Recap courtesy of Central Michigan Athletic Communications
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Central Michigan gymnastics team finished strong against Rutgers in the first round of the NCAA Championships at the University of Kentucky on Thursday. The Chippewas posted a 195.700 team score against Rutgers' 196.200. This was the first time since 2021 that CMU has competed as a team in the NCAA Regionals.
"Even though the outcome wasn't what we hoped for, we still had a really strong performance today," Central Michigan head coach Christine MacDonald said. "I'm really proud of our teams' efforts to come back here, for the first time in six years, and leave it all out on the floor."
The Chippewas began Thursday's meet strong with a 48.725 team score on vault. Graduate student Lia Kmieciak claimed first in the event with a 9.850—her 14th career vault title.
A powerful second rotation on bars ended with a 48.975 team score. Kmieciak took home her 11th bars title, posting a 9.875. Senior Luciana Alvarado-Reid placed third in the event with a 9.825.
Central Michigan posted a 48.700 on beam, sticking six out of six routines. Sophomore Zoë Zimmerman tied her career-high at 9.800 on the event.
Trailing by 0.800 heading into the final rotation, the mindset remained the same. The team finished the meet with a fantastic floor rotation of 49.300, their second-highest team score of the season. Alvarado-Reid took home her 15th floor victory at 9.900.
"We said we were just going to continue to focus on us, which was our message all day long," MacDonald said. "Leave it all out on the floor and sell every person, every routine."
Alvarado-Reid and Kmieciak are set to compete as individuals in tomorrow's regional semifinal at 7 p.m.—each in their final season of competition as a Chippewa.
"Continue to enjoy the moment and remember to keep it simple, [Luciana and Lia]. I want them to go out there with the excitement they bring every day."
Central Michigan concludes its 2026 season with a 19-3 dual meet record. The Chippewas claimed the 2026 MAC regular season title and 2026 MAC tournament championship.
