Closing out the season in the same place it competed only a week ago, Ball State gymnastics (9-9, 2-4) was back in Mount Pleasant for the Mid-American Conference Championships. An early slip on bars would haunt the Cardinals for the rest of the meet as they would finish in seventh place.
“We came into this meet focused on hitting 24-of-24 routines, and if we did that, we could’ve placed in the top three,” head coach Joanna Saleem said. “The MAC is in a position where all the teams are very strong, and if everyone is hitting their routines, we could hang with all of them. We came in with the goal to hit all our routines, and that obviously didn’t happen."
The Cardinals opened the meet on vault, holding a consistent score just as they did last weekend, only seeing a 0.150-point deduction from last weekend. It was on bars where the Cardinals began to fall off. Falls on the event led to major score deductions, leading to the Cardinals third-worst score on the bars this season at 47.575. Today’s score was a 1.175-point decrease from last weekend.
“We had to change the bars lineup from last week due to injury, and I thought we could handle it,” Saleem said. “You can come into the event completely prepared, and you think the wrong thing, and you’re not on the equipment anymore.”
The Cardinals came back in the second half on beam, seeing senior Baylee Bell tie for fourth with a score of 9.900. Bell placed ten spots ahead of freshman Tia Kiaku and Vicky Garcia who followed with a score of 9.825.
The Cardinals finished up the meet — and their season — with a lot of heart on floor. Kiaku stole the show, tying for third with a score of 9.875. Freshman Claudia Goyco followed, tying for 15 with a score of 9.800.
“This is a bitter-sweet finish,” Saleem said. “They did a good job in not giving up after bars, but at the end of the day, I know they could’ve done better. We’re going to have to do some evaluating and start planning for next year so we can come back stronger.
In the end, the Cardinals saw themselves finish in seventh place for the second straight year with a score of 194.225. Host Central Michigan would win the MAC title in dominant fashion as it would finish 1.150 points ahead of second-place Northern Illinois.
Contact Jack Williams with comments at jgwilliams@bsu.edu or on Twitter @JackWilliamsBSU.
Read More
“It's the reason you come to play in tournaments like this, to play really good basketball teams,” head coach Brady Salle said after his team's Battle 4 Atlantis win
By Logan Connor / 9 minutes agoBall State women’s basketball tops Texas A&M 75-62 in its second game in the Battle 4 Atlantis
Indiana Pacers defeat the Washington Wizards at home
By Derran Cobb / 3 hours agoIn the Pacers first of four straight home games, the Blue and Gold would defeat the Wizards 115-103. Pascal Siakam led the way with 22 points.
Cardinals fall to Western Michigan in MAC Championship Final
By Daniel Kehn / 5 hours agoBall State ended the 2024 season with a loss to Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference Championship Final.
