Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Kent State
"Beauty and the Beast" Set for Feb. 15
2/12/2009 3:41:55 PM | Wrestling
EMU women's gymnastics and men's wrestling teams host the second annual event
YPSILANTI, Mich. — Bowen Field House will turn into a two-ring circus Sunday, Feb. 15, when the second annual “Beauty and the Beast” competition is held.
The “Beauty and the Beast” competition is designed to showcase the Eastern Michigan University women's gymnastics team (the beauty part of the title) and the wrestling team (the beast in the competition) in the same venue at the same time.
This year's competition in the two sports will begin at 4 p.m. with both events being held simultaneously. The wrestling team will host Kent State University while the gymnastics squad will square off against Ball State. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children. EMU students are free with a valid I.D.
In last year's event, both teams hosted their Central Michigan University counterparts, with a split in the action.
Head Coach Steve Wilce's EMU gymnasts posted a 193.050-189.325 victory over their CMU opponent while the No. 5 ranked CMU wrestling team turned in a 22-12 win over Head Coach Derek DelPorto's EMU wrestlers.
The EMU wrestlers will enter the 2009 “Beauty and the Beast” event on a high note after posting a thrilling 18-16 Mid-American Conference dual-meet win over Northern Illinois University last weekend. That win was the first for Eastern against Northern in 13 years. That win over NIU boosted the Eagles to 7-9 overall on the season and 1-2 in MAC action.
After the Kent State match, Eastern will compete at Ohio, Feb. 20, in the final dual meet of the year.
EMU will then prepare to host the 2009 MAC Championship Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8, in the Convocation Center.
The EMU gymnastics team is 3-3 overall and 2-1 in MAC action this season after a third-place finish in the State of Michigan Classic in Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb. 6.
The Eagles top performer this so far this season has been junior gymnast Erin Grigg (North Bay, Ontario-Widdifield). Grigg captured MAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Week honors for the period ending Jan. 29 after a turning in a solid performance in DeKalb, Ill. against Northern Illinois University.
A 3.97 GPA in exercise science, Grigg carded impressive marks against the Huskies, recording a season-best all-around score of 39.075, including a 9.750 mark on the vault, a 9.725 on the balance beam, a 9.800 in the floor exercise and a 9.800 on the bars, tying NIU's Natalie Blum and Holly Reichard for first place.
Senior Duyen Zu Vuong (Ottawa, Ontario-DeLaSalle) also captured conference accolades this season, earning MAC Specialist of the Week honors Feb. 3. Vuong carded the high mark of afternoon against Bowling Green State University Feb. 1, scoring a 9.800 on the bars to claim the top spot in the event. The senior also tallied a 9.750 on the vault to tie for first place with Grigg.
WRESTLING PROBABLE MATCHUPS
125 lbs.: Chris Jenkins (EMU) vs. Nic Bedelyon/Troy Opfer (KSU)
133 lbs.: Sean Clair (EMU) vs. Danny Mitcheff (KSU)
141 lbs.: David Pienaar (EMU) vs. Drew Lashaway (KSU)
149 lbs.: J.J. Johnson (EMU) vs. Jeremey Depoy/Clint Sponseller (KSU)
157 lbs.: Josh Moulton (EMU) vs. Ross Tice (KSU)
165 lbs.: Nick Hendrick (EMU) vs. Obie Simpson (KSU)
174 lbs.: Don Funk (EMU) vs. Chris Estep (KSU)
184 lbs.: Derek Foore (EMU) vs. Dustin Kilgore (KSU)
197 lbs.: John McClure (EMU) vs. Eric Chine (KSU)
HTW: David Wade (EMU) vs. Jermail Porter (KSU)
