Gymnastics Heads to Muncie for Sunday Clash

Gymnastics at Ball State
Date	Sunday, Feb. 15 \| 1 p.m.
Venue	Worthen Arena \| Muncie, Ind.
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide
Watch \| Stats	ESPN+ \| Live Stats
Follow Us On X	@EMUGym \| @EMUAthletics

MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern travels to Ball State Sunday at 1 p.m. ET for a Mid-American Conference matchup in Muncie, Ind. The meet will stream on ESPN+ with Mick Tidrow and Megan Teter, as the Cardinals celebrate Senior Night and host their "Life of a Gym Girl" themed competition.

QUICK TOUCHES
» Eastern enters the 2026 season in its 50th year as a varsity gymnastics program after launching in 1976.
» EMU holds an all-time overall record of 367-351-2.
» From available records dating back to 2003, Eastern owns a 76-104-1 record in regular-season MAC meets.
» Eastern is entering the ninth year of the head coach Katie Minasola era. EMU posted a 6-8 (2-5 MAC) record in 2025.
» Finished as the MAC Championship Runner-Up in 2025 with a team score of 195.525.
» EMU MAC gymnasts to watch are senior Kyrie Lowe and sophomore Keeley Kohler.
» Freshman Georgie Slack is believed to be the first gymnast in EMU history to be from Europe.
» Eastern checks in at No. 56 nationally in this week's Road To Nationals rankings.
» Assistant coach Lauren Volpe returns to Ball State, where she competed from 2018 to 2023 and served as a graduate assistant during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
» The last meeting with Ball State came March 14, 2025, when Eastern earned a 195.475 to 194.550 win on Senior Night.
» According to available records dating back to 2003, Eastern holds a 10-7 series advantage over Ball State.
» Eastern adjusted its lineup against Central Michigan, with Jaelyn Stetz making her first appearance of the season on bars and Kendall Landry competing floor for the first time in her collegiate career.
» Eastern has claimed at least one event title in every meet this season.
» The Eagles have recorded two full event sweeps, against Bowling Green and Wilberforce.
» Katin Childress captured the beam title with a 9.850.
» Floor produced a season-high 48.675 team score, highlighted by Abby Brushwood's 9.825 and career-best 9.750 from Macy Nihart.

IT'S OUR BIRTHDAY!
As EMU gymnastics marks its 50th varsity season in 2026, the program stands among the longest-running in the Mid-American Conference after launching in 1976 and competing when the MAC began sponsoring women's gymnastics in 1981. The Kent State gymnastics program began in 1959, making it among the earliest in the nation and within the league. Northern Illinois began its gymnastics program in 1978. Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Ball State, and Bowling Green all competed as MAC members when the conference first sponsored the sport in 1981.

CLOSE CONNECTIONS
Assistant coach Lauren Volpe makes a return to Ball State this weekend, where she spent six seasons as both a student athlete and graduate assistant. Volpe competed for the Cardinals from 2018 to 2023 before serving as a graduate assistant during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. She earned her degree in Business Administration in 2022 and now faces her former program for the first time as a full time Division I assistant coach at Eastern Michigan.

WHERE THEY STACK UP
Eastern checks in at No. 56 in this week's national rankings, following the latest update from Road To Nationals.

NATIONAL RANKINGS (MAC ONLY):
33. Central Michigan
39. Ball State
44. Kent State
45. Western Michigan
55. Bowling Green
56. Eastern Michigan
58. Northern Illinois

EASTERN VS. THE MAC
From available records dating back to 2003, Eastern owns a 76-104-1 record in regular-season MAC meets.

LAST TIME VS. BALL STATE
The most recent meeting with Ball State took place Friday, March 14, 2025, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center, where Eastern earned a 195.475 to 194.550 victory on Senior Night. Raisa Boris led the way with a 39.150 in the all-around, the top score of the meet and her sixth all-around win of the season. Kyrie Lowe followed with a 38.375 while also delivering a standout performance on bars, winning the event with a personal-best 9.900 for her fourth bars title of the year. Keeley Kohler added a career-high 9.850 on bars as Eastern totaled 48.900 in the rotation.

