Gymnasts prepare to take on CMU, Maryland in meet

The Kent State gymnastics team plans to use fans, energy and rivalry to help it flip for a breast cancer cure and to victory.

Kent State will host rivals Central Michigan and Maryland at 1 p.m. this Sunday at the M.A.C. Center in a Flip for the Cure meet.

“I feel like our team is ready,” junior Lydia Barrett said. “We’re excited to show everyone what we can do and beat our two rivals.”

The Flashes are eager to prove themselves against the Terrapins after a loss earlier this season, when Kent State scored 188.700 points to Maryland’s 191.450.

“We struggled that meet for whatever reason why,” Kent State coach Brice Biggin said. “We will look at this meet as hopefully a good chance to show Maryland, certainly, that we are a lot better team than they saw early in the season.”

Maryland scored 193.675 points last weekend in the Governor’s Cup, losing to North Carolina State and North Carolina but beating New Hampshire and Towson.

The Kent State gymnasts are also excited to compete against conference foe Central Michigan. The two teams are often neck-and-neck for the Mid-American Conference championship.

In their last meeting, the Flashes defeated the Chippewas, 194.625-192.175.

Central Michigan took second overall last weekend in the State of Michigan Classic. The Chippewas lost to Michigan but beat Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan.

After shaky meets against Ball State and Denver, Kent State competed better against Bowling Green last Saturday, winning the meet 194.550-192.600.

Coaches and gymnasts are hoping to keep the winning attitude through this meet, while also performing better on each event.

“I think we’re just looking for a really solid performance on all four events where we don’t have to count a fall,” Biggin said. “Where we go out and perform up to expectations.”

The Kent State coaches realize there will also be many possible recruits in the crowd Sunday because all three teams are close in the standings.

“People want to go where people win,” assistant coach Thomas Ward said. “So it will definitely help us to hopefully get some nice recruits that are really interested in us.”

Kent State, Central Michigan and Maryland are also competing this weekend not only for first place and recruits, but also to help raise funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

“Helping organize this meet and looking at all the stats and data on breast cancer, one out of every eight woman will be diagnosed with breast cancer at one time in their life or another,” assistant coach Sharon Sabin said. “Having 20 girls on my team every year, that’s at least two every year that, when you look at the numbers, could possibly come down with this disease.”

Throughout this week the teams have been selling T-shirts in order to raise money and promote the meet. The shirts are $5 each and will be available to purchase during the meet. The team will also be selling tickets for baskets that will be raffled off during the meet.

The Kent State gymnasts are hoping more people will come to support the cause and the team.

“I’m excited for the crowd honestly,” Barrett said. “I think it is going to be one of the biggest meets (and) one of the biggest crowds that we’ve had here.”

Contact sports reporter Pamela Crimbchin at [email protected].