Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
2021 Gymnastics Season Recap
4/12/2021 9:19:00 AM | Gymnastics, General
The Eagles ended the season MAC Champions for the fourth time
Final Meet Notes
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team pushed through a year of uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic to win the program's fourth Mid-American Conference Championship, as well as earn its third team appearance at the NCAA Regional competition.
This final season recap includes year-end numbers, team information, and the gymnast's accomplishments. Additionally, fans can continue to visit EMUEagles.com, and follow us on social media, @EMUGym, to stay up to date with everything EMU Gymnastics.
"What a year!," said Head Coach Katie Minasola. "Like many other teams, we were faced with adversity. We were forced to make sacrifices and adapt to many situations. To say that I am proud of the way this team handled this year would be an understatement. They did not let the situation around us get in the way of their goals. We are MAC Champs and it feels so good! Then to finish the season qualifying to regionals, for just the third time in school history, wow they are amazing! If we can accomplish this much in a year with extenuating circumstances, imagine what we can do next year."
THANK YOU: The Eastern Michigan gymnastics team, along with EMU athletic media relations office, would like to thank each and every student, alumnus, and fan that supported the team in 2020-21. Additionally, the team offers thanks to all support staff, medical doctors, and individuals who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the program.
HARDWORK BRINGS YOU HARDWARE: The trophy came back to Ypsilanti as Eastern captured its fourth Mid-American Conference Championship, March 20, at Western Michigan's University Arena inside Read Fieldhouse. The Eagles totaled 195.900 to defeat the six other league teams competing. This was the Green and White's first conference championship since 2017, and the first for Head Coach Katie Minasola.
EAGLES IN TUSCALOOSA: The Eagles qualified for NCAA Regional competition after finishing the season ranked 32nd in the nation. The team had to compete in a "play-in" round before having the opportunity to advance.
Round One: The Green and White drew Maryland for its round one "play-in" meet, April 1. The Terrapins finished the season ranked 33rd in the nation, one spot behind EMU, and the competition was just as close. The team saw a big contribution from senior Jada Rondeau, as she competed in all-around and topped the squad in three-of-four events. Rondeau scored 9.850 on bars and floor, and 9.875 on beam. Other notable performances came from classmate Cortney Bezold, freshman Carly Kosanovich, and sophomore Hadyn Crossen. Bezold earned 9.825 on bars, while Kosanovich tied her career-best of 9.825 on floor, and Crossen stuck a 9.850 on beam. Ultimately, Eastern was unable to finish the job as they fell to UM, 195.475-195.525
Round Two: After the loss in the first round to Maryland, Eastern Michigan saw its five individual qualifiers compete. Bezold earned a 9.850 on bars, tying for 10th. Juniors Shannon Gregory and Caitlin Satler both competed on beam, earning scores of 9.800 and 9.275, respectively. Rondeau was a participant in three of the four events, scoring 9.875 on bars, 9.800 on beam, and 9.900 on floor. The senior's bars and floor scores were enough to tie for fourth in both events. Crossen was the sole all-arounder, tallying a 39.175 after hitting 9.800 on vault, 9.775 on bars, 9.850 on beam, and 9.750 on floor.
AROUND THE COUNTRY: Eastern finished the season ranked 32nd in the NCAA, an improvement from where it finished in 2020 (45th). As a matter of fact, the team improved their national rankings on every event from 2020 to 2021. The biggest boost came from bars, ending 2021 ranked 29th after landing 46th the previous season. Vault elevated to 40th from 52nd in 2020. Beam and floor also lifted six spots, finishing 22nd and 37th, respectively.
ALL-AROUNDERS: After not competing all-around for the majority of the season, sophomore Hadyn Crossen and senior Jada Rondeau showed out for the Mid-American Conference Championships, March 20, finishing second and third, respectively.
Crossen totaled a score of 39.225 to claim second place. The sophomore tied for fourth on vault, scoring 9.825, while her 9.875 on floor tied her for eighth. Rondeau compiled an all-around score of 39.125 to tie for third. The senior was clutch on beam, hitting 9.825, and tied for fifth on bars with a 9.850.
The two Eagles had only competed all-around for three meets before entering the MAC championship. Crossen qualified individually for NCAA Regionals in all-around as well, where she competed and hit 39.175.