On beam, Alana Fisher matched her career high with a 9.875 to claim the event title, while Boris placed second with a 9.825 and both Katin Childress and Ella Chemotti scored 9.800. Floor closed the meet with Abby Brushwood and Fisher tying for first at 9.825, helping Eastern secure the team win with a 48.900 on the event. The victory snapped a three-meet skid and marked one of Eastern's strongest all-around team performances of the season.

SERIES HISTORY VS. BALL STATE
Eastern and Ball State have met 17 times according to available records dating back to 2003, with Eastern holding a 10-7 advantage in the series. The Eagles own a 6-3 record at home and a 4-4 mark on the road, along with one neutral-site victory. Eastern has won seven of the last 10 matchups in that span, including a four-meet winning streak from 2013 to 2017.

The largest EMU win in the series came March 18, 2003, with a 194.875-189.550 victory in Ypsilanti, while the narrowest margin was a 193.425-193.450 road result March 21, 2010. Across those meetings dating back to 2003, the two programs have averaged scores in the 190 range, underscoring a competitive conference rivalry.

SHAKING UP THE LINEUP
Eastern rolled out new looks on both bars and floor, adjusting the order across each rotation.

On bars, Analiah Solorio led off, followed by Gwendelyn Cantu, Keeley Kohler, Jacquelyn Patterson, Kyrie Lowe, and Jaelyn Stetz. The lineup featured Stetz competing for the first time this season. Floor also saw a shift, beginning with Lowe before Savanna Dunwoody and Macy Nihart took the middle spots. Priya Karle followed, Kendall Landry made her first floor appearance, and Abby Brushwood anchored the rotation. For more lineup details and notes, see page 7.

EVENT TITLES EVERY SINGLE TIME
Eastern has claimed at least one event title in every meet this season. The Eagles have also recorded two complete event sweeps.

Bowling Green
» Team sweep on all four events
» Vault – Gwen Cantu
» Bars – Keeley Kohler
» Beam – Jackie Patterson
» Floor – Abby Brushwood
» All-Around – Kyrie Lowe

NIU / SUNY Brockport
» Bars – Kyrie Lowe
» All-Around – Kyrie Lowe

Air Force Quad
» Floor – Abby Brushwood

Wilberforce
» Team sweep on all four events
» Vault – Gwen Cantu
» Bars – Kyrie Lowe and Analiah Solorio (tie)
» Beam – Jackie Patterson
» Floor – Abby Brushwood
» All-Around – Kyrie Lowe

Central Michigan
» Beam – Katin Childress

LAST MEET RECAP VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
VAULT OPENS PURPLE MEET
Eastern began the afternoon on vault with a 48.250 team score and placed four gymnasts inside the top 10. Kendall Landry led the scoring lineup with a 9.700 to finish fifth, while Abby Brushwood and Gwendelyn Cantu each posted 9.675 to tie for sixth. Macy Nihart added a 9.625 in her first collegiate vault appearance. Kyrie Lowe turned in a 9.725 in exhibition as Eastern stayed within range early.

BARS KEEP IT CLOSE
The Eagles moved to bars and totaled 47.000. Analiah Solorio paced the rotation with a 9.800, matching her career best and tying for fourth overall. Jacquelyn Patterson delivered a career-best 9.700, while Keeley Kohler followed with a 9.775 to place seventh. Georgie Slack added a 9.650 in exhibition, and Jaelyn Stetz made her first appearance of the season in the lineup.

BEAM BELONGS TO CHILDRESS
Beam stood as Eastern's strongest event of the day with a 48.800 team total. Katin Childress captured the event title with a 9.850. Solorio followed in third with a 9.800, while Kyrie Lowe matched her career best with a 9.750 to tie for fourth. Kohler and Patterson each added 9.700 as Eastern stacked the standings throughout the rotation.

