March 13, 2008

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - On Friday March 14th the Bowling Green State University gymnastics team will welcome Mid-American Conference opponents Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan to Anderson Arene. The Falcons are coming off a tough road stretch where they went 2-6 in four meets to sit at 9-9 overall on the season. Last week the team competed at North Carolina State where they posted an overall team score of 190.950. They were led by sophomore Breanne Guy who had a career night in the all-around with a score of 38.900.

There is No Place Like Home
The Falcons have ended their four meet road trip. While on the road the team averaged an overall score of 190.575. In all their away meets their team average comes to a 190.37. Why is it good to return home? Their average at home is a 191.375, a whole point higher then the road.

Nice Weather Did not Equal Nice Results In their last outing down in Raleigh, North Carolina the team took third out of four. The host school NC State dominated posting a 195.075. Besides Guy having a career night in the all-around there were many other notable performances.

Jacque Bernhardt tied for seventh on vault with a score of 9.750. All but one of Bernhardt's vault scores this season has been a 9.7 or higher. Freshman Lexi Psichopaidas had a career night when she posted a 9.625, a new personal best for her. Queenita Gamble recorded a 9.700 on the beam. That is the third time in the four meets she had a 9.7 or higher. On floor Bernhardt again led the team with a 9.725 making that the sixth time this season she has a 9.7 or higher on floor.

Stopping the Huskies Momentum
NIU has been impressive all season with their lowest score on the year coming last week when they competed in a four team meet at Eastern Michigan. They finished second with a score of 191.750. They were led by Jennifer Naughton who competed very well on the beam posting a 9.825. She also led the team on floor with a 9.775. Holly Reichard led the Huskies in the all-around with a 38.225.

Overall the team is now 7-2, and 3-2 in the MAC. These two schools met up last year at NIU where BGSU claimed a victory with a 190.200-188.225 win. BGSU controls the series overall 9-3.

EMU Looking for Revenge
Eastern Michigan and BGSU met up earlier this year in Bowling Green, Ohio. It was the Falcon's second meet on the season and they stole a 191.950-191.525 win away.

Ending the Season
After their meet on Friday the team will have on more meet in their regular season. It will be on Saturday March 22, against Kentucky University at 4:00 p.m. Upon completion of that meet the team will travel to Kent, Ohio for the third time this season to compete in the MAC Championships.