SHREVEPORT, La. – While the meet did not start off the way the Ladies Gymnastic team hoped on vault, they rebounded with season bests on the final three rotations and a big season best team score in 2019 by more than six tenths as Centenary lost a close meet to Air Force, 191.350-191.050, on Senior Night Friday, March 1.
While the Ladies trailed by nearly eight tenths following the first half of the meet, they bested the Falcons on each of the final two rotations to nearly complete the comeback. Freshman Kendall Sanders set the tone early in the third rotation on beam, receiving a career best 9.625 (and even received a 9.700 from one judge). After a 9.400 from sophomore Jerrica Harris and a 9.600 from senior Elizabeth Sander, senior Tavia Smith received a season high of 9.775 to finish second.
However, senior Navia Jordan concluded the apparatus in style with her first of two wins on the day with a season high of 9.825. Centenary bested Air Force on beam, 48.425-48.275 – The total on beam was the best for Centenary in 2019.
The Ladies kept the heat on the Falcons with a season best on floor. Sander and sophomore Sierra Ponder both led off the event with 9.525. After a 9.300 from Sanders, the scores just went higher for the Ladies. In the fourth spot, Smith and junior Cami Bea Austin both matched career bests with a 9.725 and 9.800 respectively. Jordan finished the event in style with her best regular season floor score (9.875) in two seasons to win the event. Austin finished second, while Smith finished in a tie for third. The Ladies finished the event with a 48.450, more than three tenths better than Air Force.
Smith received a season best 38.550 total to win the all-around.
While the Ladies started with a 46.325 on vault, Sanders finished third on the event with a 9.425. But Centenary rebounded with a big season high on bars with a 47.850 thanks to score building with the first five routines. Senior Aspen Hattley started off the event with a 9.450, followed by sophomore Jenny Jackson's 9.525. Freshman Xian Baumgartner followed with a 9.575 and Sanders received a 9.600. Smith received a 9.700 to finish second on the event.
The Falcons edged the Ladies by less than a tenth on bars, 47.925-47.850.
Air Force won on vault, 47.025-46.325. Individually, Heidi Sand claimed the vault title with a 9.700, while Anna Salamone won on bars (9.825) and took second on vault (9.675).
Centenary closes out the weekend Sunday afternoon, March 3, when it travels to Texas Woman's for a quad meet with the Pioneers, Arizona, and Air Force. First rotation is set for 2 p.m.