FLOOR FINISHES STRONG
Eastern closed on floor with a season-high 48.675 team score, its top floor total of the year. Abby Brushwood tied for second with a 9.825 to lead the lineup. Lowe matched her career best with a 9.800, while Macy Nihart recorded a career-best 9.750. Priya Karle added a 9.700, and Sanai Evans posted a 9.675 in exhibition as Eastern finished the meet with momentum.

PREVIOUSLY IN THE 2026 SEASON NOTES

IN THE RANKINGS
Eastern ranked 50th nationally at the conclusion of the 2025 season (Road To Nationals). The highest EMU has been ranked in program history (started tracking in 1998) was the 2016 team, which ranked 17th in the nation.

NATIONAL RANKINGS (MAC ONLY):
40. Central Michigan
44. Kent State
45. Ball State
47. Western Michigan
50. Eastern Michigan
56. Northern Illinois
59. Bowling Green

MAC GYMNASTS TO WATCH
» Kyrie Lowe and Keeley Kohler were named to the 2026 MAC Gymnasts to Watch list.
» Lowe returns as one of the league's top bars performers after competing in 11 meets during the 2025 season with four first-place finishes on bars and two all-around wins.
» Lowe ranked fifth in the MAC on bars in 2025 and recorded a career-best 9.900 against Ball State on March 14.
» As a junior in 2024, Lowe competed in 12 meets and posted eight scores of 9.800 or higher, contributing to a season-best vault total at Kent State on March 3.
» Kohler earned recognition following a strong sophomore campaign, appearing in 11 meets during the 2025 season.
» Kohler posted a season-high 9.850 on bars against Ball State, March 14, establishing herself as a consistent contributor in the lineup.

PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
(First Place Votes)
1. Central Michigan – 33 points (3)
2. Kent State – 31 points (3)
T3. Ball State – 23 points (1)
T3. Eastern Michigan – 23 points
5. Western Michigan – 19 points
6. Bowling Green – 12 points
7. Northern Illinois – 6 points

MAC Tournament Champion: Central Michigan (3), Kent State (3), Western Michigan (1)

LOOKING BACK • 2025 SEASON
» EMU finished with an 6-8 overall record for the 2025 season with a 2-5 mark in MAC duals.
» MAC Championship Runner-Up finish with a team score of 195.525, the second-best team total of the season.
» Season-best vault score of 48.925 recorded at the MAC Championships.
» The team posted a 49.300 floor score at the MAC Championships, ranking as the top floor score of the season and the seventh-best floor mark in program history.
» Raisa Boris placed second in the all-around at MACs with a 39.075 and earned First Team All-MAC honors.
» Abby Brushwood tied for second on floor at MACs with a career-high 9.900.
» Kyrie Lowe placed third in the all-around at the MAC Championships with a 38.950.
» Three All-MAC selections for the first time since 2015.
» Eight Eagles earned Academic All-MAC honors in 2025.
» Boris competed in all-around at NCAA Regionals for the second straight season.
» Brushwood became the first EMU gymnast on floor at NCAA Regionals since 2021.

HELLO! MY NAME IS...
» The incoming class includes freshmen Savanna Dunwoody, Adysen Mazzoni, Macy Nihart, and Georgie Slack, along with transfer Kendall Landry from Minnesota.
» As a group, the class brings three Level 9 championships, six state titles, one Level 10 championship, seven national qualifiers, and one national champion.
» Macy Nihart enters with one of the strongest resumes in the class after winning Level 10 Michigan State titles on vault, bars, floor twice, and all-around, along with two national qualifier appearances.
» Kendall Landry brings Division I experience after competing two seasons at Minnesota, helping the Gophers finish second in the Big Ten in 2024 and third in 2025, while also earning Academic All-Big Ten honors.
» Savanna Dunwoody qualified for nationals five times at the club level and helped her team capture a national title during her senior season.
» Adysen Mazzoni claimed a Level 9 Eastern Nationals title and earned a spot at Development Program camp after four years of training at LaFleur's Gymnastics.
» Georgie Slack is believed to be the first international gymnast in program history, joining from Uttoxeter, England, after competing in the all-around at Thomas Alleyne's High School.

