Gymnastics Takes Gold on Three Events at EMU

YPSILANTI, Mich. - - The Ball State gymnastics team earned three of four event titles Friday night in a solid effort at the Golden Girls Classic hosted by Eastern Michigan at the Gervin GameAbove Center.

The effort helped the Cardinals (7-2) turn in a season-high team score of 195.000 to earn head-to-head wins over both Northern Illinois (193.275) and Winona State (189.450). However, BSU fell just shy of the host Eagles who scored 195.125.

"We put together some really strong routines and are starting to figure some things out," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "We just need to get all four events going on the same day, but overall, I was really proud of our effort today. They are fighting and staying plugged in. They just need to get a little more confidence and that will come as we continue to compete."

Sophomore Ashley Szymanski once again shined on bars, tying her season best with a 9.875 to win the event. It also tied as the best overall routine of the night. Junior Mary Rose Bellan also turned in a solid effort on bars, tying for second at 9.850.

The only other 9.875 on the night came from Ball State junior Zoe Middleton who took top honors on the floor with her second-best score of the season. Middleton closed last weekend's Ball State Quad with a 9.900 on floor, which is the best effort in the MAC so far this season.

Rounding out Ball State's event winners was graduate gymnast Hannah Ruthberg who earned a season-best 9.850 on vault.

ROTATION 1 - BARS (49.050)
- Ball State tied its best bars score of the season, with all five countable scores going for 9.750-or-higher.
- Sophomore Ashley Szymanski led the way, tying her season-best mark with a 9.875 to win the event.
- Junior Mary Rose Bellan also tied her career-best with a 9.850 for BSU's second-best routine of the event.
- The Cardinals also counted a season-best 9.800 from sophomore Ava Molina, a 9.775 from freshman Jordanna Phillis in her competitive lineup debut and a 9.750 from graduate gymnast Hannah Ruthberg.

ROTATION 2 – BEAM (48.400)
- Sophomore Lindsay Fuller led the way for the Cardinals in the second rotation, earning a career-best score of 9.800 to finish third on the apparatus.
- That was just ahead of Molina, who started the rotation by tying her career high with a 9.775.
- Ball State also received a 9.750 from Szymanski.

ROTATION 3 – FLOOR (49.025)
- Ball State counted five scores of at least 9.700 in another solid floor rotation.
- Junior Zoe Middleton closed the rotation with BSU's best score, earning a 9.875 to win the event.
- That was just ahead of Ruthberg, who preceded her with a 9.850.
- Molina added a career-best 9.825, while the Cardinals also counted a 9.775 from junior Alauna Simms and a 9.700 from senior Carissa Martinez.

ROTATION 4 – VAULT (48.525)
- Ruthberg turned in Ball State's best vault of the evening, turning in a season-best 9.850 to tie for first on the apparatus.
- Middleton was next for the Cardinals, earning a 9.775.

ALL-AROUND
- Ruthberg finished second in the all-around at 38.500, highlighted by her win on vault (9.850) and second-place effort on floor (9.850).
- Middleton was right behind, taking third at 38.375, highlighted by her win on floor (9.875) and third-place effort on vault (9.775).

UP NEXT
The Ball State gymnastics team returns to action next Sunday (Jan. 26) for Squishmallows Day at Worthen Arena. The tri-meet, which starts at 1 p.m., also features Western Michigan and Wilberforce.

Fans can join the gymnastics fun by purchasing tickets at https://BallStateSports.com/GymTickets. Single meet tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth.

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Players Mentioned

Mary Rose Bellan

Lindsay Fuller

Carissa Martinez

Zoe Middleton

Ava Molina

Jordanna Phillis

Hannah Ruthberg

Alauna Simms

Ashley Szymanski