MOLLY'S MOMENT: It was 32 years since Chris Deitrick won the last Mid-American Conference Vault Championship for Eastern. Sophomore Molly Parris broke the long drought, March 20, with her 9.850 to tie for first at the MAC Championships. Parris, returning to the team after missing most of her freshman season, is only the fifth Eagle to earn a conference vault championship.
SECOND-YEAR STUDS: The Eagles saw two gymnasts named to the MAC All-Tournament Team following the championship, March 20. Sophomores Molly Parris and Hadyn Crossen earned the honor in their first conference championship, as last year's was canceled due to COVID-19. Parris tied for first on vault with a 9.850, while Crossen tied for second in all-around, compiling a score of 39.225.
In all, Crossen totaled 16 scores of 9.800-or-better across all four events this season. Parris added six scores of 9.800-or-higher on vault, bars, and beam, after returning from an injury that saw her sit out most of her freshman season.
SECOND TEAM, SECOND TIME: Eastern Michigan saw two Eagles earn All-MAC Second Team honors Friday, March 19, for the 2021 season. Senior Jada Rondeau and junior Caitlin Satler were named to the second team for the second-straight year, while it's the third consecutive season the Green and White have had two representatives on the All-MAC teams.
THE SATLER SPECIAL[IST]: Junior Caitlin Satler was rewarded for her talents as a specialist for EMU by earning MAC Co-Specialist of the Year honors, announced March 20. Satler competed in six meets during the season, and never missed a podium on beam, securing five first-place finishes and one third-place. The junior finished the season ranked second in the conference on the apparatus with an NQS of 9.894. The specialist also earned a career-high in the event, earning a 9.925 in the EMU Quad, Feb. 6. Her score places her third all-time in program history on beam. Furthermore, the Illinois native hit a career-high of 9.900 on floor Feb. 14, against Kent State.
BEAMTOWN: EMU closed the regular season ranked first on beam in the Mid-American Conference, making a case for Ypsilanti to become Beamtown. The squad totaled an NQS of 49.169 on the apparatus after setting a program record 49.350 at Western Michigan, Feb. 21.
Four Eagles finished in the top-10 in the league. Junior Caitlin Satler is second, with an NQS of 9.894 on the apparatus, while senior Jada Rondeau sits fourth (9.888). Sophomore Hadyn Crossen (9.863) and junior Shannon Gregory (9.863) are tied for fifth, respectively. Additionally, Satler, Rondeau, and Gregory qualified and competed individually at the NCAA regional competition on the apparatus.
EASTERN MICHIGAN 49ERS?: The Green and White hit 49+ in three of the four events (floor, vault, and bars), March 20, at the MAC Championships, in order to take home first. The team hit 49+ 13 times this season.
HELLO HADYN: Eastern Michigan sophomore Hadyn Crossen burst onto the scene this season, and etched her name into the record book. Crossen tied for fourth all-time on beam after scoring 9.900 at the Eagle Invitational, Feb. 6. The sophomore tied Eagle legends such as Natalie Hashimoto, Lacey Rubin, and Kendall Valentin. The Carmel, Ind. native also found herself ranked fourth on vault in the conference at the end of the 2021 regular season.
BEZOLD, THE BARS BALLAST: Senior Cortney Bezold, the only gymnast on the team to have competed in an NCAA regional competition, once again led the bars lineup for Eastern this season. Bezold averaged 9.875 on the apparatus this season and tied for third in the Mid-American Conference. The senior was tied for third in the conference when the 2020 season ended as well. Furthermore, the Maineville, Ohio native earned MAC Specialist of the Week honors, Jan. 26, for the fourth time in her career, and tied for third at the MAC Championships, March 20, to lead the lineup.
WHO CAN OUTDO RONDEAU?: Senior Jada Rondeau had a stellar senior season, earning a career-high in all four events, and all-around (Vault: 9.825, Bars: 9.875, Beam: 9.950, Floor: 9.900, All-Around: 39.375). Rondeau added her name in the record book three times this season, now sitting second on beam (9.925), tied for 15th on floor (9.900), and tied for second in all-around (39.475). Heading into the Mid-American Conference championships, the senior was tied for fourth on bars (9.869), third on beam (9.888), and tied for ninth on floor (9.875), in the league.
CALI COMING BACK: Senior Cali Harden announced before the end of the season that she would be returning to the team next season as a redshirt senior. Harden competed on vault every meet for the Green and White in 2021, tying her career-high 9.800 twice.
