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KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan gymnastics team improved to 4-1 on the season with a narrow win over Ball State on Saturday, 194.800-194.675. Anna Corbett won the all-around title for the third time this season with a career-high 39.175, fourth best in school history.
Western Michigan came into the final event trailing Ball State by 0.350 points. The Broncos used a season-high 48.875 on the floor including three 9.800 scores by Corbett, Rachael Underwood and Audry Merritt to surpass the Cardinals who scored 48.450 on the beam, their final event of the day.
“I felt good about it,” head coach Penny Jernigan said. “They really bounced back on floor. I was really proud of them and some of them did the best routines I've seen them do this season. It's huge to get a conference win and huge for the team's confidence.”
Corbett's score included her fourth straight vault title, scoring a season-best 9.850. Her score was the first of four on the day for her at 9.750 or higher. She also had runner-up finishes on both the balance beam (9.775) and the floor (9.800).
“She had a great meet,” Jernigan said. “She stuck her vault which is exciting. She had a great day all-around.”
Earlier in the day the Broncos had three freshmen in the vault in Underwood, Rachel Binkley and Katie Jennings. Binkley set a new career-high in the event, with a 9.725 to place fourth, also a personal best.
Winning the bars for the Broncos was Kendall Carlson, the first of her career. She scored a personal-best 9.825, beating her previous career-high of 9.800, accomplished last month vs. Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green.
Joining Corbett as an all-around qualifier was Kelsey Hood who also scored 9.700 or higher on all four events. She had two top-three finishes on the day, placing third on the bars (9.800) and tied Corbett for runner-up honors on the beam (9.775).
The Broncos now head on the road for five straight meets beginning next Sunday, Feb. 14 at Northern Illinois. Meet time is set for 3 p.m.
