Senior night ended with Ball State University's first Mid-American Conference win of the season. The gymnastics team took second-place with a final score of 187.875. Michigan State earned first-place with 191.025 points and Bowling Green placed third with 183.625 points.
Three Ball State gymnasts placed in the all-around. Junior Kelly Watson earned second-place with 38.175 points. Sophomore Erica Gilkerson came in fourth with 37.525 points. Junior Lauren West earned fifth-place with 39.350 points.-á-áAs coach Lisa Simonton had hoped, the attendance record for the season was broken Friday night. There were 699 people present. She said she felt relieved with their first MAC win.
"I knew we could do it," Simonton said. "It wasn't the fact that it's a win or loss type of thing. It's that we hit. That's important for us. We don't care what anyone else is doing. We hit and we feel good about it. It just so happens that we came away with a win versus a MAC team."
Shauna Feeney and Jennifer Carr were recognized by teammates and family members after the meet. The juniors presented each senior with a blanket and a scrapbook. Carr said it felt weird to know there wouldn't be any more home meets for her friends to go to. She had advice for incoming seniors.
"Stay positive," Carr said. "It's hard at the end. It's four years and your body is hurting. You've got to hang in there and try to stay positive."
Carr hasn't been competing but there is the possibility of seeing her participate on bars, floor or vault in the future. Feeney held an exhibition spot on both the beam and the floor Friday. She said she could have done better on both events, but is hoping to compete in the future. She also had mixed feelings about the meet being the last one at home for the season.
"I'm sad about leaving but I'm exited about the other meets we have," Feeney said.
Coach Simonton said it was unfortunate the last home meet of the season was so early. She also said the past two weeks of training contributed to the efficiency of the meet and the cooperation among the team. -á
"We are meshing together," Simonton said. "Our mat movers are just as important as the person who is going up. I have to have people who are efficient doing the music, video and moving this mat. Now it's like a well-oiled machine."
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