The Eastern Michigan University women’s gymnastics team competed against the University of Michigan in an exhibition Sunday afternoon. The Eagles finished with a 196.150-192.4 loss against the Wolverines.
“We had several bright spots for performances,” said EMU head gymnastics coach Jay Santos.
One of those bright spots included senior Anna Willette earning a 9.8 on vault, which was the highest score of the day. Another bright spot was freshman Julia Schwartz earning fifth overall with a combined score of 36.575.
EMU scored best on the beam and ended up with a 48.3. Sophomore Natalie Gervais received the highest score of the Eagles in this event with a 9.7. Freshmen Kendall Valentin and Lacey Rubin each added scores of 9.675. Willette, who was a 2014 NCAA Regional qualifier, added a 9.65.
The Eagles scored 48.2 on bars. Rubin scored highest for the Eagles with a 9.725. She placed fifth in the event. Valentin received a 9.7 and sixth place, and Willette landed a 9.65 and took seventh place.
Willette’s 9.8 on vault took third place in the event. Valentin did best in vault and took fifth place with a 9.775. Sophomore Sydney McEachern earned 9.6 and senior Paulina Miller earned 9.55. The Eagles ended this event with a 48.025
Freshman Kirsten Gendron led the team in the floor exercise where she scored a 9.7. McEachern and senior Paulina Miller both scored a 9.675. Schwartz earned a 9.6. Together, the Eagles scored 47.875 —their lowest event score.
“I'm pleased with our performance today,” Santos said. “Our confidence looked good and we did a good job of hitting routines, going 21-for-23. We still need to work on details and execute our skills at a higher level consistently, but I'm happy with our progress at this point of the preseason with what we showed today.”
The exhibition was a way for the young team to prepare for the upcoming season. Seven out of the 20 gymnasts are freshman. The exhibition was a good way for them to get some experience before their first regular season meet. The season will kick off at the Convocation Center at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 when the Eagles host Temple University.
