Stories Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
Central Michigan
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Eastern Michigan
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team fell to the University of Maryland, 195.472-195.575, in the first round of NCAA regional competition Thursday, April 1.
"Today was tough," said Head Coach Katie Minasola. "We were prepared for this day but we made silly mistakes. There were a lot of great performances that happened, but it just wasn't enough. We got a taste for regionals and we will be back for more. For now, it is time to focus on our individual qualifiers tomorrow."
Eastern started the meet on vault and was led by junior Kara Roberts (Pinckney, Mich.-Pinckney) and sophomore Hadyn Crossen(Carmel, Ind.-Carmel), both scoring 9.800. Sophomore Molly Parris (Hudson, Ohio-Hudson) and junior Carly Kosanovich (Moon Twp., Pa.-Moon Area) each added scores of 9.750, while senior Cali Harden (Saline, Mich.-Saline) chipped in a score of 9.725 to round out the scoring five. The Eagles ended the first rotation tied with Maryland, 48.825-48.825.
Moving to bars for the second rotation, senior Jada Rondeau (Savage, Minn.-Central) topped the lineup, scoring 9.850. Classmate Cortney Bezold (Maineville, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) earned 9.825 in the event, while freshman Raisa Boris (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Park Center) added a 9.800. Parris and Crossen added scores of 9.700 and 9.650, respectively. EMU totaled 48.825 again, but trailed UM after two rotations, 97.650-97.775.
In the third rotation, the Green and White picked up momentum on beam. Rondeau continued to lead from the front, hitting 9.875. Crossen followed closely behind, earning 9.850 on the event. Stuckey, Parris, and junior Caitlin Satler (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg) all scored 9.750. The Eagles' 48.975 was enough to give them an edge entering the final rotation, 146.625-146.475.
Ending the meet on floor, Eastern scored 48.850. Tying for the highest score of the day on floor was Rondeau, hitting 9.850. Kosanovich tied her career-best of 9.825, while Boris earned a 9.750. Roberts and junior Shannon Gregory (Edison, N.J.-John P. Stevens) contributed scores of 9.725 and 9.700, respectively. The Eagles were unable to hold off the Terrapins, as they fell 195.475-195.525.
Rondeau closed the day with an all-around score of 39.250, while Crossen totaled 38.975.
The Green and White's postseason will continue for five individual competitors who will get the opportunity to advance to nationals. Rondeau will be doing triple duty for the Eagles, making appearances in bars, beam, and floor. Crossen will represent Eastern in all around, and Bezold on bars. Finally, Satler and Gregory are both set to compete on beam. The competition begins tomorrow, Friday, April 2, at 7 p.m. CT.
Kent State
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Kent State gymnastics team finished in fourth place at the Morgantown Regional on Friday night.
Abby Fletcher led the way for Kent State, tying for fourth place on floor with a score of 9.900. Despite the team being eliminated, there is a chance Fletcher can make it to the NCAA Championships. The top event specialist at each regional who is not part of an advancing team or all-around competitor will also advance in that event only.
"I'm disappointed we didn't do better today," said Head Coach Brice Biggin. "It was just one of those days where we didn't get it done. However, the girls have a lot to be proud of this season. We took some good steps in being much more consistent even in a year with so many obstacles to overcome. I'm extremely proud of the work they put in this year."
The Golden Flashes got off to a hot start on floor, scoring a 49.175 in the first rotation. Rachel DeCavitch and Olivia Amodei tied for 15th on floor with a 9.825.
On bars, Madison Trott tied a career-high 9.850 as the anchor to give the Flashes a 48.825 on the event. DeCavitch and Jade Brown with scores of 9.775. Samantha Henry tied for 15th place on beam with a score of 9.750, while DeCavitch and Amodei tied for 17th on vault with scores of 9.750.
No. 4 Michigan and the No. 13 UCLA advanced to Saturday's competition to take on No. 5 California and Ohio State for a chance to go to the NCAA Championships.
The 2021 individual and team championship will be decided over two days — Friday and Saturday, April 16-17 — in Fort Worth, Texas.
