Compiling the best score on the balance beam in program history, the Eastern Michigan University women’s gymnastics team recorded a 195.05 score notching two wins against Ball State University and Illinois State University Sunday afternoon in Muncie, Ind.
“Overall it was a first half, second half deal,” EMU coach Jay Santos said. “We came out great with the first two events. They looked fantastic. Then the second half of the meet kind of trailed off."
The Eagles saw career highs from four different gymnasts which includes a 9.875 from redshirt sophomore Lacey Rubin on beam, a 9.825 on beam from freshman Megan Hultgren and a 9.775 from junior Natalie Gervais on the uneven bars. Sophomore Rachel Slocum saw career highs in two different events with a 9.775 on the beam and a 9.9 on vault.
“It was an amazing vault,” Santos said about Slocum. “It was probably one of the best vaults I’ve ever seen her do. She really just put one down and drilled it.”
Slocum’s score on vault held up the other scores as the Eagles finished the afternoon struggling to hit on the final event. The meet was held on ESPN3 which created a long delay between each routine and vault was held at a much slower pace than the Eagles are used to.
“It was kind of a weird setup with the TV where they were alternating us and Ball State,” Santos said. “The kids had a really long wait in between and vault seemed to fizzle a little bit.
The Eagles had a scare during warmups when it appeared sophomore Kendall Valentin injured her ankle after her vault layout. Valentin went back to the locker room but still competed all-around and scored a 39.025.
“She was a total trooper for us today. We told her a bunch of times to not be a superhero,” Santos said. “She didn't want to come out for anything today. After warmups, I wasn't sure if I was going to get any events and she still ended up doing all-around. It shows how much she wants to be out there and how bad she wants to be successful.”
Looking Ahead:
The Eagles will host their first home meet of the season on Saturday in a combined meet with the wrestling team dubbed, “The Beauty and the Beast” meet. Both teams will face Northern Illinois University and it is scheduled to get underway at 4 p.m.
Eagles Results per EMUEagles.com (*denotes career high, # denotes program record)
Vault 48.500
Rachel Slocum 9.90*
Kendall Valentin 9.80
Sydney McEachern 9.675
Julia Schwartz 9.575
Kimberly Ebeyer 9.550
Catie Conrad 9.125
Bars 48.800
Catie Conrad 9.80
Natalie Gervais 9.775*
Kendall Valentin 9.775
Sydney McEachern 9.725
Lacey Rubin 9.725
Kirsten Gendron 9.70
Beam 49.150#
Lacey Rubin 9.875*
Catie Conrad 9.850
Megan Hultgren 9.825*
Kendall Valentin 9.825
Rachel Slocum 9.775*
Kimberly Ebeyer 9.675
Floor 48.60
Rachel Slocum 9.850
Kimberly Ebeyer 9.775
Sydney McEachern 9.750
Kendall Valentin 9.625
Catie Conrad 9.60
Kirsten Gendron 9.60
All-Around
Kendall Valentin 39.025
Catie Conrad 38.375
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