STACK AGAINST THE MAC: Eastern (195.950) finished the regular season third in the Mid-American Conference, behind Central Michigan (196.275), and Kent State (195.981). The Green and White led the MAC on beam (49.169), and was the only team in the conference to finish with an NQS of 49-or-higher on the apparatus. On bars, EMU tied at third in the league (49.069). The Eagles ended fourth on vault (48.919) and fifth on floor (49.106).
SINCERELY, THE SENIORS: Eastern Michigan honored three seniors this year at the EMU Quad. Cortney Bezold, Brianna Price, and Jada Rondeau were celebrated by the Eastern Michigan home crowd.
Bezold competed on bars all four years at Eastern and has scored a 9.900 three times in her career. That score ties her for ninth all-time in the event. In 2019, the Maineville, Ohio native was selected to the All-MAC First Team, honored as a part of the Google Cloud All-District Team by CoSIDA, named MAC Specialist of the Week twice, and qualified for regionals individually twice.
Price ends her Eagle career with personal-bests of 9.875 on beam and 9.800 on floor. The Kings Mountain, N.C. native is a two-time Academic All-MAC selection and earned the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Academic All-American nod in 2020.
In all-around, Rondeau is tied for the 15th best score by an Eagle, 39.275. In the senior's career, she has tallied career-highs of 9.800 on vault, 9.875 on bars, 9.900 on floor, and 9.950 on beam. The Savage, Minn. native has ensured she will be remembered, as her high scores on floor and beam tie for 15th and sit 2nd, respectively. Furthermore, her all-around score of 39.475 at the CMU Quad, March 13, ranks second all-time at EMU. The senior was an All-MAC Second Team selection in 2020 and has racked up 46 scores of 9.825-or-better in her career, across all four events. In her final season, the gymnast qualified and competed individually at NCAA regionals on bars, beam, and floor.
REDO THE RECORD BOOK: The Eagles had a big day, Feb. 21, at Western Michigan. Even with the loss, 195.975-196.025, to the Broncos, the Green and White posted the highest beam score in program history, 49.350, and totaled a season-high team score of 195.975. Leading the beam squad was senior Jada Rondeau who earned a 9.950 to claim second all-time in EMU history on the apparatus. Junior Shannon Gregory also hit a personal-best 9.875, finishing third in the meet. Senior Brianna Price added a season-high 9.825 to boost the record-breaking score. The team's season-high score of 195.975 ties for ninth all-time in the program's history.
This year's squad has made seven additions to the record book this season; Cortney Bezold (9.900, bars), Jada Rondeau (9.950, beam), Caitlin Satler (9.925, beam), Hadyn Crossen (9.900, beam), and Rondeau, Satler, and Kara Roberts (9.900, floor).
FRESHMEN: The Green and White saw two freshmen make their collegiate debut in 2021, Raisa Boris and Anna Grace McCullough. Boris competed in every event through the season but never in the same meet, earning highs of 9.525 on vault, 9.800 on beam, and
9.850 on bars and floor. McCullough competed on vault and floor, hitting highs of 9.750 and 9.800, respectively.
NEXT UP, STEP UP: The junior class will be the next leaders of the EMU gymnastics team in 2022. The class consists of Shannon Gregory, Carly Kosanovich, Charlotte Reynolds, Kara Roberts, and Caitlin Satler.
Kosanovich did not miss a meet on vault and floor, while Roberts was a staple in three of the four events in 2021 (vault, bars, and floor), and recorded a 9.900 on floor, Feb, 6. Gregory was consistently in the beam and floor lineups, and hit 9.900 on beam March 13. Satler earned MAC Co-Specialist honors this season, primarily for her work on beam, where she scored a career-high 9.925 Feb. 6. The specialist also scored a career-best 9.900 on floor, Feb. 14. Reynolds has competed in the exhibition spot on bars primarily throughout the season, and she does hold a high of 9.675 in the events, from Feb. 14, 2020.
GAINED EXPERIENCE: Before 2021, the Eagles had one gymnast who had NCAA postseason experience. Senior Cortney Bezold competed as an individual at the 2019 NCAA Regionals. After 2021, most of the team has that experience to carry over.
MAKING IT OFFICIAL: Eastern has a familiar face coaching in the gym this year in assistant coach, Sam Higgins. The Eagles have seen Higgins in a volunteer capacity for three seasons now, but this will be her first year as an assistant to head coach Katie Minasola. The Eastern Michigan graduate previously coached at Gym America as a team coach, and will take over coaching beam, as Minasola moves to instructing bars.
