Published: April 05, 2007 11:19 pm            

Tarkington closes Cardinal career in style

Ball State gymnast claims vault crown at conference meet

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Jenna Tarkington closed out her career with the Ball State University gymnastics squad on a solid note over the weekend — winning vault in the Mid-American Conference Championships here at Eastern Michigan University.

Tarkington, who won an IHSAA state title in floor exercise at Northwestern High School in 2002, turned in a 9.825 score to claim the vault title and capture first-team all-MAC honors. Tarkington also won the vault championship and all-MAC honors in 2004 with the second-best score in Ball State history at 9.95.

Tarkington, co-captain of her team the past two seasons, also competed in floor exercise where she finished 30th overall with a score of 9.625.

“[Jenna] was actually part of the interview process when I took the job two years ago,” said coach Lisa Simonton. “That Ball State trusted her with that kind of responsibility as a sophomore says a lot.

“Regardless of whether it was gymnastics, academics or her student teaching, she showed herself as a prepared leader time and time again.”

Simonton said her MAC championship vault came as no surprise.

“She was disappointed with her performance at the [MAC] championships last year and she was bound and determined to go out on a high note,” Simonton said. “We knew she had that ‘magic vault’ in her and she showed it — [the vault] was just gorgeous.”

Ball State’s team as a whole performed well at the MAC meet, finishing fourth overall, its best finish since 2001. The Cardinals’ team score of 193.400 was the highest during Simonton’s two seasons.

Tarkington, who carries a 3.7 GPA in elementary education and will graduate in May, also leaves Ball State sharing the all-time best mark in beam at 9.9 with three others and owns the program’s ninth best all-around score of 39.125.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.