Golden Flashes a team season-high 195.775; Rothrock ties for first on bars, Case posts best all-around score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics team posted a team season-high score Friday evening against nationally-ranked Ohio State, but the Buckeyes were nearly flawless on their final two rotations to defeat the Golden Flashes 196.925-195.775.

The Golden Flashes were neck and neck with the host Buckeyes through the first two rotations, with Kent State owning a slight .025 lead after scoring 49.300 on the vault. Senior Rachel Goldenberg (Doylestown, Pa.) tied her career best on the vault while junior Lauren Wozniak (Pittsburgh, Pa.) set a career-high with scores of 9.900, which tied for second overall.

Including Goldenberg and Wozniak, four Kent State gymnasts set or tied personal records on the vault: Rachel Guida (Cumberland, R.I.) and Whitnee Johnson (Columbia, Mo.) also had personal bests.

On the bars, Kent State matched Ohio State score for score, led by Erin Rothrock (York, Pa.) and her 9.825, which tied for first place.

But the No. 14 Buckeyes were precise on the beam and the floor, including an impressive 49.425 as a team on the floor to pull away in the final two rotations.

On the beam, Kent State was led by Marie Case (Erie, Pa.) and her fourth-place finish (9.825); it was her season-high for the event. Case also led Kent State with a fourth-place effort on the floor exercise (9.875), which tied for her best score of the season.

Case was the all-around leader for the third time this year, just missing her season best with a 39.250.

Kent State is back in action at home Sunday, March 11 when the Golden Flashes host MAC foe Bowling Green.