Shreveport - The Centenary gymnastics team earned a runner-up finish on Sunday afternoon versus the Air Force Academy Falcons in the Ladies' home opener at the Gold Dome.
Centenary finished with a team score of 187.650 while Air Force claimed the dual-meet win with a 192.450. The Ladies were competing in their second meet of the season after opening the 2022 campaign on Jan. 7 at nationally-ranked LSU in Baton Rouge where they finished with a score of 185.650. The Falcons, a division one team currently ranked 51st in the country in the latest Road to Nationals rankings, were coming off of a season-opening loss at No. 11 Utah State 194.950-191.975 on Jan. 14.
The Ladies recorded a season-high 47.750 on vault, their best score of the meet of the four individual events, followed by another season-high score (47.475) on beam. Centenary recorded its third season-high score on floor (47.400) and scored a 45.025 on bars. The Ladies finished with a 46.050 on bars at LSU in the season opener.
Senior All-American Kendall Sanders (Spring Branch, Texas) and freshman Emma Lavelle (Mandeville, La.) finished third and fourth respectively in the all-around behind Air Force's duo of Genevieve Sabado (1st/38.825) and Ayla McKean (2nd/38.500). Sanders earned a season-high 38.050 and Lavelle, after making her collegiate debut at LSU with a 36.950 in the AA, also posted a season-best score on Sunday with a 37.525.
Sanders' best individual score on Sunday was a 9.60 on beam followed by a season-best 9.525 on bars, a 9.50 on vault and a season-high 9.425 on floor. Lavelle earned a season-best 9.675 on floor for her top score on Sunday followed by a 9.450 on beam, a 9.40 on vault, and an even 9.00 on bars to tie her season-high in the event.
Junior Kendall Huff (Riviera, Texas) led the Ladies on vault with a season-high 9.725 followed by fellow junior Leilani Johnson (Wichita, Kan.) who posted a season-best 9.650. Sanders had the Ladies' third-best score on vault and sophomore Isabel Plaza (San Antonio, Texas) was fourth with a 9.475. Junior Lacey Wedge (Belle Chasse, La.) tied her season-high with an 8.90.
Junior All-American Taylor Ann Wilson (Memphis, Tenn.) had the Ladies' second-best score on bars (9.00) on bars behind Sanders' 9.525 and tied with Lavelle. Junior Rose Deshler (Hastings, Minn.) scored a new career-high 9.30 and senior Kendall Knaps (Prairieville, La.) made her season debut with an 8.20. senior All-American Xian Baumgartner (Albuquerque, N.M.) scored a 7.55.
Baumgartner was the Ladies' second-best finisher on beam with a season-high score of 9.575 behind Sanders' 9.60. Lavelle and sophomore Rylie Molina (Moss Bluff, La.) each scored a 9.45 on beam as Molina's score was a season-high. Deshler earned a 9.40 and freshman Carissa Martinez (Albuquerque, N.M.) earned an 8.725.
Lavelle led the way on floor with her season-high 9.675 followed by a career-high 9.65 from Huff and then a season-best 9.575 from Baumgartner. Sanders earned a 9.425, Wedge tallied a 9.075 and Martinez received an 8.95.
Centenary is next in action on Sunday, Jan. 30 for a dual meet against fellow Midwest Independent Conference member Texas Woman's University for a 2 p.m. meet in Denton, Texas.
See the Ladies' complete season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/gymnastics/2021-22/schedule
Live stats and live video are available for all home meets.
Admission is FREE to all Centenary home athletic contests but be advised of current COVID-19 protocols for fans. Updated COVID-19 information is now available via www.GoCentenary.com.
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