Central Michigan University Athletics
Gymnastics Hosts Ball State
2/21/2000 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Feb. 21, 2000
THE TEAM: The Central Michigan University gymnastics team (9-5 overall, 4-0 Mid-American Conference) returns to Rose Arena to entertain Ball State University (12-1, 4-1 Mid-American Conference) on Sunday, Feb. 27, at 2 p.m.
THE COACH: Head coach Jerry Reighard enters his 16th season at the helm of the Chippewa gymnastics program. Reighard has led CMU to seven Mid-American Conference championships and an appearance in the NCAA regionals in 1999. He has coached 16 MAC individual champions, seven first team academic All-MAC picks, four NCAA regional qualifiers and one NCAA championship qualifier.
LAST WEEKEND: The Chippewas defeated Eastern Michigan University, 193.375-191.250, on Saturday afternoon in Ypsilanti.
Bethany Couturier (Grand Rapids/So.) and Tammy Verrinder (London, Ont./Fr.) tied for top honors in the all-around with marks of 38.
900. The pair also tied for second place on the bars each with a 9.700.
Senior Nikki Liphardt (Ajax, Ontario) won the bars with a 9.750 while Verrinder won the beam with a score of 9.800. Senior Nicole Bills (Bay City/Sr.) placed second on the beam with a season-best 9.775 and Couturier tied for third at 9.725. Liphardt had CMU's best mark on the floor with a 9.775 which tied for third.SCOUTING BSU: The Cardinals suffered their first defeat on the season with a 194.350-194.250 loss to Western Michigan on Sunday. On Friday, Ball State beat Auburn by a 194.325-194.300 count. BSU is 12-1 overall and 4-1 in conference action.
FIRST TIME: Freshman Tammy Verrinder competed in the all-around for the first time against Eastern Michigan and tied for first place with teammate Bethany Couturier with a 38.900. Verrinder also took top honors in the balance beam with a season-best score of 9.800.
LIPHARDT WINS BARS: Senior Nikki Liphardt won the bars with a 9.750. She also posted CMU's top score in the floor exercise with a 9.775 to tie for third place.
FIRST ACTION: Freshman Alexis Summers (Spearfish, SD) saw her first action as a Chippewa with a 9.200 on the bars. She becomes the third freshman to compete for Central.
UPCOMING: The Chippewas travel to Kentucky on March 3 for a meet with the Wildcats, Florida and George Washington.