FUTURE ADDITIONS
» EMU adds three freshmen all-arounders for the 2027 season.
»The incoming class includes Bailee Norris, Karalyn Key, and Riley Sheppard.
»The trio brings six combined Level 10 national qualifications, a Level 10 regional vault champion, and a Level 10 state floor champion.
» Bailee Norris arrives as a five-year Level 10 gymnast, four-time national qualifier, Level 10 regional vault champion, Level 10 state floor champion, and two-time Gymnast of the Year.
»Karalyn Key competed as a Level 10 all-around gymnast and qualified to Level 10 Nationals in Daytona after training at Midwest Elite Gymnastics Academy.
»Riley Sheppard joins as a Level 10 all-around gymnast and two-time national qualifier in 2024 and 2025.

BACK FOR MORE
» Eastern returns 14 gymnasts for the 2026 season, giving the roster one of the deepest returning cores in the MAC.
» The Eagles' returner total ranks at the top of the league alongside Kent State, which also brings back 14 athletes.
» Eastern returns more athletes than Bowling Green at 13, Ball State at 12, and Central Michigan at 11.
» Western Michigan and Northern Illinois each return eight gymnasts, placing them near the bottom of the conference in roster continuity.
» With 14 returners, Eastern enters the season with more lineup experience and competitive continuity than most MAC programs.

2025 SEASON SNAPSHOTS
»Abby Brushwood competed in all 12 meets and ranked fifth in the MAC on floor with a 9.784 season average. She posted a season-best 9.900 on floor and recorded three first-place finishes on the event. She qualified for NCAA Regionals on floor and scored as high as 9.850 against multiple Power Four opponents.
»Gwendelyn Cantu appeared in 11 meets and earned a season best 9.775 on vault at the MAC Championships. She closed the year with a 9.625 season high on bars
» Katin Childress competed in 11 meets and posted a season best 9.875 on beam against San Jose State and UC Davis. Beam remained her primary scoring event.
» Genae Daniel appeared in four meets and recorded a season best 9.825 on beam against Western Michigan.
»Sanai Evans competed in six meets and earned a season high 9.650 on bars, achieved twice in March competition.
» Priya Karle competed in 11 meets and posted a season best 9.850 on floor on three occasions. Floor remained her top-scoring event throughout the year.
»Keeley Kohler appeared in 11 meets and recorded a season high 9.850 on bars against Ball State on March 14.
»Kyrie Lowe competed in 11 meets and ranked fifth in the MAC on bars. She earned a career high 9.900 on bars and recorded four first-place finishes on the event, along with two all-around wins.
»Brianna Lucas appeared in six meets and posted a season best 9.675 on vault against Western Michigan, Wilberforce, and Ball State.
»Brooke Maycroft redshirted the 2025 season after competing on beam in 2024, where she recorded a career best 9.750.
»Jackie Patterson redshirted in 2025 after appearing in 10 meets in 2024 and earning a career high 9.875 on vault and beam.
»Elise Ritzenthaler redshirted during the 2025 season.
»Analiah Solorio competed in 11 meets as a freshman and earned five vault scores of 9.800 during the season.
»Jaelyn Stetz appeared in three meets and recorded a season best 9.720 on vault against Bowling Green on Jan. 12.

AYE, AYE CAPTAINS!
Jackie Patterson and Priya Karle will lead Eastern gymnastics as the two team captains for the 2026 season.