NEW FACES IN THE GYM: Eastern Michigan had five new faces in the gym this season; Raisa Boris, Katie Butler, Jordan Jankowski, Anna Grace McCullough, and Sophia Rios.
Boris comes to Ypsilanti as a two-time Junior Olympic qualifier (2018 & 19), as well as the 2018 Minnesota State Bars Champion. Jankowski comes to collegiate gymnastics having won three consecutive Texas State Championships with her team at Metroplex Gymnastics. McCullough was a two-time Eastern National qualifier in 2015 and 2016, then became a three-time Junior Olympic qualifier in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Rounding out the notable accolades is Rios, who was the 2017 Eastern National All-Around and Beam Champion. The freshman was also the 2018 and 2019 Level 10 Michigan State runner-up.
KEY RETURNERS: The Eagles will look for big contributions this season from two veteran seniors, Cortney Bezold and Jada Rondeau. Bezold competed in every meet for the bars squad a year ago, tying her career-high score at Lindenwood, Feb. 2, and earning MAC Specialist of the Week Honors. Rondeau was an all-around competitor in every meet but one for the Green and White. The Savage, Minn. native earned a score of 9.825-or-higher 16 times, and collected 14 podium-finishes in the shortened 2020 season.
Two juniors and a sophomore will also seek to make their impact known in Caitlin Satler, Kara Roberts, and Mickayla Stuckey, respectively. Satler, having competed in every competition on beam, became the first EMU gymnast to hit a score of 9.900 on the apparatus since Kendall Valentin and Catie Conrad did it Feb. 10, 2017 against Kent State. The junior joined eight others in program history to have reached the feat. Roberts emerged as a staple in Eastern's lineup last season after returning from an injury that sidelined her for her freshman season. The Pinckney, Mich. native closed out the season with nine podium-finishes and six scores of 9.800-or-better. Rounding out the key returners is Stuckey, who stepped up for the team during her freshman year, competing in all nine meets. The sophomore hit a score of 9.825 at Lindenwood, Feb. 2, while collecting eight scores of 9.750-or-higher throughout the year.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team pushed through a year of uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic to win the program's fourth Mid-American Conference Championship, as well as earn its third team appearance at the NCAA Regional competition.
This final season recap includes year-end numbers, team information, and the gymnast's accomplishments. Additionally, fans can continue to visit EMUEagles.com, and follow us on social media, @EMUGym, to stay up to date with everything EMU Gymnastics.
"What a year!," said Head Coach Katie Minasola. "Like many other teams, we were faced with adversity. We were forced to make sacrifices and adapt to many situations. To say that I am proud of the way this team handled this year would be an understatement. They did not let the situation around us get in the way of their goals. We are MAC Champs and it feels so good! Then to finish the season qualifying to regionals, for just the third time in school history, wow they are amazing! If we can accomplish this much in a year with extenuating circumstances, imagine what we can do next year."
THANK YOU: The Eastern Michigan gymnastics team, along with EMU athletic media relations office, would like to thank each and every student, alumnus, and fan that supported the team in 2020-21. Additionally, the team offers thanks to all support staff, medical doctors, and individuals who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the program.
HARDWORK BRINGS YOU HARDWARE: The trophy came back to Ypsilanti as Eastern captured its fourth Mid-American Conference Championship, March 20, at Western Michigan's University Arena inside Read Fieldhouse. The Eagles totaled 195.900 to defeat the six other league teams competing. This was the Green and White's first conference championship since 2017, and the first for Head Coach Katie Minasola.
EAGLES IN TUSCALOOSA: The Eagles qualified for NCAA Regional competition after finishing the season ranked 32nd in the nation. The team had to compete in a "play-in" round before having the opportunity to advance.
