Gymnastics Storms Past NIU, Sweeping All Four Individual Events Saturday

Saturday, January 24

DeKalb, IL

3 p.m.

Ball State University

193.800

191.050

Northern Illinois

Gymnastics Storms Past NIU, Sweeping All Four Individual Events Saturday

January 24, 2026 | Gymnastics

Complete Results

DEKALB, Ill. - - The Ball State gymnastics team brought whiteout conditions to the NIU Convocation Center Saturday afternoon, winning all four individual events and taking the all-around title in a 193.800 to 191.050 victory over host Northern Illinois.

"We had to fight all the way through to the very end of the last routine," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "That's one of the things we talk about with our team; making sure you don't get caught up in the mistakes, so you can continue to go until the very last routine of the day. Being able to come over to beam, after a floor rotation that was so uncharacteristic for us, and finishing strong was awesome. They were confident, focused and able to get the job done."

It was the second consecutive individual event sweep for the Cardinals, helping the squad move to 3-1 (2-0 Mid-American Conference) on the young season.

Leading the way in the team's white leotards was senior Zoe Middleton who claimed her 12th career all-around title by scoring 39.175. She picked up the individual event win on floor, with a 9.825, while tying for second on bars (9.750), placing third on vault (9.800) and taking seventh on beam (9.800).

Junior Ashley Szymanski remained undefeated on bars this season, claiming her third straight individual title in the event with a score of 9.800. She has now won the bars competition in 15 of her 30 collegiate outings.

Freshman Carley Stalder tied her career high with a 9.850 to pick up the win on vault, while also tying to the top spot on beam with a career-best 9.875. Junior Delaney McMahon also turned in a season-best 9.875 to tie for the top spot on beam.

Overall, the Cardinals turned in 10 routines of 9.800-or-better, including all six gymnasts who competed on beam.

Rotation 1: Bars (48.150)
- Szymanski picked up her third straight win on bars, closing the opening rotation with a score of 9.800
- Junior Ava Molina helped set the tone early, opening the meet with 9.750
- Ball State's opening rotation was also highlighted by a 9.750 from Middleton and a 9.675 from McMahon

Rotation 2: Vault (48.825)
- Stalder took home her second vault win of the season, closing the rotation with a career-high tying 9.850
- Middleton finished second on the squad, and third overall, earning a 9.800 in her first vault of the season.
- Freshman Ava Thurston landed a 9.775 in her collegiate debut, while sophomore Grace Suchecki added a career-best 9.750
- The Cardinals also counted a 9.650 from sophomore Karli Mercer

Rotation 3: Floor (47.575)
- Middleton provided the Cardinals' brightest spot in the third rotation, earning a 9.825 in her first floor routine of the season to take home the individual title
- Stalder and Molina also provided strong routines with scores of 9.750 and 9.650, respectively.

Rotation 4: Beam (49.250)
- The Cardinals ended the day with its best rotation of the season, earning a 49.250 to tie the fifth-best team beam score in program history at 49.250
- Middleton and Stalder tied for the event win, each scoring a 9.875, with Stalder's mark being a career-best
- Szymanski closed the rotation with a 9.850, to finish third overall, while Molina and junior Lindsay Fuller each scored 9.825 to tie four fourth.
- Middleton was right behind with her score of 9.800, giving Ball State six routines of at least 9.800 in the rotation

All-Around:
- In her first all-around effort of the season, Middleton picked up her 12th career all-around victory with a score of 39.175. She scored at least 9.750 in all four events, including winning the floor title with a 9.825.

Up Next:
The Ball State gymnastics team returns to action next Sunday (Feb. 1), when it travels to Southeast Missouri State for the SEMO Quad. The event, which starts at 2 p.m., will also feature Illinois State and Wisconsin-Oshkosh.