Gymnastics Crowned MAC Champions

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YPSILANTI, Mich. — For the first time in 26 attempts, the Eastern Michigan University women’s gymnastics team was successful in their attempt at a Mid-American Conference championship. The Eagles posted a season-high team score of 194.525, edging second place Kent State University by less then three-tenths of a point. KSU, who lead EMU heading into the final rotation, scored a 194.275. The victory marked the second consecutive year the host team was crowned Mid-American Conference Champions.

Central Michigan placed third with a 194.050, Ball State fourth at 193.400, Northern Illinois following in fifth with a 192.950, defending champion Western Michigan at sixth with a 192.200 and Bowling Green rounding out the competition with a seventh place finish, posting a 191.925.

Eastern Michigan was paced by its first all-around champion since Robin Loheide (1993) in junior Jolene Worley (Orlando, Fla.-William R. Boone), who notched a season-high 39.175 for the event title. The Eagles as a team posted season-high marks on the bars (48.725), beam (48.350) and floor exercise (48.775).

After a first rotation bye, the Eagles started on the beam where Worley’s 9.825 third place finish led the way. In the floor exercise program, EMU collected three top-10 finishers. Freshman Mickayla Balow (Blaine, Minn.-Spring Lake Park High) and Worley would tie for second place with a 9.800 and junior specialist Tawna Bennett (Jacksonville, Fla.-Edward White) registered a seventh place tie with a season-high 9.775.

On the vault portion of the 2007 championships, the Green and White were again led by Bennett, scoring a 9.800 and Worley, posting a 9.750, finishing in second and sixth place respectively.

EMU would again place three gymnasts in the top ten in the final rotation of the evening in bars. Worley would post a 9.800 for second place, sophomore Monica Lucas (Winston-Salem, N.C.-Reynolds) and senior captain Rebecca Fuss (Orlando, Fla.-Dr. Phillips) tied for fifth, registering a 9.750, and sophomore Duyen Zu Vuong (Ottawa, Ontario-DelaSalle) coming in a tie for 10th with a 9.725.

All-Mid-American Conference First Team
Jenna Tarkington, Ball State
Kristin Peters, Kent State
Amy Cucinotta, Kent State
Jolene Worley, Eastern Michigan
Kelly Watson, Ball State

All-Mid-American Conference Second Team
Laura Rogers, Central Michigan
Katie Simon, Central Michigan
Leah Johnson, Northern Illinois
Jennifer Sturgis, Western Michigan
Morgan Balzer, Bowling Green

Team Scores
1. Eastern Michigan     194.525
2. Kent State               194.275
3. Central Michigan      194.050
4. Ball State                193.400
5. Northern Illinois        192.950
6. Western Michigan    192.200
7. Bowling Green         191.925

2007 Specialty Awards
Coach of the Year: Brice Biggin, KSU
Gymnast of the Year: Jennifer Sturgis, WMU
Senior Gymnast of the Year: Jennifer Sturgis, WMU
Specialist of the Year: Kristin Peters, KSU
Freshman of the Year: Katie Simon, CMU

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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