Gymnast Jordan Hardison smiled and waved at the crowd with excitement as a Kent State wrestler presented her with a rose before the start of the Beauty and the Beast event Saturday, the last of the senior’s career.

“This was my third year being here,” Hardison said. “It’s good because both sports get a little exposure, so people get to see what we do.”

The Flashes lost to No. 25 West Virginia University 195.950-194.875 Saturday in the M.A.C. Center, a result head that coach Brice Biggin was very disappointed with.

“We competed like we practiced all week,” Biggin said. “We were bad in practice all week long, so I wasn’t surprised that we were bad in the meet today. We looked exactly like we did in practice, which was very sloppy as a team. Until they get a little more intensity in their practices, we’re going to continue to be a bad team.”

Hardison tied her career-high on the vault with a score of 9.825. She set that as her career high last Sunday against Northern Illinois University. Junior Brooke Timko — who was competing in the vault for the first time this season — recorded a score of 9.800, which tied her for fifth. The Flashes as a team scored 48.850 on the vault, which is a new season-best. Hardison led the Flashes to a season-best on vault with a team score of 48.850. 

“Timko has had a bad shoulder for the last two and a half years and was begging to go back in on vault,” Biggin said. “Those are the type of kids you want on your team because it means a lot to them to get in.”

Senior Skyelee Lamano recorded the Flashes highest finish of the night when she came in second on the floor with a score of 9.850, while Junior Rachel Stypinski tied for third with a score of 9.825. Hardison and junior Alyssa Quinlan tied for seventh with a score of 9.800, and junior Michaela Romito finished with a score of 9.700.

“I had really big shoes to fill,” Romito said about her first time back in on floor. “It’s nerve racking, but I have a job to do and I know my coaches are confident in me.”

Junior Ali Marrero and sophomore Sarah Lippowitsch tied for third on beam with scores of 9.775, which was a career-high for Lippowitsch.

In the bars event Timko took third with a score of 9.835, while Romito tied for fourth with a 9.800. Biggin emphasized that he was happy with the performances of Timko and Romito.

“Timko and Romito had really good meets,” Biggin said. “Those are two examples of kids who have overcome some things and practiced well enough that they wanted to make a difference.”

Romito said that the biggest emphasis in practice this week would be success, confidence and hitting routines.

“We need to just start hitting routines in practice everyday,” Romito said. “We have to do what we know how to do and work on hitting our routines to build our confidence.”

Biggin said that there would be another key emphasis in practice this upcoming week.

“We need to be tougher,” Biggin said. “They need to care a little bit more in practice and not just go through the motions because too many of them are going through the motions, and once again, that’s how you are going to compete.”

The Flashes will look to get back on track in the MAC as they travel to Eastern Michigan University for their meet on Feb. 10.

Scott Lendak is a sports reporter, contact him at [email protected].