Round One: The Green and White drew Maryland for its round one "play-in" meet, April 1. The Terrapins finished the season ranked 33rd in the nation, one spot behind EMU, and the competition was just as close. The team saw a big contribution from senior Jada Rondeau, as she competed in all-around and topped the squad in three-of-four events. Rondeau scored 9.850 on bars and floor, and 9.875 on beam. Other notable performances came from classmate Cortney Bezold, freshman Carly Kosanovich, and sophomore Hadyn Crossen. Bezold earned 9.825 on bars, while Kosanovich tied her career-best of 9.825 on floor, and Crossen stuck a 9.850 on beam. Ultimately, Eastern was unable to finish the job as they fell to UM, 195.475-195.525
Round Two: After the loss in the first round to Maryland, Eastern Michigan saw its five individual qualifiers compete. Bezold earned a 9.850 on bars, tying for 10th. Juniors Shannon Gregory and Caitlin Satler both competed on beam, earning scores of 9.800 and 9.275, respectively. Rondeau was a participant in three of the four events, scoring 9.875 on bars, 9.800 on beam, and 9.900 on floor. The senior's bars and floor scores were enough to tie for fourth in both events. Crossen was the sole all-arounder, tallying a 39.175 after hitting 9.800 on vault, 9.775 on bars, 9.850 on beam, and 9.750 on floor.
AROUND THE COUNTRY: Eastern finished the season ranked 32nd in the NCAA, an improvement from where it finished in 2020 (45th). As a matter of fact, the team improved their national rankings on every event from 2020 to 2021. The biggest boost came from bars, ending 2021 ranked 29th after landing 46th the previous season. Vault elevated to 40th from 52nd in 2020. Beam and floor also lifted six spots, finishing 22nd and 37th, respectively.
ALL-AROUNDERS: After not competing all-around for the majority of the season, sophomore Hadyn Crossen and senior Jada Rondeau showed out for the Mid-American Conference Championships, March 20, finishing second and third, respectively.
Crossen totaled a score of 39.225 to claim second place. The sophomore tied for fourth on vault, scoring 9.825, while her 9.875 on floor tied her for eighth. Rondeau compiled an all-around score of 39.125 to tie for third. The senior was clutch on beam, hitting 9.825, and tied for fifth on bars with a 9.850.
The two Eagles had only competed all-around for three meets before entering the MAC championship. Crossen qualified individually for NCAA Regionals in all-around as well, where she competed and hit 39.175.
MOLLY'S MOMENT: It was 32 years since Chris Deitrick won the last Mid-American Conference Vault Championship for Eastern. Sophomore Molly Parris broke the long drought, March 20, with her 9.850 to tie for first at the MAC Championships. Parris, returning to the team after missing most of her freshman season, is only the fifth Eagle to earn a conference vault championship.
SECOND-YEAR STUDS: The Eagles saw two gymnasts named to the MAC All-Tournament Team following the championship, March 20. Sophomores Molly Parris and Hadyn Crossen earned the honor in their first conference championship, as last year's was canceled due to COVID-19. Parris tied for first on vault with a 9.850, while Crossen tied for second in all-around, compiling a score of 39.225.
In all, Crossen totaled 16 scores of 9.800-or-better across all four events this season. Parris added six scores of 9.800-or-higher on vault, bars, and beam, after returning from an injury that saw her sit out most of her freshman season.
SECOND TEAM, SECOND TIME: Eastern Michigan saw two Eagles earn All-MAC Second Team honors Friday, March 19, for the 2021 season. Senior Jada Rondeau and junior Caitlin Satler were named to the second team for the second-straight year, while it's the third consecutive season the Green and White have had two representatives on the All-MAC teams.
THE SATLER SPECIAL[IST]: Junior Caitlin Satler was rewarded for her talents as a specialist for EMU by earning MAC Co-Specialist of the Year honors, announced March 20. Satler competed in six meets during the season, and never missed a podium on beam, securing five first-place finishes and one third-place. The junior finished the season ranked second in the conference on the apparatus with an NQS of 9.894. The specialist also earned a career-high in the event, earning a 9.925 in the EMU Quad, Feb. 6. Her score places her third all-time in program history on beam. Furthermore, the Illinois native hit a career-high of 9.900 on floor Feb. 14, against Kent State.
BEAMTOWN: EMU closed the regular season ranked first on beam in the Mid-American Conference, making a case for Ypsilanti to become Beamtown. The squad totaled an NQS of 49.169 on the apparatus after setting a program record 49.350 at Western Michigan, Feb. 21.
Four Eagles finished in the top-10 in the league. Junior Caitlin Satler is second, with an NQS of 9.894 on the apparatus, while senior Jada Rondeau sits fourth (9.888). Sophomore Hadyn Crossen (9.863) and junior Shannon Gregory (9.863) are tied for fifth, respectively. Additionally, Satler, Rondeau, and Gregory qualified and competed individually at the NCAA regional competition on the apparatus.
