FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Fourth-seeded Kutztown met up with top-seeded and fifth ranked Fairmont State for the second time in six days but this time with a spot in the Mountain East Conference championship on the line. The Golden Bears produced their highest scoring meet of the season but the host Falcons also upped their score to take Friday evening's MEC semifinals 268.465-248.850.

Fairmont State (9-1), three-time conference champions, won all six events to keep their streak of six championship meet appearances in six all-time MEC Championship tournaments intact.

The Golden Bears (6-4), who were making their first trip to the MEC semifinals in their first season as an associate member of the league, achieved two 9.0 or better scores in the opening compulsory event, including a 9.35/10 in the toss heat and a 9.3/10 in the pyramid heat.

KU went on to close the acro event with an impressive 9.5/9.9 in the 7-element heat but the Falcons were able to extend their 2.125-point lead by nearly another two full points in the event.

Karah Paull's team put up its best scores of the night in the pyramid event with a 9.5/10 in the inversion heat, a 9.55/10 in the synchronized heat and a 9.7/10 in the open heat for an event total of 28.750/30. Fairmont State was slightly better in each heat, however, to take a 95175-90.400 advantage at halftime.

Similar to last Saturday's regular season finale, Fairmont State stepped up with a strong second half to pull away from the Bears. Kutztown scored 9 or better in the toss open heat (9.0/9.4) and tumbling 6-element pass (9.225/9.550).

Fairmont State will face second-seeded Glenville State in Saturday's championship at 5 p.m. Glenville State topped two-time defending champion Frostburg State 252.815-249.005 in Friday's first semifinal.

Kutztown will take part in the MEC Event Finals on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Golden Bears qualified in five heats by having one of the top three averages in the MEC throughout the 2025 season in those heats.