Gymnastics Suffers Sunday Setback at Kent State

Sunday, March 9

Kent, OH

1:00 PM

Ball State University

195.875

196.400

Kent State University

Suki Pfister Vault Celebration at Kent State

March 09, 2025 | Gymnastics

Complete Results

KENT, Ohio - - Despite earning its second highest score of the season, the Ball State gymnastics team suffered a 196.400 to 195.875 setback to 2025 Mid-American Conference regular season champion Kent State Sunday afternoon at the M.A.C. Center.

For the first three rotations, it looked like the Cardinals (12-7; 3-2 MAC) were going to hand the Golden Flashes (11-2; 6-0 MAC) its first league loss of the season. Unfortunately, a pair of miscues on beam and Kent State's best floor rotation of the season (49.375) flipped the script and ended Ball State's bid for a third consecutive MAC regular season title.

Despite the team setback, junior Zoe Middleton took the individual all-around title with her second-best score of the season at 39.300. The effort included a 9.875 on floor, a 9.825 on beam and 9.800s on both vault and bars.

Graduate student Suki Pfister also took home the vault title, turning in her best effort of the season with a 9.925. It ties as the best individual vault score in the MAC this season and gives her a score of 9.900-or-higher on 19 of her 52 collegiate vaults, including one 10.0, one 9.975, four 9.950s, four 9.925s and nine 9.900s.

In addition, a pair of Cardinals tied for the event win on bars, with both junior Mary Rose Bellan and sophomore Ashley Szymanski earning a score of 9.850.

Overall, Ball State's student-athletes turned in 15 scores of 9.800-or-better, led by Pfister's 9.925 on vault.

ROTATION 1: BARS (49.050)
- Bellan and Szymanski would tie for the event win on bars, each earning a score of 9.850. Bellan's effort would tie her career-high for the fourth time this season.
- Middleton was not far behind, starting her all-around effort with a 9.800.
- Ball State's other three gymnasts in the lineup; sophomore Ava Molina, senior Grace Sumner and graduate student Hannah Ruthberg, all scored 9.775.

ROTATION2: VAULT (49.050)
- Pfister ran way with the vault title, with her highest score of the season to date at 9.925.
- Ruthberg and Middleton added scores of 9.825 and 9.800, respectively.
- The Cardinals also counted a 9.775 from freshman Karli Mercer and a 9.725 from sophomore Lindsay Girard.

ROTATION 3: FLOOR (49.175)
- Ball State's best rotation of the day with a team score of 49.175.
- Middleton and senior Cai Afalla tied for the team lead and for second overall on floor with scores of 9.875
- Senior Carissa Martinez was not far behind, earning a 9.825.
- Rounding out the rotation were Girard, Molina and junior Alauna Simms with scores of 9.800.

ROTATION 4: BEAM (48.600)
- Middleton, Molina and Szymanski led the way for the Cardinals on beam, tying for third overall at 9.825.
- Molina's score of 9.825 was a career-high.
- Sophomore Lindsay Fuller also turned in a countable score of 9.750.

ALL AROUND
- Middleton was the meet's lone all-around competitor, posting her second-highest score of the season at 39.300.

UP NEXT
The Ball State gymnastics team closes the 2025 regular season Friday, when it travels to Eastern Michigan for a 6 p.m. league dual.