Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eagles of the Week Presented by EMUCU
3/25/2019 9:43:00 AM | Gymnastics, Swimming & Diving, General
Each week two Eagles will be honored for their success in competition
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Each week, the Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics names the EMUCU's Athletes of the Week, as selected by the athletic media relations department based on their athletic performances from the previous week. This week's winners are senior swimmer Delaney Duncan and junior gymnast Emili Dobronics.
Delaney Duncan
Sport: Swimming
Position: Breast/IM
Year: Senior
Major: Marketing
Week's Achievements: Eastern Michigan sophomore Delaney Duncan (Galesburg, Ill.-Galesburg) wrapped up her career in style at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships in Austin, Texas, March 21-23. Duncan etched her spot in history with a runner-up finish in the 100 Breaststroke, as she tapped the wall with a school-record time of 57.83. The mark bested her own school record set at the Mid-American Conference Championships, Feb.28, by more than .4 seconds. The Galesburg, Ill. native finished a mere two seconds behind the American and NCAA record-holder in the stroke, Indiana University's Lilly King, en route to the best finish at the national championships by a female Eagle in program history. For her efforts, she also collected All-American accolades after her preliminary heat performance of 58.55 by almost a full second in her championship heat swim, while also topping her 2018 100 Breast finish by two places and .52 seconds. Furthermore, her effort marked the 10th-best Short Course Yards (SCY) performance in American history in the event.
Duncan powered EMU to a 32nd-place finish at the NCAA Championships with 17 points, as she also took part in 200 Breaststroke (19th) and the 200 Individual Medley (58th).
Duncan finished her career as an Eagle, leaving behind a legacy unlike any swimmer before her. Some of her top accolades include being the only female Mid-American Conference swimmer to earn the conference's 100 Breast championship in four straight seasons, recording both of the top times in Eastern Michigan history in the 100 and 200 Breast, earning All-American accolades five times in her career, all while being the only Eagle to ever qualify for the NCAA Championships all four years of her career.
Emili Dobronics
Sport: Gymnastics
Position: All-Around
Year: Junior
Major: Pre-Dentistry
Week's Achievements: Junior Emili Dobronics (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg) fueled the Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team to a third-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Championships in DeKalb, Ill., March 23. Individually, she was one-of-four student-athletes to share the MAC title on floor with a 9.900. Additionally, she became the first EMU gymnast to take home gold in the event since Leah Hashimoto, Natalie Hashimoto, and Sara Wasilenko split the floor championship with a score of 9.900 at the 2002 MAC Championships. Dobronics tied for the team-lead on beam, where she posted a 9.850, and finished fifth in all-around with a mark of 39.025. Behind her strong performance, the Eagles recorded a 195.250, their second-highest score of the year.
Delaney DuncanSport: Swimming
Position: Breast/IM
Year: Senior
Major: Marketing
Week's Achievements: Eastern Michigan sophomore Delaney Duncan (Galesburg, Ill.-Galesburg) wrapped up her career in style at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships in Austin, Texas, March 21-23. Duncan etched her spot in history with a runner-up finish in the 100 Breaststroke, as she tapped the wall with a school-record time of 57.83. The mark bested her own school record set at the Mid-American Conference Championships, Feb.28, by more than .4 seconds. The Galesburg, Ill. native finished a mere two seconds behind the American and NCAA record-holder in the stroke, Indiana University's Lilly King, en route to the best finish at the national championships by a female Eagle in program history. For her efforts, she also collected All-American accolades after her preliminary heat performance of 58.55 by almost a full second in her championship heat swim, while also topping her 2018 100 Breast finish by two places and .52 seconds. Furthermore, her effort marked the 10th-best Short Course Yards (SCY) performance in American history in the event.
Duncan powered EMU to a 32nd-place finish at the NCAA Championships with 17 points, as she also took part in 200 Breaststroke (19th) and the 200 Individual Medley (58th).
Duncan finished her career as an Eagle, leaving behind a legacy unlike any swimmer before her. Some of her top accolades include being the only female Mid-American Conference swimmer to earn the conference's 100 Breast championship in four straight seasons, recording both of the top times in Eastern Michigan history in the 100 and 200 Breast, earning All-American accolades five times in her career, all while being the only Eagle to ever qualify for the NCAA Championships all four years of her career.
Emili DobronicsSport: Gymnastics
Position: All-Around
Year: Junior
Major: Pre-Dentistry
Week's Achievements: Junior Emili Dobronics (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg) fueled the Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team to a third-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Championships in DeKalb, Ill., March 23. Individually, she was one-of-four student-athletes to share the MAC title on floor with a 9.900. Additionally, she became the first EMU gymnast to take home gold in the event since Leah Hashimoto, Natalie Hashimoto, and Sara Wasilenko split the floor championship with a score of 9.900 at the 2002 MAC Championships. Dobronics tied for the team-lead on beam, where she posted a 9.850, and finished fifth in all-around with a mark of 39.025. Behind her strong performance, the Eagles recorded a 195.250, their second-highest score of the year.
Players Mentioned
AA
/ Gymnastics
Breast
/ Swimming & Diving2026 NCAA Zone C Diving - March 11 - Women's Competition
Monday, February 23
2026 NCAA Zone C Diving - March 11 - Men's Competition
Monday, February 23
2026 NCAA Zone C Diving - March 10 - Preliminary Competition
Monday, February 23
2026 NCAA Zone C Diving - March 9 - Preliminary Competition
Monday, February 23