MINASOLA LEADS THE WAY
»Katie Minasola enters her ninth season as head coach, taking over the program in July 2017 and guiding it through eight completed seasons.
Eastern owns a 52-74-1 overall record and a 16-32 MAC mark during Minasola's tenure, highlighted by steady postseason presence and individual success.
» The Eagles captured the MAC Championship in 2021 with a 195.900 team score, earning the program's fourth league title and a team berth to NCAA Regionals.
»Eastern has produced NCAA Regional qualifiers in six of Minasola's eight full seasons, including team qualification in 2021 and multiple individual qualifiers in every postseason since 2018.
»Minasola has coached three MAC major award winners, including Raisa Boris as MAC Gymnast of the Year in 2024, Boris as MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year in 2024 and 2025, Ella Chemotti as MAC Freshman of the Year in 2022, and Caitlin Satler as MAC Specialist of the Year in 2021.
» Under her direction, Eastern has crowned four individual MAC champions, including Molly Parris on vault in 2021, Emili Dobronics on floor in 2019, and Ella Chemotti on bars in 2022 and beam in 2024.
»The program reached new scoring heights during her tenure, including top-five all-time event totals on vault, bars, beam, and floor, with multiple scores above 49.300 at the conference and regular-season levels.
» Eastern finished runner-up at the 2025 MAC Championship with a 195.525 team score, marking the program's best conference finish since the 2021 title season.
» Minasola has helped develop consistent academic and competitive balance, with multiple Academic All-MAC selections each season and long-term roster stability across the lineup.

HAPPY TO HELP
Sam Higgins enters her sixth season on staff and has overseen the beam lineup since 2022. Under her guidance, the beam squad ranked 22nd nationally in her first year, the highest event ranking in program history, while Ella Chemotti qualified for NCAA Regionals with a MAC-leading 9.875 NQS and earned First Team All-MAC honors. Higgins played a key role in the 2021 MAC Championship season and the program's NCAA Regional team appearance, while also helping produce multiple All-MAC selections and five beam scores of 9.900 or higher in a single season. She previously spent 10 years coaching at Gym America and earned her undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan.

Lauren Volpe is in her second season as an assistant coach after joining the staff in July 2024. A former Ball State standout, she brings MAC championship and NCAA Regional experience as both a student-athlete and graduate assistant. Volpe was a multi-year team captain at Ball State, a MAC Specialist of the Week honoree, and a three-time WGCA Scholastic All-American. She is tied for the Ball State beam record at 9.925 and brings conference-tested knowledge and competitive insight to the staff.

Sophia Rios joined the staff after competing for the program and serving as a student-athlete leader. She appeared in 10 meets on vault during the 2023 season and posted a career-high 9.700, while also earning Academic All-MAC and WCGA Academic All-America honors. Rios brings first-hand program experience to the coaching staff, pairing competitive insight with an academic background in mechanical engineering and contributing to athlete development across the vault lineup.

ON THE HORIZON
Eastern travels to Philadelphia, Pa., for a non-conference road meet at Temple on Friday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. The competition will stream live on ESPN+.

Gymnastics at Ball State
Date	Sunday, Feb. 15 \| 1 p.m.
Venue	Worthen Arena \| Muncie, Ind.
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide
Watch \| Stats	ESPN+ \| Live Stats
Follow Us On X	@EMUGym \| @EMUAthletics

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Raisa Boris

Abby Brushwood

Gwendelyn Cantu

Ella Chemotti

Katin Childress

Genae Daniel

Savanna Dunwoody

Sanai Evans

Alana Fisher

Priya Karle

Keeley Kohler

Kendall Landry

Kyrie Lowe

Brianna Lucas

Brooke Maycroft

Adysen Mazzoni

Macy Nihart

Jacquelyn Patterson

Elise Ritzenthaler

Georgie Slack

Analiah Solorio

Jaelyn Stetz

Eastern Michigan Athletics