Williams and Underwood Earn Athlete of the Week Honors
MAC Gymnast of the Week
Rachel Underwood, Western Michigan, Senior
Western Michigan senior Rachael Underwood won the vault this past weekend at Kent State with a 9.825, was runner-up on the balance beam with a 9.825 and finished third on the floor exercise, recording a 9.875. She also took first in the all-around totaling a 39.275, which is one of top scores in the Mid-American Conference this season and tied her season high.
Vault: 9.825 / 1st
Bars: 9.750 / 6th
Beam: 9.825 / 2nd
Floor: 9.875 / 3rd
MAC Specialist of the Week
Dara Williams, Kent State, Senior
Senior Dara Williams sparked a huge night for Kent State on Friday, as she set a career-high 9.925 on bars and led the Flashes to a season-high 49.025 on the event. Williams took home the individual bars title by .075 over the second-place finisher. The senior team captain earned her seventh event win of the season, which leads the team. Williams also recorded a 9.800 on vault to finish in second place. Her impact helped the Flashes to its second-best home score of the season at 195.700.
Vault: 9.800 / 2nd
Bars: 9.925 / 1st
Other Gymnast Nominees
Jordyn Penny, Ball State, Grad-Senior
Jordyn Penny, in her final home meet at Ball State, was BSU’s top performer during the team’s best meet of the season. Penny tied for 1st on the balance beam (9.850) and tied for 2nd on vault (9.800).Ball State scored 195.625 on Sunday, its best mark since the 2016 MAC Championships.
This season, Penny has been 9.800 or better on vault 3 times, on bars 4 times & on beam 4 times.
Vault: 9.800 / T-2nd
Bars: 9.725 / 8th
Beam: 9.850 / T-1st
Jovannah East, Bowling Green, Junior
Jovannah East scored a 39.175 to win the all-around in a tri-meet with Oregon State and Alaska Friday night. East won the vault, tying the school record with a 9.950, and placed second on floor with a 9.900. She added a 9.800 on beam and a 9.525 on bars. Her 39.175 all-around score was her second-best this year and second-best in the MAC this week. Her vault score was the best in the MAC this week.
Vault: 9.950 / 1st
Bars: 9.525 / T-10th
Beam: 9.800 / 4th
Floor: 9.900 / T-2nd
Denelle Pedrick, Central Michigan, Junior
Going on six weeks in a row, Denelle Pedrick placed first in All Around competition (38.875) as Central Michigan went on to beat the Cardinals from Ball State 196.175 to 195.625. Pedrick’s score breakdown includes: a 9.300 Vault (tenth) 9.800 Bar performance (THIRD), 9.850 Beam (FIRST), and 9.925 Floor routine (FIRST). Pedrick’s 9.925 score on Floor ties a CAREER high, and 9.800 on Bars ties a SEASON high as she continues to improve in each event.
Vault: 9.300 / 10th
Bars: 9.800 / 3rd
Beam: 9.850 / 1st
Floor: 9.935 / 1st
Emili Dobronics, Eastern Michigan, Junior
Junior Emili Dobronics competed against Michigan State University, March 1, placing second in the all-around competition with 39.100. Dobronics tied for third on floor with 9.825, followed by a tie for fourth on vault with a score of 9.800. Finishing the day, Dobronics tied for fifth on bears, 9.775, and took ninth on beam, 9.700.
Vault: 9.800 / T-4th
Bars: 9.775 / T-5th
Beam: 9.700 / 9th
Floor: 9.825 / T-3rd
Abby Fletcher, Kent State, Sophomore
Sophomore Abby Fletcher led the Golden Flashes to a pivotal MAC victory over Western Michigan on Friday night, as she competed in three events. Fletcher tied a career-high 9.925 on the floor to win the event, while also recording a fourth-place finish (9.800) on beam and a ninth- place finish (9.650) on vault. Her contributions helped the Flashes win their seventh straight head-to-head matchup and their fourth straight meet.
Vault: 9.650 / 9th
Beam: 9.800 / 4th
Floor: 9.925 / 1st
Other Specialist Nominees
Kaitlyn Menzione, Ball State, Senior
In her final home meet at BSU, Menzione delivered a score of 9.900 on the floor, finishing 2nd in a very high-level meet. Both Ball State and Central Michigan were better than 195 on the day. Ball State’s 195.625 was its season best.This season, Menzione has been 9.825 or better on floor 5 times. She also scored 9.700 on the beam. Not a single gymnast in the meet fell off the beam.
Beam: 9.700 / 10th
Floor: 9.900 / 2nd
Nora Fettinger, Central Michigan, Senior
As a Sophomore, Nora Fettinger helped the Chippewas pull away in a moment of need during a 196.175 to 195.625 victory over Ball State. Showcasing her cool, calm, and collected attitude Fettinger progressed throughout the meet after earning a 9.700 on Vault. The turning point of the match came when Fettinger placed THIRD on Floor with a 9.875 (TIED CAREER HIGH), propelling the Chippewas to a title clinching victory.
Vault: 9.700 /11th
Floor: 9.875 / 3rd
Caitlin Satler, Eastern Michigan, Freshman
Freshman Caitlin Satler tied for third on floor against Michigan State University, March 1, with a score of 9.825.
Floor: 9.825 / T-3rd
Mia Lord, Northern Illinois, Sophomore
Mia Lord earned the highest score of the meet and established a new season and career highwhen she earned a 9.900 on balance beam in NIU’s win over Illinois State. Lord won thebalance beam event for the fifth time in nine meets this season. Her score helped NIU to come back after a terrible rotation on bars to earn the third highest beam team score in school history (49.175) and the best at NIU since 2006. NIU went on to win the meet, coming back from a 1.275 point deficit.
Beam: 9.900 / 1st
Emily Carless, Western Michigan, Freshman
Western Michigan freshman Emily Carless won the balance beam at Kent State with a 9.875, tying her career high. She also competed on the floor exercise.
Bars: 9.875 / 1st
