KSU Golden Flashes Captures All Four Event Titles in Win over Northern Illinois
The Kent State gymnastics team captured their seven win of the season in a full sweep over the Northern Illinois Huskies. The Golden Flashes posted their third-highest team total in program history in the win with a score of 196.925 to NIU’s 195.325. In the win, the Golden Flashes won all four events for the first time this season, with multiple gymnasts setting or matching career-high scores. Junior Alyssa Guns saw the top podium two times after posting two 9.925 scores, while senior Kennedy Weinpert and sophomore Heidi Schultz both earned a pair of top-three finishes.
Rotation 1:
In the first rotation the Golden Flashes combined for a score of 49.075 in vault, while the Huskies combined for 49.100 on uneven bars. Golden Flashes Kennedy Weinpert placed 1st in the event with a score of 9.875, a career-high for the senior. For the Huskies, senior Alyssa Al-Ashari tied her career-high on uneven bars with a 9.925.
Rotation 2:
In the second rotation, the Golden Flashes took the lead over the Huskies in uneven bars after combining for a score of 49.375 to NIU’s 49.050 on vault. Golden Flashes Sarah Haxton took home the bars title with a career-high 9.950, while Kiera O’Shea tied for 1st in vault with a 9.875 for the Huskies.
Rotation 3:
In the third rotation, the Golden Flashes combined for a 49.000 score on the balance beam, marking their second-highest team total so far this season. With a career-high of a 9.925, Alyssa Guns claimed the title for the first time during her junior campaign. The Huskies’ third rotation was on floor, with Emmalise Nock tying for 2nd place with a 9.850. The Huskies combined for a score of 48.950, trailing 147.450-147.100 behind the Golden Flashes.
Rotation 4:
In the final rotation, the teams took their last event of the day, with the Golden Flashes on floor and the Huskies on the balance beam. The Golden Flashes completely took over the meet with their total score of 49.475, the second-highest score of the season so far. A trio of Golden Flashes took the top podium with a score of 9.925, shared by Dani Fuertez, Alyssa Guns, and Karlie Franz. On the balance beam, Huskies’ Alyssa Al-Ashari tied for 1st with a 9.925, tying her season-high for the fourth time in her career.
Meet Results (Top 3):
Vault:
1st: Kennedy Weinpert - 9.875 - Kent State
1st: Kiera O’Shea - 9.875 - Northern Illinois
3rd: Kendall Gilbert - 9.850 - Kent State
Uneven Bars:
1st: Sarah Haxton - 9.950 - Kent State
2nd: Alyssa Al-Ashari - 9.925 - Northern Illinois
3rd: Heidi Schultz - 9.900 - Kent State
Balance Beam:
1st: Alyssa Guns - 9.925 - Kent State
1st: Alyssa Al-Ashari - 9.925 - Northern Illinois
3rd: Heidi Schultz - 9.850 - Kent State
Floor:
1st: Dani Fuertez - 9.925 - Kent State
1st: Alyssa Guns - 9.925 - Kent State
1st: Karlie Franz - 9.925 - Kent State