Gymnastics Preview: Flashes travel to No. 14 Ohio State Friday
Kent State set to face instate foe at 7 p.m. at St. John Arena
The Kent State gymnastics team (5-3, 3-2 MAC) heads to the state capital Friday when the Golden Flashes challenge No. 14 Ohio State at 7 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio, at St. John Arena.
Last season, Kent State edged Ohio State at the Michigan Regional of the 2011 NCAA Championships. Kent State outscored the Buckeyes 195.450-195.350 to take second at the regional and advance to the NCAAs for the first time in program history.
Live video and live stats will be available prior to the start of the meet via Ohio State's athletics website.
SCOUTING THE FLASHES
Kent State took second Feb. 24 in a four-team meet hosted by N.C. State. The host Wolfpack bested the field with a 196.675, while the Golden Flashes tallied a 194.450 mark. Towson took third (193.925) and William and Mary (192.400) rounded out the field.
Kent State kept pace with the nationally-ranked Wolfpack, but N.C. State's standout performance on the beam paired with a low Kent State score on the floor exercise proved to be the difference.
Sophomore Marie Case (Erie, Pa.) was Kent State's lone event winner, as she was the top performer for the floor exercise (9.875). Case finished second in the all-around with a season-best 39.300 thanks to her team-best 9.800 on the balance beam.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Ohio State (9-2) is coming off a 196.025-195.00 win over Big Ten foe No. 10 Penn State Feb. 25 in Columbus. Sophomore Sarah Miller, who was named the Big Ten Gymnast of the Week, was first in both the vault and balance beam to lead the Buckeyes.
NEXT UP
Kent State wraps up the regular season with a pair of home meets, starting Sunday, March 11 when the Golden Flashes host Bowling Green in Mid-American Conference action at 1 p.m. at the MAC Center.