Denton, Texas – The Centenary gymnastics team finished fifth in the 2022 Midwest Independent Conference Championships on Friday at the Kitty Magee Arena.
The Ladies recorded a 189.350 team score while the host Pioneers of TWU won the title with a 195.750 score. Lindenwood finished second (194.865) just ahead of third-place Illinois State (194.275). Southeast Missouri (SEMO) State finished fourth (193.425). Friday's meet was the final MIC Championships for Centenary head coach Jackie Fain who will retire at the end of the season after 11 successful seasons at the helm.
The Ladies entered Friday's meet having earned their highest team score of the season last Saturday as they posted a 191.575 and finished second to the Pioneers their annual Senior Night meet at the Gold Dome. Centenary honored its four seniors after the meet- All-Americans Kendall Sanders (Spring Branch, Texas) and Xian Baumgartner (Albuquerque, N.M.), Kendall Knaps (Prairieville, La.), and Madison McCary (Ozark, Mo.).
The Ladies, currently ranked 72nd in the country in the latest Road to Nationals rankings, are the sixth-highest ranked division III program in the country. TWU, a division II program, is ranked 50th. Lindenwood, also a division II school is ranked 54th. Illinois State and SEMO are both division I programs and are currently ranked 49th and 59th respectively.
The Ladies' top event score of the meet was a 48.025 on vault followed by a 47.60 on bars, a 47.50 on floor, and a 46.225 on beam. Sanders finished with a 37.50 in the All-Around and had a 9.70 on bars for her top individual score of the night. She scored a 9.60 on vault and a 9.50 on floor.
Baumgartner recorded the Ladies' best score of the meet on floor with a 9.60 followed by a 9.575 from junior Rose Deshler (Hastings, Minn.) and junior Kendall Huff (Riviera, Texas) scored a 9.475. Junior Lacey Wedge (Belle Chasse, La.) had the Ladies' top score on vault with a 9.675 followed by a 9.625 by Huff. Junior Leilani Johnson (Wichita, Kan.) posted a 9.575 on vault and freshman Emma Lavelle (Mandeville, La.) had a 9.45.
Junior Kennedy Stephens (Bella Vista, Ark.) and Deshler each recorded a 9.60 on beam and Baumgartner scored a 9.575. Junior All-American Taylor Ann Wilson (Memphis, Tenn.) led the way on bars with a 9.775 and Deshler scored a 9.45.
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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