Eagles Finish Second at Illinois Quad-Meet

Complete Results

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – After getting off to a slow start last week to open the season, the Eastern Michigan University women's gymnastics team turned in a strong performance today, Jan. 14, at a quad-meet hosted by Illinois. The Eagles finished second of four teams with a team score of 194.725, nearly three points better than the team's score from a week ago.

"I am really proud of the way the team bounced back after last weekend," stated Head Coach Sarah Brown. "We started strong on beam and finished even stronger on bars. The athletes thrived off the energy in the arena and although I'm happy with the improvements we made this weekend, I know we have so much more room to grow."

As one of the away teams, Eastern began the meet on beam. The Eagles recovered extremely well after last week, as the team finished with a 48.725, nearly two points better than against Kentucky. Leading the way for EMU was the junior duo of Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich. – Brighton) and Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J. – Holmdel), both of whom scored a 9.8. Senior Lacey Rubin (Plainsview, N.Y. – Plainsview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy) also had a solid day, scoring a 9.775. Finally, senior Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Sturgeon Heights) finished with a 9.725, while sophomore Megan Hultgren (Rockford, Ill. – Sacred Heart Classical Center) notched a 9.625. After one rotation, Eastern held onto second.

Moving over to floor, the Green and White finished with an event total of 48.550. Senior Sydney McEachern (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Kelvin) paced the squad with a strong 9.800, while sophomore Sydney Audet (Sylvania, Ohio – Sylvania Northview) finished with a career-best 9.725. Junior Kirsten Gendron (Birch Run, Mich. – Frankenmuth) tied Audet with a 9.725, which was also a personal-best. With two rotations in the books, Eastern still clung to second with a two-event total of 97.275.

Eastern kept things rolling on vault, notching a 48.275. Junior Jules Schwartz (Gilbert, Ariz. – Mesquite) was the team's top vaulter on the day, scoring a solid 9.75. Hultgren also chipped in a nice performance, scoring a 9.700, which was a new career-best. Moving down the lineup, Conrad scored a 9.675, McEachern posted a 9.650, and senior Kelsie Brooks (Winston, Ga. – Alexander) notched a 9.500. Heading into the final event, the Green and White still sat in second with a 145.550.

EMU saved its best for last, as the team erupted for a 49.175 on bars to close out the meet. Valentin had the team's best routine on the day, scoring a huge 9.9. Just behind her, Conrad and Rubin each scored a 9.85, while McEachern scored a 9.80. Finally, Gervais pitched in a 9.775, while Schwartz scored a 9.725. With all the scores tallied, the Eagles finished with a 194.725 to finish second of four teams in attendance.

Eastern will remain on the road next week, heading to Mount Pleasant for a meet with Central Michigan, Friday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m.

EMU Scores (* denotes a personal best)
Team – 194.725 (Second of four teams)

Vault 48.275
3. Jules Schwartz 9.750
8. Megan Hultgren 9.700*
10. Catie Conrad 9.675
11. Sydney McEachern 9.650
18. Kelsie Brooks 9.500

Bars 49.175
1. Kendall Valentin 9.900
3. Catie Conrad 9.850
3. Lacey Rubin 9.850
6. Sydney McEachern 9.800
7. Natalie Gervais 9.775
14. Jules Schwartz 9.725

Beam 48.725
5. Catie Conrad 9.800
5. Kendall Valentin 9.800
7. Lacey Rubin 9.775
10. Natalie Gervais 9.725
16. Megan Hultgren 9.625
17. Jules Schwartz 9.575*

Floor 48.550
2. Sydney McEachern 9.800
7. Sydney Audet 9.725*
7. Kirsten Gendron 9.725*
12. Kelsie Brooks 9.700*
15. Megan Marino 9.600
24. Ciara Gresham 8.100

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sydney Audet

Kelsie Brooks

Catie Conrad

Kirsten Gendron

Natalie Gervais

Ciara Gresham

Megan Hultgren

Megan Marino

Sydney McEachern

Lacey Rubin

Jules Schwartz

Kendall Valentin

Eastern Michigan Athletics