After a sluggish start in the first two events, the Eastern Michigan women’s gymnastics refocused and tied Ohio State University at 195.800 and defeated the University of Pittsburgh in a tri-meet in Columbus Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles (13-2-1, 4-0 MAC) saw their third highest score in program history, just two weeks after setting it in Bowling Green.
“We got to figure out this slow start thing that we’ve had going on the past couple meets,” EMU coach Jay Santos said. “When we do, we had two really good events, one okay event and beam was a little behind. Every event seemed to get a little bit better and by bars we were really rolling.”
The Eagles finished the day on the uneven bars and broke the program record with a 49.200 that included career-highs for redshirt sophomore Lacey Rubin, with a 9.9, and sophomore Catie Conrad with a 9.85. Sophomore Kendall Valentin also scored a 9.875.
“They were locked in what they were doing,” Santos said. “They weren’t getting ahead of themselves. When they do that, they swing really well and we get a result like that.”
The Eagles also saw the debut of freshman Ciara Gresham who hadn’t seen action since the exhibition meet against Michigan on Dec. 6 due to a foot injury.
Senior Kimberly Ebeyer, who was dealing with some ankle issues, got to rest on floor and Gresham was put into her slot on the lineup. Gresham scored a 9.775 in her place.
“We’ve always known she has big power,” Santos said. “She did a good job and as we get a couple more weeks under her, she’s only going to get better.”
Looking Forward:
The Eagles will stay on the road as they travel the Kent State University on Friday. The meet is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Eagles Results per EMUEagles.com (*denotes career high, # denotes a program record)
Team 195.800
Vault 49.000
Rachel Slocum 9.925*
Kimberly Ebeyer 9.825*
Julia Schwartz 9.80
Sydney McEachern 9.75
Catie Conrad 9.70
Kendall Valentin 9.20
Bars 49.200#
Lacey Rubin 9.90*
Kendall Valentin 9.875
Catie Conrad 9.85*
Natalie Gervais 9.80
Sydney McEachern 9.775
Julia Schwartz 9.55*
Beam 48.700
Catie Conrad 9.825
Kimberly Ebeyer 9.75
Natalie Gervais 9.725
Lacey Rubin 9.70
Kendall Valentin 9.70
Megan Hultgren 9.625
Floor 48.900
Rachel Slocum 9.85
Sydney McEachern 9.80
Ciara Gresham 9.775*
Catie Conrad 9.75
Natalie Gervais 9.725
Megan Marino 9.600
All-Around
Catie Conrad 39.125
