Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, March 18
Bowling Green, Ohio
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
MAC Championships
Photo by: Andrew Mascharka
Eagles Defend MAC Title with Best Meet of Season, Scoring a 196.500
3/18/2017 6:08:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Green and White captured the team's third MAC title in program history
Complete Results
Photo Gallery
VIDEO: EMU Head Coach Sarah Brown
VIDEO: EMU Senior Lacey Rubin
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's gymnastics team successfully defended its Mid-American Conference title today, March 18, winning the 2017 MAC Gymnastics Championships with an outstanding team total of 196.500, narrowly defeating second-place Bowling Green, who totaled a 196.400.
EMU's team score, which is the second-best in the EMU record books, came in large part due to consistency throughout the meet, as the Eagles hit every single one of their routines and came up clutch on the final event with a big bars rotation. In fact, the Green and White broke the bars record with a 49.300, while also posting the fourth-best beam total in the EMU record books. In total, the Green and White had a 49-or-better on each event for the first time this season. The conference championship is also the third in program history, as the Eagles previously claimed the title in 2007 and 2016.
"What an incredible competition," exclaimed Head Coach Sarah Brown. "The whole environment was electric, and the meet really came down to the very end. I'm so proud of the team, as this was the first time this year that we had a 49 on all four events. A lot of the girls also had career-highs, which was great. This was a fantastic way to end the MAC season, and now we're looking forward to building off of it for regionals."
The Eagles had their work cut out for them, as the squad began the meet on beam, which is widely considered the toughest event in women's gymnastics. However, the Green and White had an incredible rotation, turning in the team's second best rotation of the year, as five Eagles scored a 9.800-or-better. Junior Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich. – Brighton) was Eastern's top performer, scoring a 9.875 in the anchor position. Fellow junior Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J. – Holmdel) had an excellent routine as well, receiving a 9.850, while sophomore Ciara Gresham (Shiloh, Ill. – Belleville) notched a 9.825. Finally, senior Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Sturgeon Heights) and sophomore Megan Hultgren (Rockford, Ill. – Sacred Heart Classical Center) each pitched in a 9.800. With the first rotation in the books, Eastern led the meet with a 49.150, the Green and White's second-best beam total of the year and the fourth-best in program history.
After a bye rotation, the Green and White resumed action on floor. There, EMU finished with its third-best event total of the year, scoring a 49.050 behind three scores of 9.850. Following a strong beam rotation, Conrad carried the momentum over to floor, tying her career-high with a 9.850. Additionally, junior Megan Marino (Girard, Ohio – Howland) matched that score, which also tied her personal-best. Finally, senior Sydney McEachern (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Kelvin) was the final Eagle to notch a 9.850, while freshman Emili Dobronics (Orland Park, Ill. – Carl Sandburg) kicked in a 9.775. Finally, junior Kirsten Gendron (Birch Run, Mich. – Frankenmuth) wrapped up EMU's scoring five with a 9.725. With two rotations complete, Eastern remained in front with a two-event total of 98.200.
Following yet another bye rotation, Eastern picked back up on vault. For the third straight event, the Green and White finished with a 49-or-better, totaling a 49.000 overall. In fact, this marks the first time this year that EMU has scored a 49-or-better on vault. Gresham and Valentin were the top two performers, each scoring a 9.850 behind beautiful yurchenko fulls. Senior Kelsie Brooks (Winston, Ga. – Alexnander) also had the best vault of her career, earning a personal-best 9.825. Moving down the line, junior Julia Schwartz (Gilbert, Ariz. – Mesquite) pitched in a 9.750, while both Conrad and Hultgren scored a 9.725. With just bars remaining, the Green and White maintained a 147.200 overall, which was just .075 ahead of second-place Central Michigan's 147.125.
The Eagles saved their best for last, however, concluding the meet on the team's best event. The Green and White did not disappoint, breaking the program record on bars with a huge 49.300 behind a trio of 9.900's. This marks the third time this year EMU has either broken, or tied the bars record. Conrad, Gervais, and Rubin all posted a 9.900, with all three of them also tying their career-highs, along with claiming a share of the event title. Valentin, in the anchor spot, contributed another big score, adding a 9.850. Finally, Schwartz pitched in a 9.750 after competing in the leadoff spot. With all four events complete, Eastern finished with a 196.500 to narrowly edge out host Bowling Green, who posted a 196.400 to take second.
EMU tallied 196.500 points while host Bowling Green was runner up with 196.400. Central Michigan placed third with 196.100 and Western Michigan in fourth with a 196.075. Northern Illinois placed fifth with 195.725, Kent State in sixth with 194.850, and Ball State in seventh with a 194.750.
The Eagles will now wait to hear where they will be headed for NCAA Regionals for the second time in program history. Eastern will learn its fate on Monday, March 20, with the NCAA Selection Show at 4 p.m. ET.
Photo Gallery
VIDEO: EMU Head Coach Sarah Brown
VIDEO: EMU Senior Lacey Rubin
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's gymnastics team successfully defended its Mid-American Conference title today, March 18, winning the 2017 MAC Gymnastics Championships with an outstanding team total of 196.500, narrowly defeating second-place Bowling Green, who totaled a 196.400.
EMU's team score, which is the second-best in the EMU record books, came in large part due to consistency throughout the meet, as the Eagles hit every single one of their routines and came up clutch on the final event with a big bars rotation. In fact, the Green and White broke the bars record with a 49.300, while also posting the fourth-best beam total in the EMU record books. In total, the Green and White had a 49-or-better on each event for the first time this season. The conference championship is also the third in program history, as the Eagles previously claimed the title in 2007 and 2016.