Northern Illinois
SALT LAKE CITY – Northern Illinois University gymnasts Natalie Hamp (Ionia, Mich./Ionia HS) and Tara Kofmehl (Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain HS) recorded four of the top performances by a Huskie at an NCAA Regional in school history as they, along with senior balance beam specialist Zoie Schroeder (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS), wrapped up the 2021 NIU gymnastics season at the NCAA Salt Lake City Regional Friday afternoon.
“All in all, it was a really great day for NIU,” said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. “These three represented us really well. They are a great group of kids who deserved to be here, they earned the right to be here. There was a time [in the past] when we were just happy to be here and what we scored was secondary. Now, they want to get here, and they want to do well and all three gave it their best shot while enjoying the experience.”
Kofmehl, the lone all-arounder competing as an individual in the first of two NCAA sessions on Friday at the Maverik Center, hit all four of her routines for a total score of 39.175, the highest score by a NIU all-arounder at NCAA Regionals in school history. She posted her second-best all-around total of the season.
The junior from Mesa, Arizona scored a 9.875 on floor exercise, which tied for fifth in the meet, and topped all previous NIU NCAA qualifiers, while her 9.800 on vault tied for the Huskies’ top vault score at regionals and was the best score on vault in the rotation. Kofmehl added a 9.800 on uneven parallel bars and 9.700 on balance beam to reach the 39.175 mark.
As she has all season, Hamp excelled on uneven parallel bars. After qualifying as a specialist on the event and scoring 9.800 or higher in all 11 meets this season, Hamp finished a near flawless routine with a stuck landing to score 9.900 and tie for second in the meet. Her score was also the top all-time by a Huskie at NCAAs.
Schroeder scored a 9.075 on balance beam after falling on her series but completed the remainder of the routine and stuck her final landing as a college gymnast.
All in all, it was a really good day with the exception of Zoie’s hiccup, which was bittersweet,” Morreale said. “No one was overwhelmed. Warm-ups were great, touch [warm-ups] went great. Tara and Natalie were outstanding as they have been all year. They all realized that they belong there, and the hope is all three of them bring that experience back to their teammates and we are one of the 36 teams to get here.”
Hamp and Kofmehl have an outside chance to advance to the NCAA Championships pending the results of meets on Friday night and Saturday, which will determine which two teams from the Salt Lake City Regional advance to the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. The top event specialist and top all-arounder not on one of the two advancing teams will qualify for the Championships.
Western Michigan
ATHENS, Georgia -- Competing at an NCAA Regional for the first time since 1981, the Western Michigan gymnastics team saw a historic season come to a close with a first round loss to NC State on Thursday afternoon at the University of Georgia. The Wolfpack captured the meet with a team score of 196.425, topping WMU's score of 195.075, to advance to face Central Michigan in the second round.
Payton Murphy, the 2021 MAC Gymnast of the Year, placed first on the balance beam and third on floor with WMU's top score in both events. Sarah Moravansky, the 2021 MAC Freshman of the Year and 2021 MAC All-Around Champion, paced the Broncos on vault with a fourth-place finish, while also finishing second in all-around. Senior captain Stacie Harrison was the top WMU scorer on the uneven bars, placing third.f
Murphy qualified for the NCAA Championship as an individual and will compete again on Friday in Athens for the opportunity to advance to national finals.
The Broncos opened competition on the bars, scoring 48.400. Harrison paced the group with a 9.875 in her final meet as a Bronco. NC State scored 48.775 on vault to take the lead. The teams flipped and NC State posted a 49.325 on bars to WMU's 48.650 on vault, resulting in the Wolfpack holding a 98.100-97.050 advantage at the halfway point. Murphy registered a 9.80 on vault to lead WMU.
Western Michigan put together a strong floor routine, scoring 49.175 as a team led by a 9.900 from Murphy and 9.85 from Carissa Ludwig. The third rotation saw NC State record a 49.025 on balance beam to hold a lead entering the final rotation, 147.125-146.225.
Murphy again paced the Broncos on beam in the final rotation, scoring her second 9.900 of the day. Josephine Thomas contributed a 9.85, but WMU's beam score of 48.850 wasn't quite enough as the Wolfpack scored 49.300 on floor to win by a final margin of 196.425-195.075.
