Fans in the M.A.C. Center roared with excitement Sunday as the gymnastics team celebrated senior day and walked away with the fourth-highest team score in school history on Sunday. During this celebration, Kent State defeated Ball State in the M.A.C. Center, 196.800-195.500.

The Flashes recognized six seniors in the win: Chelsea Drooger, Kelsey Lawless, Whitnee Johnson, Nicole Radon, Amiah Mims and Stephanie Comini, who serves as a student assistant, were honored after the meet during a ceremony.

“It has been a really great experience,” Johnson said. “You get to kind of live a double life. You go to school just like a normal student, but you also get to hang out with your favorite girls every day at practice and then you get to experience fun competitions like this, so it overall made college so much fun.”

Six personal records were set, and six more were tied for the Flashes, who now improve to 6-6 on the season and 2-3 in the Mid-American Conference.

“This was probably the best performance I’ve seen from my team in six or seven years,” coach Brice Biggin said. “From top to bottom, the first girl all the way through the last, they performed with just a different level of confidence. They set each other up and helped each other with the scoring, so it was just a phenomenal team effort today.”

Kent State took first place in every event. Ali Marrero, Rachel Stypinski, Chelsea Drooger and Jordan Hardison took first place honors. Stypinski tied both her personal records on beam (9.900) and floor (9.950). Hardison set her personal record in the floor event with a score of 9.950. Marrero set two personal records, with a 9.900 score on bars and 9.850 on the beam.

With the last regular season meet coming next Saturday in Bowling Green, the team not only prepares to gear up for the upcoming MAC tournament, but also to say goodbye.

“I will miss the team definitely, the environment, having that family,” said Amiah Mims, senior Kent State gymnast. “Being a student athlete is kind of hectic sometimes because it has its ups and downs. Of course schoolwork is hard, trying to practice and get the work done, but it’s fun because it teaches you a unique set of skills that other people don’t have. I wouldn’t trade the experience I’ve had for anything.”

Contact Megan McEldowney at [email protected]