Eastern Michigan Athletics
Gymnastics Releases 2018 Schedule
9/21/2017 4:16:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Eagles will play host to six regular season meets
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University women's gymnastics team head coach, Katie Minasola, announced the team's 2018 schedule today, Sept. 21. The season is highlighted by six home events as well as five road competitions in the regular season.
"We will be seeing some tough opponents within the MAC as well as other strong conferences," said Minasola. "We are eager to start the season off strong and compete for another MAC Championship. I am very excited about our 2018 schedule and look forward to hosting several great teams in the Convocation Center."
For the fourth consecutive year, the Eagles begin their season with an exhibition down the road in Ann Arbor, Mich., Sunday, Dec. 3. The University of Michigan finished last year ranked No. 10 in the nation after earning a share of the Big Ten regular season title, capturing its fourth consecutive conference championship, winning the NCAA Morgantown Regional, and finally finishing 10th in the NCAA Championship.
From there, the Green and White will head to Penn State Saturday, Jan. 6, for a competition that will include a familiar face. Sarah Brown, head coach of EMU's program for last year's regular season title and conference-championship run, left Ypsilanti in May to assume the same position for the Nittany Lions. Penn State ended last year ranked No. 31 in the nation, four spots behind EMU (27).
The Eagles' home-opener will also serve as the first conference matchup, as they play host to Central Michigan Saturday, Jan. 13. Last year's competition against the Chippewas ended in favor of the Green and White, with a final score of 195.600-195.400. CMU finished the season as the highest ranked team in the MAC at No. 25 and returns its two regional champions in Katy Clements and Denelle Pedrick.
The team continues its conference slate as they take on Bowling Green Friday, Jan. 19, in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Eagles won their regular season matchup against the Falcons then narrowly defeated them a week later in the MAC Championships, 196.500-196.400 to take the title. BGSU returns three of its athletes who earned all-tournament honors, including Jovannah East, who was also named MAC Freshman of the Year.
EMU takes a break from conference competition with a quad-meet in East Lansing, Mich., Saturday, Jan. 27, which includes three non-conference opponents in host Michigan State, Rutgers, and Pittsburgh.
After the quad, EMU begins a three-week home stand with a meet against UIC, Friday, Feb. 2, before squaring off against MAC opponent Northern Illinois a week later, Friday, February 9. NIU was one of the premier squads in 2017, as they finished 4-2 in conference play, which included EMU's only conference loss of the season. Following their showdown with the Huskies, the Eagles conclude their three-straight meets in the Convo as they take on Illinois State Thursday, February 15. The last meeting between the Redbirds took place in 2015, ending in favor of EMU.
Eastern picks back up 10 days later Sunday, February 25, against Kent State in Kent, Ohio. Last year's competition with the Golden Flashes served as the annual 'Beauty & the Beast' meet held by EMU, where the Eagles came away with the win, 194.550 to 193.325. KSU ended the season as the only other MAC program inside the top 35, finishing at 34.
The Green and White continues conference competition the following week Sunday, March 4, against Ball State in Muncie, Ind. EMU bested BSU in both the regular season and the MAC Championship, as the Cardinals finished last in the tournament.
Eastern's final non-conference meet will take place Sunday, March 11, in Philadelphia, Pa. in its second quad-meet of the season. The pool of teams includes Temple, Lindenwood, and Rutgers, which means the Green and White will be partaking in its fifth competition against a Big Ten team, including the exhibition against Michigan at the beginning of the season. Finally, Eastern completes its regular season back at home Friday, March 16, against Western Michigan.
The Eagles begin their postseason with the MAC Championships Saturday, March 24, in Mount Pleasant, Mich., where they will look to capture their third-consecutive MAC title. If the team is able to qualify for the NCAA Regionals, the competition would take place Saturday, April 7, in one of six possible locations.
"We will be seeing some tough opponents within the MAC as well as other strong conferences," said Minasola. "We are eager to start the season off strong and compete for another MAC Championship. I am very excited about our 2018 schedule and look forward to hosting several great teams in the Convocation Center."
For the fourth consecutive year, the Eagles begin their season with an exhibition down the road in Ann Arbor, Mich., Sunday, Dec. 3. The University of Michigan finished last year ranked No. 10 in the nation after earning a share of the Big Ten regular season title, capturing its fourth consecutive conference championship, winning the NCAA Morgantown Regional, and finally finishing 10th in the NCAA Championship.
From there, the Green and White will head to Penn State Saturday, Jan. 6, for a competition that will include a familiar face. Sarah Brown, head coach of EMU's program for last year's regular season title and conference-championship run, left Ypsilanti in May to assume the same position for the Nittany Lions. Penn State ended last year ranked No. 31 in the nation, four spots behind EMU (27).
The Eagles' home-opener will also serve as the first conference matchup, as they play host to Central Michigan Saturday, Jan. 13. Last year's competition against the Chippewas ended in favor of the Green and White, with a final score of 195.600-195.400. CMU finished the season as the highest ranked team in the MAC at No. 25 and returns its two regional champions in Katy Clements and Denelle Pedrick.
The team continues its conference slate as they take on Bowling Green Friday, Jan. 19, in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Eagles won their regular season matchup against the Falcons then narrowly defeated them a week later in the MAC Championships, 196.500-196.400 to take the title. BGSU returns three of its athletes who earned all-tournament honors, including Jovannah East, who was also named MAC Freshman of the Year.
EMU takes a break from conference competition with a quad-meet in East Lansing, Mich., Saturday, Jan. 27, which includes three non-conference opponents in host Michigan State, Rutgers, and Pittsburgh.
After the quad, EMU begins a three-week home stand with a meet against UIC, Friday, Feb. 2, before squaring off against MAC opponent Northern Illinois a week later, Friday, February 9. NIU was one of the premier squads in 2017, as they finished 4-2 in conference play, which included EMU's only conference loss of the season. Following their showdown with the Huskies, the Eagles conclude their three-straight meets in the Convo as they take on Illinois State Thursday, February 15. The last meeting between the Redbirds took place in 2015, ending in favor of EMU.
Eastern picks back up 10 days later Sunday, February 25, against Kent State in Kent, Ohio. Last year's competition with the Golden Flashes served as the annual 'Beauty & the Beast' meet held by EMU, where the Eagles came away with the win, 194.550 to 193.325. KSU ended the season as the only other MAC program inside the top 35, finishing at 34.
The Green and White continues conference competition the following week Sunday, March 4, against Ball State in Muncie, Ind. EMU bested BSU in both the regular season and the MAC Championship, as the Cardinals finished last in the tournament.
Eastern's final non-conference meet will take place Sunday, March 11, in Philadelphia, Pa. in its second quad-meet of the season. The pool of teams includes Temple, Lindenwood, and Rutgers, which means the Green and White will be partaking in its fifth competition against a Big Ten team, including the exhibition against Michigan at the beginning of the season. Finally, Eastern completes its regular season back at home Friday, March 16, against Western Michigan.
The Eagles begin their postseason with the MAC Championships Saturday, March 24, in Mount Pleasant, Mich., where they will look to capture their third-consecutive MAC title. If the team is able to qualify for the NCAA Regionals, the competition would take place Saturday, April 7, in one of six possible locations.
Players Mentioned
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