"What an incredible competition," exclaimed Head Coach Sarah Brown. "The whole environment was electric, and the meet really came down to the very end. I'm so proud of the team, as this was the first time this year that we had a 49 on all four events. A lot of the girls also had career-highs, which was great. This was a fantastic way to end the MAC season, and now we're looking forward to building off of it for regionals."
The Eagles had their work cut out for them, as the squad began the meet on beam, which is widely considered the toughest event in women's gymnastics. However, the Green and White had an incredible rotation, turning in the team's second best rotation of the year, as five Eagles scored a 9.800-or-better. Junior Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich. – Brighton) was Eastern's top performer, scoring a 9.875 in the anchor position. Fellow junior Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J. – Holmdel) had an excellent routine as well, receiving a 9.850, while sophomore Ciara Gresham (Shiloh, Ill. – Belleville) notched a 9.825. Finally, senior Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Sturgeon Heights) and sophomore Megan Hultgren (Rockford, Ill. – Sacred Heart Classical Center) each pitched in a 9.800. With the first rotation in the books, Eastern led the meet with a 49.150, the Green and White's second-best beam total of the year and the fourth-best in program history.
After a bye rotation, the Green and White resumed action on floor. There, EMU finished with its third-best event total of the year, scoring a 49.050 behind three scores of 9.850. Following a strong beam rotation, Conrad carried the momentum over to floor, tying her career-high with a 9.850. Additionally, junior Megan Marino (Girard, Ohio – Howland) matched that score, which also tied her personal-best. Finally, senior Sydney McEachern (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Kelvin) was the final Eagle to notch a 9.850, while freshman Emili Dobronics (Orland Park, Ill. – Carl Sandburg) kicked in a 9.775. Finally, junior Kirsten Gendron (Birch Run, Mich. – Frankenmuth) wrapped up EMU's scoring five with a 9.725. With two rotations complete, Eastern remained in front with a two-event total of 98.200.
Following yet another bye rotation, Eastern picked back up on vault. For the third straight event, the Green and White finished with a 49-or-better, totaling a 49.000 overall. In fact, this marks the first time this year that EMU has scored a 49-or-better on vault. Gresham and Valentin were the top two performers, each scoring a 9.850 behind beautiful yurchenko fulls. Senior Kelsie Brooks (Winston, Ga. – Alexnander) also had the best vault of her career, earning a personal-best 9.825. Moving down the line, junior Julia Schwartz (Gilbert, Ariz. – Mesquite) pitched in a 9.750, while both Conrad and Hultgren scored a 9.725. With just bars remaining, the Green and White maintained a 147.200 overall, which was just .075 ahead of second-place Central Michigan's 147.125.
The Eagles saved their best for last, however, concluding the meet on the team's best event. The Green and White did not disappoint, breaking the program record on bars with a huge 49.300 behind a trio of 9.900's. This marks the third time this year EMU has either broken, or tied the bars record. Conrad, Gervais, and Rubin all posted a 9.900, with all three of them also tying their career-highs, along with claiming a share of the event title. Valentin, in the anchor spot, contributed another big score, adding a 9.850. Finally, Schwartz pitched in a 9.750 after competing in the leadoff spot. With all four events complete, Eastern finished with a 196.500 to narrowly edge out host Bowling Green, who posted a 196.400 to take second.
EMU tallied 196.500 points while host Bowling Green was runner up with 196.400. Central Michigan placed third with 196.100 and Western Michigan in fourth with a 196.075. Northern Illinois placed fifth with 195.725, Kent State in sixth with 194.850, and Ball State in seventh with a 194.750.
The Eagles will now wait to hear where they will be headed for NCAA Regionals for the second time in program history. Eastern will learn its fate on Monday, March 20, with the NCAA Selection Show at 4 p.m. ET.
MAC Gymnast of the Year: Rachel Stypinski, Kent State
MAC Specialist of the Year: Jamyra Carter, Northern Illinois
MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year: Jessie Peszek, Western Michigan
MAC Freshman of the Year: Jovannah East, Bowling Green
MAC Coach of the Year: Sam Morreale, Northern Illinois
2017 All-Tournament Team
Lauren Feely, Bowling Green
Jovannah East, Bowling Green
India McPeak, Bowling Green
Kayla Rose, Bowling Green
Kasey Janowicz, Central Michigan
Macey Hilliker, Central Michigan
Ciara Gresham, Eastern Michigan
Kendall Valentin, Eastern Michigan
Natalie Gervais, Eastern Michigan
Lacey Rubin, Eastern Michigan
Catie Conrad, Eastern Michigan
Rachel Stypinski, Kent State
Ashley Potts, Northern Illinois
Anna Corbett, Western Michigan
Jessie Peszek, Western Michigan
Rachael Underwood, Western Michigan
EMU Results (* denotes a personal-best, @ denotes a program record)
Team –196.500
Vault 49.000
2. Ciara Gresham 9.850
2. Kendall Valentin 9.850
8. Kelsie Brooks 9.825*
20. Julia Schwartz 9.750
26. Catie Conrad 9.725
26. Megan Hultgren 9.725
Bars 49.300@
1. Catie Conrad 9.900*
1. Natalie Gervais 9.900*
1. Lacey Rubin 9.900*
8. Kendall Valentin 9.850
26. Julia Schwartz 9.750
31. Sydney McEachern 9.725
Beam 49.150
7. Catie Conrad 9.875
9. Kendall Valentin 9.850
13. Ciara Gresham 9.825
18. Natalie Gervais 9.800
18. Megan Hultgren 9.800
26. Lacey Rubin 9.750
Floor 49.050
10. Catie Conrad 9.850*
10. Megan Marino 9.850*
10. Sydney McEachern 9.850
25. Emili Dobronics 9.775
33. Kirsten Gendron 9.725
41. Ciara Gresham 9.550
All-Around
3. Catie Conrad 39.350*
Players Mentioned
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