Falcons Celebrate Senior Day, Raise RQS Against Kent State

Friday, March 3

Bowling Green, Ohio

6:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

194.450

195.725

Kent State

Photo by: Bianca Garza, BGSU Marketing and Communications

March 03, 2017 | Gymnastics

By: by Matthew Daley, Athletic Communicationis Assistant

MEET RESULTS (.pdf)

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team took another step towards a repeat trip to the postseason by achieving a 194.450 on Friday night (March 3) against Kent State. The result improved the team's Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) from 194.100 to 194.205 in the final meet held at Anderson Arena for the 2017 season.

"Tonight was a mix of good routines and some mistakes. I am pleased all three seniors performed well. It is an incredible moment to watch these women compete for the last time in Anderson Arena. We will work hard to mentally prepare for Michigan state on Sunday. I expect we will use similar line ups and focus on details to improve our score," said BGSU head coach Kerrie Turner.

The Falcons set a new season-best for team score in the floor exercise for the fourth consecutive meet. The event lineup included a full complement of six gymnasts for the first time in one month with the return of freshman Randi Morris from injury. Morris' first action since Feb. 18 resulted in a 9.675.

Sophomore Kayla Rose led the BGSU effort during the final rotation with a beautiful routine that earned a 9.875. The score tied Rose's career best, and her floor routines have earned a 9.800 or better in six straight meets. She placed third overall against the Golden Flashes.

Victoria Heath and Jovannah East added a pair of 9.825s for their floor exercise. It was Heath's best score of 2017 in the event and her second-best score of the season for any event. They tied for fifth. Senior Lauren Feely secured a 9.775 in just her second time as part of the floor lineup this season.

The Falcons had several other standout performances during the meet. Feely competed in all four events for the second straight meet and posted at least a 9.725 in each. Her best score was a season-best 9.800 on the balance beam that earned a tie for third place. Her all-around total of 39.050 is her best since winning the 2016 Mid-American Conference championship with a 39.300. Feely also took second place on the uneven bars after earning a 9.750.

East continued her amazing run of excellence. In addition to her 9.825 on the floor, she added a 9.800 for a third-place tie on the beam. She also tied her season- and career-best with a 9.875 that won the vault competition. East now has nine event wins this season, at least a 9.800 in each of her last 17 events, and a 9.850 or better on each of her last seven vaults.

Laura Mitchell won her third event of the season by notching a first-place tie with Kent State's Rachel Stypinski on the balance beam. She was rewarded with a 9.825 for her routine and equaled her season-high score. Lauren DeMeno and Rachel Reis also earned top-three finishes by tying for third on the bars with dueling 9.725s.

Kent State captured the overall team competition with a cumulative score of 195.725. They were led by Stypinski, who won the all-around with a 39.325 that included a 9.950 for her floor exercise. She also won the uneven bars with a 9.850. Jade Brown took second during the floor exercise thanks to a 9.900 from the judges.

Following the meet, fellow BGSU gymnasts honored the team's three seniors – Lauren Feely, Victoria Heath and Rachel Reis – with a brief Senior Night ceremony. This year's senior class is the first one to have competed in the NCAA Regionals as part of the team since the graduation of the 1994 class, which were freshman for the team's previous regionals appearance in 1991.

Bowling Green (3-12, 2-3 MAC) resume their season on Sunday, March 5 with a dual at East Lansing, Mich. against Michigan State. The meet will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Jenison Field House. MSU finished third out of four teams (194.600) on Friday night and will arrive on Sunday with a 5-8 record. Live stats will be available, as well as live video (SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED) for Sunday's meet.