CLEVELAND, Ohio – Kent State’s Charlie Behner has been named the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Gymnast of the Week, the league announced today, .
Behner’s performance at the tri-meet held at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Indiana, on , was instrumental in the Golden Flashes’ second-place finish with a team score of 194.650. The senior from Milton, Georgia, delivered a consistently strong showing across three events, showcasing the skills that have made her a key contributor to Kent State’s gymnastics program.
The highlight of Behner’s day came on the vault, where she tied for first place with a score of 9.850. This performance underscores her reliability on this event, building on a career-high vault score of 9.900 achieved at the 2024 MAC Championships and matched previously at Temple in 2023. She continued to impress on the uneven bars, tying for second place with a 9.875. Behner’s consistency was further demonstrated on the floor exercise, where she also tied for first place, earning a 9.875.
This weekly honor comes on the heels of a strong start to the 2026 season for both Behner and the Golden Flashes. Kent State was recently picked to finish second in the MAC preseason poll, a testament to the team’s potential and the expectations surrounding its veteran leadership. Behner, along with junior Ashley Morgan, was named to the MAC Gymnasts to Watch list, signaling their anticipated impact on the conference standings.
Behner’s performance at Ball State represents a continuation of her consistent contributions to the team. In the 2025 season, she qualified for the Pennsylvania NCAA Regional on vault and was named to the All-MAC Second Team on that same event. She consistently competed in the vault, bars, and floor lineups, demonstrating her versatility and dependability. Her season-high of 9.850 on vault was matched on three separate occasions, and she set a new career high on floor with a 9.875, a score she later equaled.
The Golden Flashes’ strong showing at the tri-meet, despite finishing second, indicates a team poised for a competitive season. The team’s ability to perform under pressure, as evidenced by Behner’s consistent scores and the overall team score of 194.650, suggests a program building momentum as it approaches the championship portion of its schedule. The team’s performance also highlights the coaching staff’s ability to prepare their athletes for high-level competition.
Looking ahead, Kent State will aim to build on this success as they continue through the regular season. The team’s focus will likely be on refining routines, improving consistency, and maintaining the high level of performance demonstrated by Behner and other key athletes. The upcoming schedule will present opportunities to further solidify their position as a top contender in the MAC.
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