The Lindenwood gymnastics team won a tri-meet at Illinois State on Friday night in Normal, Ill. The Lady Lions defeated Ball State, their first win in program history over a member of the Mid-American Conference. Lindenwood also topped conference rival Illinois State to move to 3-0 against MIC opponents this year.
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Lindenwood needed a come-from-behind victory to capture the meet championship. Halfway through the competition, the Lady Lions were in last place, and they trailed Ball State by 1.35 points entering the final rotation. Lindenwood was on the vault last and scored a 48.575, which put pressure on the Cardinals. Ball State scored a 47.125 in its final event, the beam, which gave Lindenwood a 192.150-192.050 victory. Illinois State finished third with a 190.800.
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Kierstin Sokolowski won the individual vault title with a score of 9.825, winning the competition by 0.050 points. She also won the all-around with a 38.800 score. Her other marks were a 9.725 on the beam, a 9.650 on the floor, and a 9.600 on the bars. She came in second on the beam, sixth on the bars, and 12th on the floor.
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Valeri Ingui placed third on the beam with a 9.675, and she recorded a 9.725 on the vault.
Rachel Zabawa recorded a 9.700 or higher on the vault and floor. Other 9.700 marks went to
Aubree Horn on the vault and Andy Alexander on the floor.
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Lindenwood has one of its biggest meets of the season next Friday when it travels to Ames, Iowa to face Iowa State and North Carolina State.
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