Highest Score in 11 Years Propels EMU Gymnastics Over BGSU, 195.250-192.425

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team recorded its highest team score in 11 years, tallying season highs in every rotation en route to a 195.250-192.425 victory over the Bowling Green State University Falcons in a Mid-American Conference dual Saturday afternoon, Jan. 24, at the Convocation Center. The last time EMU broke the 195-point barrier was at the end of the 2004 campaign; the Eagles tallied a 195.550 at the Mid-American Conference Championship, March 19, 2004.

With the win, the Eagles improve to 3-1 (1-1 MAC) on the season, while the Falcons drop to 3-2 (0-1 MAC). The Green and White broke its previous season bests with marks of 48.800 on the vault and uneven parallel bars, while also adding a 48.650 on the balance beam and a 49.000 on the floor exercise.

"I'm really proud of the team tonight," said EMU Head Coach Jay Santos. "I keep preaching to them that we need to keep improving and each competition so far they keep responding. We followed last week's performance of 24-for-24 routines by going 23-for-24 tonight. I'm really excited of the early success we are having! The team looks really confident right now; they are doing a terrific job of taking it one routine at time and just focusing on what they can control."

Eastern Michigan was once again led by Anna Willette. One week after completing her first all-around performance with a 39.000, the senior gymnast improved on the mark by tallying an all-around score of 39.175 to become just the fifth Eagle in program history to reach that mark. Willette finished runner-up on vault with a 9.825, tied for the bars title and took third on beam with scores of 9.775, while also earning a career-best 9.800 on floor to place second in the event.

Behind Willette's 9.825 on vault, the Eagles got off to a fast start with a 48.800 in the first rotation, compared to just a 47.625 on bars for BGSU. Freshman Kendall Valentin once again eclipsed a career high, soaring through the air for a 9.800 in third place. Three Eagles rounded out the event with marks of 9.725 as Sydney McEachern, Paulina Miller and Julia Schwartz all received identical scores. After making her EMU debut last week, Schwartz improved upon her previous vault to capture a new personal best. Bowling Green's Jamilah Ali edged out Willette for the win in the even with a 9.850.

Moving to the bars, the Green and White maintained its momentum to earn another 48.800. Alongside Willette, Valentin and senior Carrina Lo Bello shared the event crown by earning 9.775 from the judges. Freshman Catie Conrad nearly tied her teammates, tying her career high with a 9.750. Adding to her team's season best was senior Nikki Paterson, who recorded a 9.725 for a season high of her own as a bars specialist. While not included as part of the team score, McEachern completed her routine for a personal-best 9.650.

EMU outscored Bowling Green on beam, 48.650-47.950, despite Laura Mitchell's event-high score of 9.850 for the Falcons. Lacey Rubin improved her beam performance for the third-straight meet with a new career-high 9.800. Willette placed third with a 9.775, while Lo Bello added a 9.725. Natalie Gervais and Conrad contributed in the rotation to the tune of 9.700 and 9.650 marks, respectively.

As has been the case all year, the Eagles finished strong in the floor exercise, which has become their best event. Eastern recorded an event-high 48.800 against Temple and followed that up with a 48.850 last week in the tri-meet at Central Michigan. EMU continued the trend of an improvement in the event by tallying an even 49.000. Eastern dominated the event by controlling the top-5 places for the exercise. Redshirt-senior Chantelle Loehner earned a stellar 9.875 for the second-consecutive week to capture the title. Willette and freshman Rachel Slocum tied for the runner-up spot as the duo each received career highs of 9.800. Not to be outdone, Lo Bello added a personal-best 9.775 of her own, while McEachern scored a 9.750.

The Eagles return to the road for the Michigan/Illinois Challenge, Jan. 31. The annual quad meet pits Michigan institutions Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan against Illinois schools Illinois State and Illinois-Chicago. While the two in-state schools will combine their scores together to measure up against the pair of Illinois universities, all four teams will compete against one another. Illinois State is this year's challenge host, with the meet beginning at 4 p.m. from Horton Field House.

EMU Results (* = career-high score)

Vault
2. Willette, Anna 9.825
3. Valentin, Kendall 9.800*
5. McEachern, Sydney 9.725
5. Miller, Paulina 9.725
5. Schwartz, Julia 9.725*
10. Conrad, Catie 9.650

Bars
1. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.775
1. Valentin, Kendall 9.775
1. Willette, Anna 9.775
4. Conrad, Catie 9.750*
5. Paterson, Nikki 9.725
10. McEachern, Sydney 9.650*

Beam
2. Rubin, Lacey 9.800*
3. Willette, Anna 9.775
4. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.725
6. Gervais, Natalie 9.700
8. Conrad, Catie 9.650
9. Valentin, Kendall 9.575

Floor
1. Loehner, Chantelle 9.875*
2. Willette, Anna 9.800*
2. Slocum, Rachel 9.800*
4. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.775*
5. McEachern, Sydney 9.750
12. Miller, Paulina 9.250

All-Around
1. Willette, Anna 39.175

Highest Score in 11 Years Propels EMU Gymnastics Over BGSU, 195.250-192.425

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Players Mentioned

Catie Conrad

Natalie Gervais

Carrina Lo Bello

Chantelle Loehner

Sydney McEachern

Paulina Miller

Nikki Paterson

Lacey Rubin

Jules Schwartz

Rachel Slocum

Kendall Valentin

Anna Willette

Eastern Michigan Athletics