At the 2015 Mid-American Conference Championship Saturday, the Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team took fourth place with a total score of 195.075. This was the highest the Eagles had scored at the MAC Championships since 2004.
First-year head coach Jay Santos guided the team to a 13-5 record and was named MAC Coach of the Year. Other accomplishments this season included breaking the school record with a 195.575 and scoring over 195 seven times this season.
Kent State took the championship title with a 196.375. Central Michigan University led the regular season but placed second in the championship with a 196.275. Western Michigan University took third place with a 195.525. EMU came in fourth. Bowling Green ended in fifth with 193.575. Ball State University and Northern Illinois University both scored 193.200 and tied for sixth place.
“Today’s performance was a little off and wasn't our best and what we are capable of doing at this point,” Santos said. “We had a tough rotation by starting the meet on beam and we came out a little tight. We rebounded well on floor and vault but we couldn't quite finish the meet and had a mistake on bars to put us fourth."
Seniors Carrina Lo Bello and Anna Willette competed in the all-around competition. Lo Bello finished third with a 38.925. Willette was close behind and took fourth place with a 38.725.
EMU took fourth on the beam with a score of 48.625. Lacey Rubin led the event for the Eagles with a 9.8 and seventh place. Willette’s 9.775 took 13th. Natalie Gervais earned a 9.75 and 14th place. Catie Conrad and Lo Bello both scored a 9.65.
Eastern had another fourth place finish on floor with a 48.9. Chantelle Loehner and Rachel Slocum led the event. They each scored 9.85 to tie for seventh. Taylor Young earned a 9.775. Sydney McEachern and Lo Bello finished with a 9.75.
On the vault, the Eagles placed fifth with a 48.875. Kendall Valentin led the team with a 9.825 and took eighth place. Lo Bello and Willette tied for 14th with 9.8s. Paulina Miller and McEachern both earned 9.725s.
Eastern ended the meet by scoring 48.675 on bars and finishing in fifth. Conrad led the team with a 9.825 and sixth place. Lo Bello and Valentin earned 11th place with 9.8s. Nikki Paterson scored a 9.725. Willette received a 9.525.
“Even though we were looking for a stronger performance at MAC's, I'm extremely proud of everything this team has been able to accomplish this year,” said Santos. “Their hard work, sacrifice and dedication have shown in our performances throughout the whole season. This is now a team with high expectations and I'm honored to be their coach and very excited for the future of this program.”
Results
Beam
7. Rubin, Lacey 9.800
13. Willette, Anna 9.775
14. Gervais, Natalie 9.750
26. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.650
26. Conrad, Catie 9.650
38. Ebeyer, Kimberly 9.025
Floor
7. Slocum, Rachel 9.850
7. Loehner, Chantelle 9.850
23. Young, Taylor 9.775
26. McEachern, Kimberly 9.750
34. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.750
39. Willette, Anna 9.625
Vault
8. Valentin, Kendall 9.825
14. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.800
14. Willette, Anna 9.800
27. Miller, Paulina 9.725
27. McEachern, Sydney 9.725
38. Schwartz, Julia 9.675
Bars
6. Conrad, Catie 9.825
11. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.800
11. Valentin, Kendall 9.800
23. Paterson, Nikki 9.725
34. Willette, Anna 9.525
36. Rubin, Lacey 9.425
All-Around
3. Lo Bello, Carrina 38.925
4. Wilette, Anna 38.725
