Gymnastics Wins Battle of the Beauties

Complete Results.

YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Eastern Michigan University women’s gymnastics team hosted Central Michigan University in the inaugural Beauty and the Beast competition, partnering with the EMU wrestling team for a simultaneous competition inside Bowen Field House. On the beauty side of the event, the Eagles picked up their first win of the 2008 season, cruising to victory over the Chippewas 193.050-189.325.

With the win, Eastern Michigan moves to 1-1 (1-1 Mid-American Conference) on the year while Central Michigan falls to 0-4 (0-1 MAC) on the year.

EMU started the first rotation of the night on the vault, posting five of the six top scores in the event. Junior Duyen Zu Vuong (Ottawa, Ontario-DelaSalle) and sophomore Erin Grigg (North Bay, Ontario-Widdifield) tied for top honors with a mark of 9.700. Junior Monica Lucas (Winston-Salem, N.C.-Reynolds) placed fourth with a 9.650, freshman Nikole Viltz (Hawthorne Woods, Ill.-Carmel) fifth, scoring a 9.625, and senior Jolene Worley (Orlando, Fla.-William R. Boone) sixth with a 9.550. After the first rotation of the night, the Eagles held a nearly two-point advantage over the Chippewas.

On the bars, senior Jennifer Charlebois (Oshawa, Ontario-Eastdale Collegiate) tied Venessa Rodriguez for top honors with a 9.775. Lucas and Grigg shared third place with a 9.725 while Vuong finished fifth with a 9.700 and senior Tawna Bennett (Jacksonville, Fla-Edward White) sixth with a 9.625. Midway through the event, the Eagles held over a three-point advantage.

The Green and White built a four-point advantage after the third rotation, powered by impressive performances from Worley, Charlebois and Grigg on the balance beam. Worley lead the way with a 9.775 while Charlebois and Grigg tied for second with a 9.750.

Heading into the final rotation of the night with a comfortable lead, the Eagles kept pace, posting four of the top five marks on the floor exercise. In the only event which did not see an Eagle gymnast take or tie for top honors, Bennett finished second with a 9.775 to Danielle Espinoza, who posted a 9.800. Vuong and Worley tied for third with a 9.650 and sophomore Mickayla Balow (Blaine, Minn.-Spring Lake Park High) finished fifth with a 9.600.

The all-around was a top three sweep for the Green and White, with Vuong posting a meet-high 38.750, followed close behind by Worley with a 38.575 and Grigg with a 38.075.

The Eagles will continue home action next Saturday, Feb. 2, hosting the Michigan Classic in Bowen Field House. The Classic, which starts at 7 p.m., welcomes MAC rivals Western Michigan and Central Michigan and Big Ten Conference foes Michigan State and Michigan. Also, on the book for that day will be Alumni Day.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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