EASTERN MICHIGAN 49ERS?: The Green and White hit 49+ in three of the four events (floor, vault, and bars), March 20, at the MAC Championships, in order to take home first. The team hit 49+ 13 times this season.
HELLO HADYN: Eastern Michigan sophomore Hadyn Crossen burst onto the scene this season, and etched her name into the record book. Crossen tied for fourth all-time on beam after scoring 9.900 at the Eagle Invitational, Feb. 6. The sophomore tied Eagle legends such as Natalie Hashimoto, Lacey Rubin, and Kendall Valentin. The Carmel, Ind. native also found herself ranked fourth on vault in the conference at the end of the 2021 regular season.
BEZOLD, THE BARS BALLAST: Senior Cortney Bezold, the only gymnast on the team to have competed in an NCAA regional competition, once again led the bars lineup for Eastern this season. Bezold averaged 9.875 on the apparatus this season and tied for third in the Mid-American Conference. The senior was tied for third in the conference when the 2020 season ended as well. Furthermore, the Maineville, Ohio native earned MAC Specialist of the Week honors, Jan. 26, for the fourth time in her career, and tied for third at the MAC Championships, March 20, to lead the lineup.
WHO CAN OUTDO RONDEAU?: Senior Jada Rondeau had a stellar senior season, earning a career-high in all four events, and all-around (Vault: 9.825, Bars: 9.875, Beam: 9.950, Floor: 9.900, All-Around: 39.375). Rondeau added her name in the record book three times this season, now sitting second on beam (9.925), tied for 15th on floor (9.900), and tied for second in all-around (39.475). Heading into the Mid-American Conference championships, the senior was tied for fourth on bars (9.869), third on beam (9.888), and tied for ninth on floor (9.875), in the league.
CALI COMING BACK: Senior Cali Harden announced before the end of the season that she would be returning to the team next season as a redshirt senior. Harden competed on vault every meet for the Green and White in 2021, tying her career-high 9.800 twice.
STACK AGAINST THE MAC: Eastern (195.950) finished the regular season third in the Mid-American Conference, behind Central Michigan (196.275), and Kent State (195.981). The Green and White led the MAC on beam (49.169), and was the only team in the conference to finish with an NQS of 49-or-higher on the apparatus. On bars, EMU tied at third in the league (49.069). The Eagles ended fourth on vault (48.919) and fifth on floor (49.106).
SINCERELY, THE SENIORS: Eastern Michigan honored three seniors this year at the EMU Quad. Cortney Bezold, Brianna Price, and Jada Rondeau were celebrated by the Eastern Michigan home crowd.
Bezold competed on bars all four years at Eastern and has scored a 9.900 three times in her career. That score ties her for ninth all-time in the event. In 2019, the Maineville, Ohio native was selected to the All-MAC First Team, honored as a part of the Google Cloud All-District Team by CoSIDA, named MAC Specialist of the Week twice, and qualified for regionals individually twice.
Price ends her Eagle career with personal-bests of 9.875 on beam and 9.800 on floor. The Kings Mountain, N.C. native is a two-time Academic All-MAC selection and earned the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Academic All-American nod in 2020.
In all-around, Rondeau is tied for the 15th best score by an Eagle, 39.275. In the senior's career, she has tallied career-highs of 9.800 on vault, 9.875 on bars, 9.900 on floor, and 9.950 on beam. The Savage, Minn. native has ensured she will be remembered, as her high scores on floor and beam tie for 15th and sit 2nd, respectively. Furthermore, her all-around score of 39.475 at the CMU Quad, March 13, ranks second all-time at EMU. The senior was an All-MAC Second Team selection in 2020 and has racked up 46 scores of 9.825-or-better in her career, across all four events. In her final season, the gymnast qualified and competed individually at NCAA regionals on bars, beam, and floor.
REDO THE RECORD BOOK: The Eagles had a big day, Feb. 21, at Western Michigan. Even with the loss, 195.975-196.025, to the Broncos, the Green and White posted the highest beam score in program history, 49.350, and totaled a season-high team score of 195.975. Leading the beam squad was senior Jada Rondeau who earned a 9.950 to claim second all-time in EMU history on the apparatus. Junior Shannon Gregory also hit a personal-best 9.875, finishing third in the meet. Senior Brianna Price added a season-high 9.825 to boost the record-breaking score. The team's season-high score of 195.975 ties for ninth all-time in the program's history.
