Ball State closes out regionals with 5 individual competitors
By Lila Fierek / April 5, 2024The Cardinals come home without a win in the individual competition of the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Regionals.
The Cardinals come home without a win in the individual competition of the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Regionals.
The Cardinals fell to the Fighting Illini 195.825-195.775 in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Regionals Championships and ended the season ranked No. 34 nationally. Despite Ball State’s loss, five Cardinals will compete in the individual matchup April 4.
The Cardinals are proud of the team they’ve cultivated throughout the 2023-24 season.
Despite the loss, Ball State had many highs at the MAC Championship, including winning a handful of individual awards, as senior Suki Pfister was named MAC Specialist of the Year for the third season. Sophomore Zoe Middleton left with four awards: first for beam, first on floor, third on vault and first for all-around with 39.525 total points. Head coach Joanna Saleem won MAC Coach of the Year.
Ball State led the meet for the first two rotations, but Eastern Michigan came back during the third event, leaving a .050 point difference between the teams’ scores. The Ball State gymnasts brought their ‘A’ game on the floor and ended the meet 196.400-195.150, bringing them 14-4 overall.
In their second-to-last regular season meet, Ball State defeated Northern Illinois on the road.
The Cardinals improved to 11-2 after defeating George Washingon University 197.425-196.250. Ball State (No. 24) will be visiting University Park, Pennsylvania, next when the Cardinals compete in the Penn State Quad Meet against Penn State (No. 22), Towson (No. 39) and West Virginia (No. 51) at 6 p.m. Friday, March 1.
Despite Ball State gymnasts having the highest scores in three out of four events, it was not enough to beat the fellow Mid-American Conference (MAC) school in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The two teams fought back and forth for the win, but ultimately, the Broncos prevailed by .075 points. The Cardinals lost 195.950-196.025.
The Cardinals continue to lead the MAC after beating Kent State University, Bowling Green University and now Central Michigan back to back. The Cardinals won 196.000-195.325.
It was a rocky start for Ball State, but once they received a total of 49.275 points for bars, they were able to gain a slim lead. Ball State was only ahead by .050 after the third event. It was anyone’s meet, but the Cardinals’ 49.325 points on floor sealed the deal for Ball State’s win, and the meet ended 196.075-195.525.
The excited screams of high-pitched little girls filled the air at the Ball State Gymnastic team’s first home meet of the season. Ball State’s unofficial cheerleading team could be seen standing in the front row of the bleachers, responding to different performances, with extra cheers for high-scoring routines from seniors Suki Pfister and Victoria Henry.
Ball State came in first place at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic after three Cardinals recorded perfect scores.
Ball State dropped to 1-1 after the Cardinals finished in second pace of the Ohio State tri-meet.
Ball State gymnastics won its first competitive meet of the season against North Carolina, Rutgers and Utah State. The Cardinals' next meet will be the Ohio State Tri-Meet at 2 p.m. Jan. 14 at Ohio State University against the Buckeyes and Towson University.
With a Co-Mid-American Conference (MAC) Regular Season Championship, a second-place finish at the MAC Championship Meet and a nationally-ranked 34th-best NQS score of 196.395, Ball State earned an at-large team bid to the NCAA Regionals in Norman, Oklahoma, the first time since 1999 the Cardinals will compete at regionals as a team and just the second time in program history.
Ball State tied its fifth-best score in program history and tied its best finish at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship since 2002 with a score of 196.325 to finish second March 18 at host Kent State. It is the seventh runner-up finish in program history for the Cardinals and the first since 2016.
Ball State and its 18 athletic programs compete in Division I of the NCAA, and the university has five programs open exclusively to women — cross country, field hockey, gymnastics, soccer and track and field.
Ball State (6-10-1, 2-4 MAC) placed fourth out of seven competitors with a score of 195.900 points. Central Michigan claimed first place with 196.275 points. Head coach Joanna Saleem said the Cardinals displayed concentration throughout the meet despite a few errors.
Fans need to realize athletes go through everyday struggles and mental blocks just like everyone else. They are allowed to express their feelings and speak up. Almost every time an athlete sidelines themselves, there are ‘fans’ who call them soft, which I think is unacceptable.
This was the Mid-American Conference Championship meet, where all the top programs in the conference gathered in one arena to compete head-to-head.
