second rotation, with senior Suki Pfister winning vault with a 9.900 of her own. It was 13th collegiate vault of 9.900-or-higher. Senior Victoria Henry and junior Carissa Martinez added scores of 9.850 and 9.825, respectively.

Senior Hannah Ruthberg led the Cardinals in the third rotation, winning floor with a score of 9.850. Pfister and Middleton would go on to tie for fourth overall with routines of 9.800.

Junior Grace Sumner then left the crowd wanting more with BSU's final beam routine, posting a season-high score of 9.900. It was also Ball State's highest beam score of the season. Teter was also solid on the apparatus, earning a 9.825 to tie for second on the event.

"We were all so excited for Grace and the way she got up and perform so confidently in our final routine," Saleem said. "She's building that confidence week after week and settling back into having fun and being able to let herself perform. I love watching her when she's finding that rhythm and presence up there."

Overall, Ball State's gymnasts finished the meet with 12 scores of 9.800-or-higher, including three 9.900s.

In addition to their individual event titles, Ruthberg and Teter tied for the all-around crown with scores of 39.150. It was Ruthberg's second straight all-around title, and Teter's first of the year.

The Ball State gymnastics team returns to action a week from Saturday (Feb. 17), when it travels to Western Michigan for a 4 p.m. battle with the Broncos.

Strong Start Leads Gymnastics to Road Win at Central Michigan

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Players Mentioned

Victoria Henry

Carissa Martinez

Zoe Middleton

Suki Pfister

Hannah Ruthberg

Grace Sumner

Ashley Szymanski

Megan Teter