The Ball State gymnastics team will look to pick up its third win at home this season when it faces Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m. in Irving Gym. The meet is the third and final home competition for the Cardinals this season.
Ball State (4-6, 1-4 Mid-American Conference) will look to end its streak of four consecutive dual meet losses. The Cardinals have scored well at home this season, recording the highest and third-highest team totals of the year.
The matchup between BSU and Eastern (2-7, 1-4 MAC) will be the final conference contest for both until the MAC Championships on March 19. They feature identical MAC records, and the lone conference victory for each was against Western Michigan.
With only three dual meets remaining, coach Mary Roth realizes that certain circumstances, mainly injuries, have hurt the team's performance.
"This year has not gone as planned," she said.
Even though injuries have depleted the Cardinals' lineups at times, there are positives that have come from the situation.
"People stepping in are getting competitive experience," Roth said. "They have done a good job competing, and others might have to fight for their spot."
One critical aspect where injuries have hurt the Cards is the level of difficulty in some of the gymnasts' routines.
Because of injuries, "we lost bonus skills," Roth said. "Now we are trying to upgrade (the difficulty in the routines)."
Three gymnasts that are not likely worried about upgrading their difficulty are seniors Courtney Vojtasek, Jenny Taylor and Carrie Groves.-á
Vojtasek has been a major contributor for the Cardinals this season, competing in the all-around every meet. She has led the Cardinals with the best all-around score four times this year.-á
Taylor has been consistent on the beam, scoring 9.7 or better five times this season. Groves has competed on the floor in every meet for the Cards. She has also competed on beam the last three meets.
Although this is the last home meet for the three seniors, everyone on the team will be looking to compete the best they can.
"We tell them, 'Don't be conservative; put everything into it,'" Roth said.
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