Eastern Claims Top Honors at Michigan/Illinois Challenge

Results Results (PDF)

NORMAL, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – Continuing the hot start to the 2015 campaign, the Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team claimed first place in the annual Michigan/Illinois Challenge hosted by Illinois State Saturday evening, Jan. 31. While EMU and Central Michigan University teamed up to soar past the two Illinois institutions, the University of Illinois-Chicago and Illinois State, for the challenge, the Eagles beat the Chippewas for the first time since the 2008 Mid-American Conference Championships to snap a skid of 20 against their in-state rivals.

Eastern won the quad meet with a team score of 194.650. CMU's 194.000 followed closely behind, while Illinois-Chicago and Illinois State rounded out the scoring with marks of 189.925 and 189.650, respectively. EMU outscored the Flames and Redbirds in every event, splitting rotation victories with the Chippewas. With the victory, the Eagles improve to 6-1 in their first season under Head Coach Jay Santos.

"I felt that our performance was a little off tonight, but I am really excited for the team that we pulled out the win," mentioned Coach Santos. "Central is a strong opponent so I'm pleased that we were able to hold them off at the end. We started off a little shaky on our first event with two kids going out of bounds on floor, and we were just a little flat in general. It was great to see the team pull it back together on vault to get back on track and pick up the energy level, and then follow that up with a good bar rotation. Finishing on beam is always a tough task so I was pleased that they fought through their routines to secure the win."

For the first time this season, Eastern Michigan had two gymnasts compete in all four rotations; the senior duo of Anna Willette and Carrina Lo Bello claimed the top two spots in the all-around competition. Willette tallied a four-event total of 38.950, while Lo Bello recorded a 38.700 in her first career all-around performance.

Starting the meet on the floor exercise, the Eagles' best event all season long, the Green and White earned 48.475. Senior Chantelle Loehner led the Eagles with another solid score of 9.825 to finish second. Willette and Rachel Slocum each received 9.750 from the judges, and Paulina Miller added a 9.625. The Chippewas recorded the highest team score on floor with a 49.050, and CMU's Halle Moraw took top honors by tallying a 9.875.

The Eagles headed to the vault in the second rotation and nearly tied a season high by notching a 48.775. Willette soared through the air to lead the Green and White, earning a 9.800 to place third. In the other five EMU vaults, four of them were personal bests for those particular Eagles. Following Willette's lead were Lo Bello and Sydney McEachern, who each found new career highs with identical scores of 9.775. Freshmen Catie Conrad and Julia Schwartz added career bests of their own with marks of 9.725 and 9.700, respectively. Moraw claimed her second win of the night with another 9.875.

EMU really won the meet on the uneven parallel bars as the Green and White outscored CMU, 48.925-47.875. Freshman Kendall Valentin shined on the apparatus, earning the highest individual score of the night for her team with a 9.850 to finish runner-up. Lo Bello performed a routine that gave her a new personal-best mark of 9.825. Conrad improved on her career high as well for a 9.775, and Willette contributed with a 9.750. Completing the event with all scores over the 9.700 threshold, Nikki Paterson had a 9.725, and McEachern tallied a new best on bars with a score of 9.700. Boasting the best mark of the night was Central's Kylie Fagan, who scored a 9.875.

Ending the meet on the balance beam, the Green and White recorded the same score it had starting the meet on floor, totaling a 48.475. Sophomore Natalie Gervais finished in second place with a solid routine of 9.775 to pace the Eagles in the final rotation. Valentin secured another personal best with a 9.725, and teammate Lacey Rubin matched her teammate with the same score. Willette's routine was measured as a 9.650 to close out her night and clinch the all-around title. Once again, the top individual score was a 9.875 by a Chippewa as Caroline Fitzpatrick took first in the event.

"We had some good performances tonight but also gave away a lot of tenths on little mistakes," observed Coach Santos. "So we need to get back in the gym this week and really focus on cleaning up the details."

The Eagles will continue to alternate between home and away meets, returning to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center for another Mid-American Conference dual, Feb. 7. EMU will put its undefeated home record on the line against the Golden Flashes of Kent State University. The dual between the soaring MAC teams will begin at 4 p.m. and can be watched live on Eagle All-Access.

Team Results
1. Eastern Michigan, 194.650
2. Central Michigan, 194.000
3. Illinois-Chicago, 189.925
4. Illinois State, 189.650

EMU Results (* = personal-best score)

Vault
3. Willette, Anna 9.800
6. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.775*
6. McEachern, Sydney 9.775*
10. Conrad, Catie 9.725*
12. Miller, Paulina 9.700
12. Schwartz, Julia 9.700*

Bars
2. Valentin, Kendall 9.850*
3. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.825*
7. Conrad, Catie 9.775*
8. Willette, Anna 9.750
10. Paterson, Nikki 9.725
14. McEachern, Sydney 9.700*

Beam
2. Gervais, Natalie 9.775
4. Valentin, Kendall 9.725*
4. Rubin, Lacey 9.725
6. Willette, Anna 9.650
7. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.600
11. Conrad, Catie 9.525

Floor
2. Loehner, Chantelle 9.825
7. Slocum, Rachel 9.750
7. Willette, Anna 9.750
14. Miller, Paulina 9.625
18. McEachern, Sydney 9.525
19. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.500

All-Around
1. Willette, Anna 38.950
2. Lo Bello, Carrina 38.700*

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Catie Conrad

Natalie Gervais

Carrina Lo Bello

Chantelle Loehner

Sydney McEachern

Paulina Miller

Nikki Paterson

Lacey Rubin

Jules Schwartz

Rachel Slocum

Kendall Valentin

Anna Willette

Eastern Michigan Athletics