The Kent State gymnastics team began its season with big goals. So far, the team remains undefeated in the Mid-American Conference, secured eight consecutive wins and won the MAC regular season championship. On Saturday, the team will compete to attain their next goal, a MAC Chanpionship.

“The biggest thing is just not making a bigger deal out of [the MAC Championship] than what it is,” Flashes coach Brice Biggin said. “We just need to go in there and focus on it just being another meet. If we try harder or try to do something different, we are taking away from what our strength has been this year. Our strength has been being able to go out there and be consistent.”

The team is coming off a first place home quad meet win against Southeast Missouri State, New Hampshire and Cornell. With an overall score of 195.957, the Flashes dominated their competition on the vault and the beam, falling just shy of first place on the bars and floor exercise.

“[The gymnasts] train very hard in practice,” Biggin said. “They train to make routines in practice. So we tell them all the time not to change what you’re doing from a day to a day process. Go out there, stay focused like you do in practice and don’t try any harder.”

Beginning on vault, the Flashes scored a 48.925 overall. Senior Lauren Wozniak and sophomore Chelsea Drooger both posted a 9.825 in the event, tying for second place. Continuing to the uneven bars, senior Rachel Guida once again secured a first place spot in the event, scoring a 9.875.

Junior Marie Case continued her streak on the balance beam, scoring a 9.925, while freshman Nicolle Eastman also scored high, posting a 9.900.The Flashes finished strong on the floor exercise, scoring a 48.825 overall. Katlin Isaacs tied for first place in the event with a score of 9.825. Sophomores Amiah Mims and Nicole Radon, and Wozniak all scored a 9.775 in the event.

“I think we have to train this whole entire week like we’re training for a championship,” senior Lindsay Runyan said. “We have to be confident in everything we do. We have to be efficient in everything we do. We have to be there for each other more than ever because we really want this.”

The Mid-American Conference Championship meet will begin at 2 p.m. at Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, Mich. Following the championship, the Flashes are set to compete in the NCAA Regionals.

“As long as we go out there and continue to make routines,” Biggin said, “I think whether it’s a MAC Championship or an NCAA Regional Championship, we’ll give [the team] a chance to be successful.”

Contact Lily Flynn at [email protected].