With a win over Eastern Michigan at home last weekend, the Ball State gymnastics team is preparing to travel to two other Michigan cities to compete this weekend.
First on the list of road destinations is East Lansing, Mich., with a meet against Michigan State on Friday at 7 p.m.
"They haven't blown anybody out of the water this season," Coach Nadalie Walsh said of the Spartans. "The girls are going into that meet believing they can come out on top."
Michigan State is coming off of a tie last weekend and three strait wins before that.
"I feel like they are a team that tends to rise to the challenge," Walsh said of Ball State.
After competing against Michigan State, the team will take a day off and head to their second Michigan stop of the weekend in Kalamazoo to play Western Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m.
"We want another MAC win, no if's, and's, or but's about it," Walsh said. "The girls and the staff know they can do it. It is going to come down to the team that makes the least amount of mistakes."
Flip for Autism is the theme for the meet and will feature a Special Needs Gymnastics Demonstration before the meet begins.
Special guest Chellsie Memmel will also be in attendance. Memmel was a member of the 2008 United State Olympic team and was also the World All-Around champion in 2005.
With only one win in the Mid-American Conference, Ball State hopes to make the least amount of mistakes and score high. After solid practices this week, Walsh is confident her team can do that.
"Our lineups are getting pretty stable and starting to be pretty consistence," Walsh said "We have the same girls doing the same events every week well."
The only event that the Cardinals lost last weekend was the vault, which was the team's main focus in practice this week.
"Kristin Vignola has just really gone over and worked on her vaults really hard," Walsh said. "This week she has been making her upgraded vaults.
Vignola will be joining Morgan Coslow, who also upgraded her vault last week.
"I'm really excited because it is definitely an upgrade and will help our team our start value wise and we just need more number on vault," Vignola said. "I'm very confident in myself and can't wait to go out and see what happens."
For one Ball State athlete, the match up with the Broncos will mean a little more than other meets.
"I have old teammates that compete at Western Michigan," Emily Wehrle said. "They haven't seen me in the gym since I have been away at college."
Upgrades and old friends are two things the team has to look forward to this busy weekend.
"I think it will be motivating after a meet everyone wants to get back in the gym and do it again," Walsh said. "One time this year they get to have two meets in one weekend."
Read More
Bearcat pitching struggles lead to Muncie Central loss at Delta in Delaware County baseball clash
By David Moore / YesterdayAt the end of the evening, it was the Eagles who ended their four-game skid as Delta took the victory against the Bearcats 16-1 in five innings. Delta will be on the road for its next contest against Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Shelbyville April 23 at 6 p.m. Muncie Central will travel to Muncie Burris for its next matchup, also April 23 at 6 p.m.
Brotherhood under the floodlights
By Jake Dickman / YesterdayHow Ball State Intramurals are helping fraternities grow closer.
