Gymnastics Celebrates Senior Day with Win over EMU

Sunday, February 15

Muncie, IN

1 p.m.

Ball State University

195.025

194.125

Eastern Michigan

February 15, 2026 | Gymnastics

Complete Results

MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State gymnastics team celebrated its four-member senior class with a 195.025 to 194.125 victory over Eastern Michigan Sunday afternoon at Worthen Arena.

The effort, which capped the home portion of the season, kept the Cardinals perfect in Mid-American Conference action, at 4-0, while improving the team's overall record to 9-1.

Like last week's home meet, it was the bars squad which highlighted the day by once again tying the sixth-best event score in program history with a second consecutive 49.250. All six gymnasts in the lineup earned at least 9.750, with all five countable scores being 9.800-or-higher.

Leading the way on bars was junior Ashley Szymanski who collected her second straight 9.950 to win the event for the fifth time this season and the 17th time in 33 collegiate meets. Szymanski was not done there, however, as she anchored the bars lineup with a career-best 9.900 to tie for the win with classmate Delaney McMahon.

The pair of 9.900s were key in helping the Cardinals claim the victory after a rough start to the event. The efforts also tie as the best beam scores in the MAC this season with senior Zoe Middleton.

In their final home meet Ball State's seniors also had a solid day. Middleton picked up her fourth consecutive all-around title with a score of 38.600. Alauna Simms turned in a countable score of 9.750 on floor. Mary Rose Bellan added a career-best vault of 9.725 and tied for third on bars with a 9.825.

Overall, the Cardinals earned 9.800-or-higher in 11 routines, including the three scores of at least 9.900 which is the most in a meet so far this season.

ROTATION 1: Vault (48.900)
- Sophomore Karlie Mercer led the way in the opening rotation, tying for second overall with a career-high tying 9.825
- Freshman Carley Stalder was right behind, taking fourth with a 9.800
- Freshman Ava Thurston and Zoe Middleton tied for fifth overall at 9.775, while Bellan rounded out Ball State's countable scores with a 9.725

ROTATION 2: Bars (49.250)
- For the second straight meet, the Cardinals tied the sixth-highest bars score in program history with a 49.250
- Szymanski won the event with her second consecutive 9.950, and owns a 9.900 this season
- Mercer came in second once again, with her score of 9.825
- Middleton and Bellan tied for third at 9.825, while junior Ava Molina posted a 9.800 to place sixth
- Ball State's gymnasts turned in seven of the top eight scores on the day

ROTATION 3: Beam (48.075)
- After three consecutive falls, McMahon and Szymanski steadied the squad with back-to-back 9.900s to close the rotation
- Mercer started the rotation with a 9.750 to tie for fourth overall

ROTATION 4: Floor (48.800)
- In another strong finish, Molina and Middleton registered back-to-back 9.800s to close the rotation and tie for second overall
- Sophomore Avery Kantor and Simms were next, tying four sixth overall at 9.750
- Stalder provided Ball State's final countable score in the rotation at 9.700

ALL-AROUND:
- For the fourth consecutive week, Middleton was the all-around champion, scoring a 38.600 on the day
- All four of her scores counted in the final team results, led by her 9.825 on bars and 9.800 on floor

UP NEXT:
The Ball State gymnastics team will have a pair of road meets next week, starting Friday (Feb. 20) at the Missouri Quad. The team then travels to Western Michigan Sunday (Feb. 22) for a key MAC dual.