This year's squad has made seven additions to the record book this season; Cortney Bezold (9.900, bars), Jada Rondeau (9.950, beam), Caitlin Satler (9.925, beam), Hadyn Crossen (9.900, beam), and Rondeau, Satler, and Kara Roberts (9.900, floor).
FRESHMEN: The Green and White saw two freshmen make their collegiate debut in 2021, Raisa Boris and Anna Grace McCullough. Boris competed in every event through the season but never in the same meet, earning highs of 9.525 on vault, 9.800 on beam, and
9.850 on bars and floor. McCullough competed on vault and floor, hitting highs of 9.750 and 9.800, respectively.
NEXT UP, STEP UP: The junior class will be the next leaders of the EMU gymnastics team in 2022. The class consists of Shannon Gregory, Carly Kosanovich, Charlotte Reynolds, Kara Roberts, and Caitlin Satler.
Kosanovich did not miss a meet on vault and floor, while Roberts was a staple in three of the four events in 2021 (vault, bars, and floor), and recorded a 9.900 on floor, Feb, 6. Gregory was consistently in the beam and floor lineups, and hit 9.900 on beam March 13. Satler earned MAC Co-Specialist honors this season, primarily for her work on beam, where she scored a career-high 9.925 Feb. 6. The specialist also scored a career-best 9.900 on floor, Feb. 14. Reynolds has competed in the exhibition spot on bars primarily throughout the season, and she does hold a high of 9.675 in the events, from Feb. 14, 2020.
GAINED EXPERIENCE: Before 2021, the Eagles had one gymnast who had NCAA postseason experience. Senior Cortney Bezold competed as an individual at the 2019 NCAA Regionals. After 2021, most of the team has that experience to carry over.
MAKING IT OFFICIAL: Eastern has a familiar face coaching in the gym this year in assistant coach, Sam Higgins. The Eagles have seen Higgins in a volunteer capacity for three seasons now, but this will be her first year as an assistant to head coach Katie Minasola. The Eastern Michigan graduate previously coached at Gym America as a team coach, and will take over coaching beam, as Minasola moves to instructing bars.
NEW FACES IN THE GYM: Eastern Michigan had five new faces in the gym this season; Raisa Boris, Katie Butler, Jordan Jankowski, Anna Grace McCullough, and Sophia Rios.
Boris comes to Ypsilanti as a two-time Junior Olympic qualifier (2018 & 19), as well as the 2018 Minnesota State Bars Champion. Jankowski comes to collegiate gymnastics having won three consecutive Texas State Championships with her team at Metroplex Gymnastics. McCullough was a two-time Eastern National qualifier in 2015 and 2016, then became a three-time Junior Olympic qualifier in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Rounding out the notable accolades is Rios, who was the 2017 Eastern National All-Around and Beam Champion. The freshman was also the 2018 and 2019 Level 10 Michigan State runner-up.
KEY RETURNERS: The Eagles will look for big contributions this season from two veteran seniors, Cortney Bezold and Jada Rondeau. Bezold competed in every meet for the bars squad a year ago, tying her career-high score at Lindenwood, Feb. 2, and earning MAC Specialist of the Week Honors. Rondeau was an all-around competitor in every meet but one for the Green and White. The Savage, Minn. native earned a score of 9.825-or-higher 16 times, and collected 14 podium-finishes in the shortened 2020 season.
Two juniors and a sophomore will also seek to make their impact known in Caitlin Satler, Kara Roberts, and Mickayla Stuckey, respectively. Satler, having competed in every competition on beam, became the first EMU gymnast to hit a score of 9.900 on the apparatus since Kendall Valentin and Catie Conrad did it Feb. 10, 2017 against Kent State. The junior joined eight others in program history to have reached the feat. Roberts emerged as a staple in Eastern's lineup last season after returning from an injury that sidelined her for her freshman season. The Pinckney, Mich. native closed out the season with nine podium-finishes and six scores of 9.800-or-better. Rounding out the key returners is Stuckey, who stepped up for the team during her freshman year, competing in all nine meets. The sophomore hit a score of 9.825 at Lindenwood, Feb. 2, while collecting eight scores of 9.750-or-higher throughout the year.
Players Mentioned
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/ GymnasticsUK Gymnast Tries American Fast Food For The First Time
Wednesday, December 17
Thank You from EMU Gymnastics!
Monday, December 01
Giving Tuesday 2025 - EMU Gymnastics
Monday, December 01
Giving Tuesday 2025 - Eastern Michigan Gymnastics
Monday, December 01