With one competition left until Mid-American Conference championships, the Kent State gymnastics team posted its highest beam score of the season just two days after setting its now previous season high. 

“I’m extremely pleased and just very proud of the team,” coach Brice Biggin said. “Their attitudes and their focus has been really solid.”

The Flashes placed second in the Kent State Tri-Meet Sunday, scoring a season-best 196.550 and a 49.250 on beam. 

No. 16 Ohio State won the afternoon with 197.525 and 49.500. Eastern Michigan totaled 194.575 and 48.300 on beam, its lowest score of the meet. 

Kent State now solely holds first place in the MAC at 5-1 and 12-5 overall. Central Michigan is in second at 4-1 and 4-3 overall, and Western Michigan third with 3-2 and 7-5 overall. Eastern Michigan remains in last.

The Flashes finished second in all four events of the meet to Ohio State. 

Sophomore Sarah Haxton and junior Rachel DeCavitch led KSU on beam with 9.875, a season-high match for Haxton. 

Kent State previously set a new season-record Friday with 49.225 on beam, despite coming off its lowest event score since February 2020 the previous meet.

Biggin said the quick improvement on beam came from better focus in practice.

“They understand, because we preach it a lot, that every time you do a routine it has to be as if you’re in a meet,” Biggin said. “You don’t get to go up there and be lazy, you have to go out and put 100 percent effort into every routine.”

The Flashes scored 49.125, a season-best match, to OSU’s 49.275 on vault. Freshman Alyssa Guns placed third place for KSU with 9.875, matching a personal best. 

On floor, the Flashes scored 49.300, matching their second-highest score in the event this season. Sophomore Kennedy Weinpert and junior Karlie Franz tied for second with 9.900, a season-high for Weinpert and a season-best match for Franz.  

Ohio State won the event with 49.375. Eastern Michigan posted 48.950, its highest score of the meet. 

“This year, I’ve stepped into my own,” Franz said. “I know what I need to do.”

KSU scored the lowest on bars with 48.875. OU scored 49.375, and EMU scored 48.675. 

The Flashes will end the regular season at Western Michigan Sunday at 1 p.m.

Kent State will win the  MAC regular season title with a win.

“This week of practice is going to be so important,” Biggin said. “If they can practice up there and continue to build confidence, then we know it’s not a matter of going out and trying to beat Western, it’s a matter of focusing on ourselves.”

Franz sounded confident when talking about preparing for her team’s last regular season meet of the season.

“We’re just going to go into the gym these next few days and focus on the little things because that’s what’s going to get us on top,” Franz said. “We’re going to win this year.”

Isabella Schreck is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].