Underwood and Martucci Share Gymnastics Weekly Honors
MAC Gymnast of the Week
Rachael Underwood, Western Michigan, Senior
The Western Michigan gymnastics team opened the 2019 season with a 195.075 to 193.950 victory over Northern Illinois Sunday at University Arena. The Huskies entered the meet as the favorite to win the Mid-American Conference this season, according to the league's preseason poll. Western Michigan senior Rachael Underwood had a banner day, placing first on vault (9.800), beam (9.850), floor (9.900) and all-around (39.275). She also took fifth on bars (9.725). The 195.075 is one of the highest season-opening scores in Western Michigan history and the best under sixth-year head coach Penny Jernigan.
Vault: 9.800 / 1st
Bars: 9.725 / 5th
Beam: 9.850 / 1st
Floor: 9.900 / 1st
MAC Specialist of the Week
Anna Martucci, Northern Iillinois, Senior
In just her second outing of the season, senior Anna Martucci scored a season-best 9.900 on floor exercise to tie for first place in the event and lead the NIU floor squad to a score of 49.100, the first 49+ event score of the season for the Huskies. In addition, Martucci was a late addition to the beam line-up due to injury and came through with a 9.700 in her first beam routine of the season to contribute as one of the Huskies’ counting scores. NIU’s team total of 193.950 was its best score of the season.
Beam: 9.700 / T-8th
Floor: 9.900 / T-1st
Other Gymnast Nominees
Kaitlyn Menzione, Ball State, Senior
Kaitlyn Menzione took second place in all-around Sunday at George Washington (38.725) and was top 8 in three events. Never shying away from a challenge, she was one of only three athletes (in a quad meet) to compete in all four events at GW. Menzione’s efforts helped Ball State lead the team scoring for most of the afternoon. In a field featuring North Carolina, the Cardinals had the high team scores in vault and bars.
Vault: 9.475 / 19th
Bars: 9.700 / 8th
Beam: 9.750 / 4th
Floor: 9.800 / 8th
Gianna Plaksa, Central Michigan, Senior
With a 39.050 in her All-around performance, Gianna helped the Chippewas to a 195.275 - 190.050 victory over Illinois State. Gianna took first place on her floor routine (9.850), and first on bars (9.800). With a score of 9.850 during the floor routine, Gianna claimed the highest score of the meet.
Vault: 9.675 / ---
Bars: 9.800 / ---
Beam: 9.725 / ---
Floor: 9.850 / ---
Emili Dobronics, Eastern Michigan, Junior
Emili Dobronics was the top finisher (6th) for Eastern Michigan in the all around at the Pittsburgh Quad, with a score of 38.450.
Vault: 9.775 / T-11th
Bars: 9.250 / T-22nd
Beam: 9.675 / T-7th
Floor: 9.750 / T-11th
Amanda Bartemio, Northern Illinois, Junior
Junior Amanda Bartemio was one of the Huskies’ top two scorers in every event in NIU’s meet at Western Michigan on Sunday while achieving season-bests on both vault and floor exercise. Her score on vault of 9.750 tied for second overall and was her best vault of the young season. She tied for seventh on bars with a 9.675, which also ranked second among all NIU gymnasts, while her 9.850 on floor tied her career high score and put her in third place in the meet. Her floor score helped NIU achieve a 49.100 on the event for its first 49+ team event score of the season.
Vault: 9.750 / T-2nd
Bars: 9.675 / T-7th
Floor: 9.850 / 3rd (T-Personal Best)
Other Specialist Nominees
Jordyn Penny, Ball State, Senior
Jordyn Penny, a fifth-year senior enrolled in graduate school, captured the top score on the bars Sunday at George Washington (9.850). Her effort helped Ball State defeat the other three teams (including North Carolina) in that event. An NCAA Regional qualifier in 2016, it was the third-highest bars mark of her career. She was one of only five in the quad meet to earn a score of 9.850 or better in any event on the day.
Bars: 9.850 / T-1st
Beam: 9.650 / T-10th
Nora Fettinger, Central Michigan, Sophomore
Coming in at only a sophomore, Nora Fettinger wasted no time reaching a personal best with a score of 9.850 during her floor exercise. She would go on to tie Gianna Plaksa for the highest score for floor exercise, and her score helped the Chippewas beat Illinois State 195.275 - 190.050.
Vault: 9.650 / ---
Floor: 9.850 / ---
Courtney Bezold, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore
Cortney Bezold had the highest bars score of the week for Eastern Michigan, 9.700, at the Pittsburgh Quad.
Bars: 9.700 / T-11th
Amelia Mohler, Western Michigan, Junior
The Western Michigan gymnastics team opened the 2019 season with a 195.075 to 193.950 victory over Northern Illinois Sunday at University Arena. The Huskies entered the meet as the favorite to win the Mid-American Conference this season, according to the league's preseason poll. Junior Amelia Mohler competed in two events, finishing as runner-up on the uneven bars with a 9.775 and third on the balance beam with a 9.8. The top three finish on balance beam was the first time Mohler had ever competed in the event in her career. She had previously only competed on bars. The 195.075 is one of the highest season-opening scores in Western Michigan history and the best under sixth-year head coach Penny Jernigan.
Bars: 9.775 / 2nd
Beam: 9.800 / 3rd (Personal Best)
