Denton, Texas – The Centenary gymnastics team posted a season-high 188.075 team score on Friday evening as the Ladies finished fourth in the TWU Quad 1 at Kitty Magee Arena.
The Ladies were joined in the meet by host Texas Woman's University, a division II program and a fellow Midwest Independent Conference member, and a pair of division 1 programs in No. 6 LSU, and No. 30 Pittsburgh. TWU is ranked 47th in the country in the latest Road to Nationals rankings while Centenary entered the meet ranked 69th and one of the top-ranked D3 schools in the nation. Centenary's previous season high score was a 187.650 back on Jan. 23 at home versus Air Force.
LSU won the meet with a 197.625 score, Pitt finished second (195.600) and the host Pioneers placed third (195.400). The Ladies altered their schedule as they were supposed to face the University of New Hampshire and Long Island University in a tri-meet on Friday in Durham, N.H. and then complete the weekend against Springfield College, Rhode Island College, and Southern Connecticut State in a quad meet on Feb. 27 in Springfield, Mass.
Centenary and TWU were facing each other for a second time this season after the Ladies finished second in a dual meet on Jan. 30 in Denton. The teams will also see each other again next month as the Ladies will host the Pioneers on Saturday, March 12 at 6 p.m. on Senior Night. The Ladies were also facing LSU for the second time this season after the two met in the season opener on Jan. 7 in Baton Rouge.
The Ladies earned their highest score of the meet on floor (47.700) followed by a 47.550 on vault, a 46.925 on beam, and a 45.900 on bars. Senior All-American Kendall Sanders (Spring Branch, Texas) finished third in the all-around competition with a 37.525. Kiya Johnson of LSU won the AA with a 39.450 and Pitt's Hallie Copperwheat finished second with a 39.150.
Sanders' top score of the night was a 9.65 on floor (T17th place) followed by a 9.625 on beam (19th place). She earned a 9.450 on vault to place 22nd and an 8.80 on bars good for 20th place. Sanders won the all-around twice earlier this month in a pair of non-conference meets on the road versus the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves on Feb. 11 and 13.
Centenary freshman Emma Lavelle (Mandeville, La.) had the Ladies' top individual finish on Friday as she placed 12th on beam with a 9.725. Freshman Carissa Martinez (Albuquerque, N.M.) finished 14th on beam with a 9.70 and 17th on floor (9.65), and junior Kendall Huff (Riviera, Texas) finished 15th on vault with a 9.70. Sanders and Martinez tied for 17th on floor (9.65). Lavelle also finished 24th on floor with a 7.90.
Junior Leilani Johnson (Wichita, Kan.) finished 19th on vault (9.60) and 21st on floor (9.525), junior All-American Taylor Ann Wilson (Memphis, Tenn.) earned a 9.30 on valt to finish in 23rd place and her best finisn of the night was on bars (17th) with a 9.65. Junior Rose Deshler (Hastings, Minn.) finished 18th on bars (9.60), 23rd on floor (9.325), and 24th on beam (8.15). Senior All-American Xian Baumgartner (Albuquerque, N.M.) had her best finish of the night on floor (9.55 - 20th place) coupled with a pair of 23rd-place finishes on beam (8.90) and on bars (7.25).
Junior Madison McCary (Ozark, Mo.) earned a season-best 9.50 on bars to finish 19th, fellow junior Lacey Wedge (Belle Chasse, La.) scored a 9.050 on vault to finish 24th. Sophomore Rylie Molina (Moss Bluff, La.) earned a 22nd-place finish on beam (8.975) and sophomore Isabel Plaza (San Antonio, Texas) finished 21st on vault with a 9.50. Freshman Chloe Armentor (Harvey, La.) finished 21st on bars (8.35).
Centenary will return home to face the SEMO Redhawks in a MIC dual meet on Friday, March 4 at 7 p.m.
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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