Eagles Host CMU for Home Opener

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team returns to the friendly confines of Bowen Field House this weekend, as the Eagles host the Chippewas from Central Michigan University Saturday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m.

LOOKING BACK: EMU is coming off a loss to the defending MAC champions from Kent State University in its season opener last week, as the Eagles fell, 195.175-191.000, to the Golden Flashes.

ANOTHER TEST: The Eagles will again face another tough test this week when they play host to the Chips. The Chips finished second in the MAC last season and were picked to finish in the same spot in this year's preseason poll. CMU is coming off a second place finish in a meet against BYU and Denver in Denver, Colo. last week, as this weekend's meet against EMU marks the first MAC contest for the Chippewas. EMU and CMU will again face one another a week after Saturday's contest, as both squads head to Kalamazoo, Mich. for the State of Michigan Classic Sunday, Feb. 7. The last time the Eagles topped the Chippewas was Jan. 26, 2008 in Bowen Field House, when EMU claimed a 193.050-189.325 victory.

FIRST YEAR SUCCESS: True freshman Kaylyn Millick (Washington, Pa.-Trinity) started her collegiate career on a positive note, as she scored an all-around score of 38.050 against the Golden Flashes last week. Millick carded a team-best score of 9.725 on the bars against KSU, while tallying scores of 9.525 (vault), 9.150 (beam), and 9.650 (floor exercise).

GRIGG ON THE MARK: It came as no surprise that senior Erin Grigg (North Bay, Ontario-Widdifield) led the Eagles in the team's season opener, as Grigg finished with an all-around score of 38.175 against Kent State. Grigg tallied team-best marks of 9.750 on the vault and 9.725 in the floor exercise to lead EMU.

LOOKING AHEAD: After hosting CMU, the Eagles head to Kalamazoo for the 18th Annual State of Michigan Classic Sunday, Feb. 7, hosted by Western Michigan. EMU place third at last year's Michigan Classic in Ann Arbor, compiling a team score of 190.650 to finish behind CMU and the champions from the University of Michigan.

BEAMING WITH CONFIDENCE: Junior Nikole Viltz (Hawthorne Woods, Ill.-Carmel) started her 2010 season on a high note, as her 9.750 on the balance beam Friday, Jan. 23, against Kent State was a team-best mark and good for second overall in the competition.

HEADING WEST: The Eagles will make their annual spring break trip to the West Coast this season when they compete in the Stanford Invitational, Feb. 28, against the Stanford Cardinal, North Carolina Tarheels and California Bears. The team will remain in California for the California-Davis Invitational, March 5, when they take on UC-Davis and Sacramento. State

HOME SWEET HOME: EMU will compete at home just two more times following this weekend's competition, as the Eagles host Western Michigan, Feb. 13, at Warner Gymnasium for Senior Day, followed by the Eagle Invitational, March 13, when the team hosts WMU, Northern Illinois and Seattle Pacific.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos