MAC Gymnast of the Week
Tara Kofmehl, Northern Illinois, Junior
NIU’s Tara Kofmehl established season or career highs in three events and the all-around in BOTH of the Huskies’ meets this week, hitting all eight of her individual routines. Kofmehl earned a career high 9.775 on bars at Central Michigan on Feb. 11 and topped it three days later at Ball State with a 9.800. She matched her season of 9.700 on balance beam, achieving the score in both meets. She achieved her best scores of the week on floor exercise, tying for third with a season-high 9.875 at CMU and topping that at Ball State with a 9.900 to tie her career high on floor. Her scores of 39.075 and 39.150 at CMU and BSU, respectively, are the first 39-plus all-around scores by a Huskie since 2018.
MAC Specialist of the Week
Taylor Pitchell, Central Michigan, Sophomore
Pitchell posted a 9.950 to tie for first in floor in CMU’s victory over Northern Illinois. Her score, which included a 10.0 from one judge, is a career-best and also matches the top score on the event in the MAC this year.
Other Nominees
Sierra DeMarinis, Central Michigan, Junior
DeMarinis led CMU to a conference-high mark of 196.300 in a victory over Northern Illinois. She took first in the all-around (39.225) and tied for first on floor (9.950). DeMarinis posted career-highs on bars (9.775), floor and in the all-around. Her 9.950 on floor included a 10.0 from one judge and is tied for the top mark in the MAC this season.
Jada Rondeau, Eastern Michigan, Senior
Senior Jada Rondeau had a solid weekend for the Eagles at the Gym Quarters Invitational (Feb. 12) and against Kent State (Feb. 14). Rondeau started the long weekend in St. Charles, Mo. scoring 9.850 on bars for fourth place, 9.875 to tie for first on beam, and earned 9.775 on floor, tying for fourth. Two days later, the senior hit a career-high on bars against KSU, 9.875 and claimed second place. The Savage, Minn. native also had a 9.050 on beam and a 9.750 on floor. Rondeau is currently tied for seventh in the conference on bars.
Abby Fletcher, Kent State, Senior
Fletcher has been dominant to begin her senior season. She picked up two individual event titles on Sunday against Eastern Michigan to bring her season total to seven individual titles in only five meets. Fletcher tied a career-high 9.925 on floor and posted a 9.825 on vault to take home both event titles. She also tied for fifth place on beam with a score of 9.725. The Oradell, N.J., native helped the Flashes post a season-high 49.325 on floor and an overall season-high score of 195.650 in the meet.
Elena Lawson, Bowling Green, Senior
Elena Lawson scored a 9.700 or higher on all three events she competed in Saturday as the Falcons hosted Western Michigan. Lawson opened the meet by placing second on vault with a 9.775, then added a 9.700 on balance beam. She finished with a 9.800 on floor to tie for third. Both her beam and floor scores were season bests for the senior.
Payton Murphy, Western Michigan, Sophomore
Won all-around competition at Bowling Green, her second-straight all-around win. Posted or tied for the top score on three of four rotations.
Courtney Bezold, Eastern Michigan, Senior
Senior Cortney Bezold continues to anchor the bars lineup for the Eagles, earning two more first place finishes on the apparatus. Bezold tied for first, scoring 9.875 at the GymQuarters Invitational, Feb. 12. The senior then returned home to Ypsilanti and put on a bars clinic against Kent State (Feb. 14), scoring 9.900, earning first-place, and tying her career-high. The Maineville, Ohio native is currently second in the MAC in the event, averaging 9.833.
Zoie Schroeder, Northern Illinois, Senior
Senior Zoie Schroeder scored 9.800 or higher in three of four performances in two meets for the Huskies. She earned NIU’s best score of the season on vault with a 9.875 at Central Michigan, bettering her previous career high on the event by .075 and taking second place. She also scored a 9.800 on balance beam at CMU to tie for fourth, the second-best score by a Huskie. Schroeder came back to tie for first on balance beam at Ball State with a score of 9.825. All four of Schroeder’s scores contributed to NIU’s team scores as the Huskies achieved their highest team score of the season at Central Michigan.
Megan Teter, Ball State, Sophomore
Megan Teter set a pair of personal highs as Ball State improved to a 194.425 score on Sunday. Teter tied for 1st on bars and placed 2nd on floor with a 9.825 score in each event. In 4 routines this season, she has scored 9.750 or better each time.
Toshi Richard, Kent State, Senior
Richard has been a huge lift for the Flashes on floor in her senior season. She tied a career-high 9.875 and tied for third place at Eastern Michigan on Sunday to help the Flashes set a season-high 49.325 on floor and an overall season-high of 195.650 in the meet.
Carissa Ludwig, Western Michigan, Junior
Tied for second in vault at Bowling Green.
