Shreveport – The Centenary gymnastics team recorded a season-best 188.100 team score and finished second to the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks in a Midwest Independent Conference dual meet on Friday night in the annual Sylvia Keiter Memorial Meet at the Gold Dome.
Friday was an emotional and special evening for the Centenary gymnastics program as Keiter, the former Centenary gymnast who passed away in 2018, was honored and Centenary head coach Jackie Fain was recognized at the end of the meet as she will retire at the end of the season after 11 successful seasons at the helm.
The Redhawks, a division 1 school currently ranked 57th in the latest Road to Nationals rankings, scored a 191.200 to win the meet. Centenary, currently ranked 70th in the country and are the seventh-highest ranked division III program in the country, had posted its previous season-high 188.075 team score last Friday in the TWU Quad 1 hosted by Texas Woman's University to finish fourth.
Centenary's highest event score on Friday was a season-high 48.850 on floor followed by another season-best score (47.775) on vault. The Maroon and White posted a 47.750 on beam, its second-best beam score this season, and a 44.525 in bars. SEMO's best score of the night was a 48.400 on vault, followed by a 48.025 on beam, a 47.850 on floor, and a 46.925 on bars.
Three Ladies tied career high scores and five season highs were achieved in a solid overall performance in Centenary's first home meet since late January. Senior All-American Kendall Sanders (Spring Branch, Texas) finished third in the all-around competition with a 36.80 aided by a career-high tying 9.80 on floor to claim a win in the event. She recorded a 9.725 on vault to finish third, and a 9.675 on beam.
Centenary freshman Emma Lavelle (Mandeville, La.) finished fourth in the AA (36.05) and scored a 9.425 on beam, her top score of the meet. Lavelle's second-best score was a 9.275 on beam. SEMO's Lydia Webb (38.625) and Molly Maxwell (37.925) finished first and second in the AA.
Junior Kendall Huff (Riviera, Texas) tied her career high on vault (9.75) to finish second and scored a 9.60 on floor. Freshman Carissa Martinez (Albuquerque, N.M.) tied her season-best score on floor with a 9.65. Junior Rose Deshler (Hastings, Minn.) posted a season-high 9.525 on floor, and a 9.425 on beam. Junior Leilani Johnson (Wichita, Kan.) earned a 9.575 on vault and junior All-American Taylor Ann Wilson (Memphis, Tenn.) posted a season-high 9.80 on bars to win the event.
Senior All-American Xian Baumgartner (Albuquerque, N.M.) had a season-high 9.60 on beam and earned a 9.475 on floor. Junior Kennedy Stephens (Bella Vista, Ark.) made her season debut and made the most of it as she scored a new career-best 9.775 on beam to finish second to SEMO"s Anna Kaziska.
Centenary will be back in the Gold Dome next weekend for its final meet of the season as the Ladies will face TWU at 6 p.m. on Senior Night.
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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