Central Michigan University Athletics
Gymnastics Travels To Kentucky
2/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Feb. 28, 2000
THE TEAM: The Central Michigan University gymnastics team (10-5 overall, 5-0 Mid-American Conference) travels to the University of Kentucky (3-7 overall) on March 3 for a meet with the Wildcats, the University of Florida (8-9 overall) and George Washington University (15-3 overall). The meet begins at 7:30 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 Ball State University (12-2, 5-2 Mid-American Conference) by a 195.550-192.525 count Sunday in Rose Arena.
Senior Nikki Liphardt (Ajax, Ontario) led the Chippewas with wins on the bars, floor exercise and all-around. She tied a CMU record with a 9.90 on the bars and posted a 9.925 in the floor exercise and a 39.400 in the all-around. All three scores were career highs for Liphardt. She also placed second on the vault (9.80) and fourth on the beam (9.775).
Freshman Tammy Verrinder (London, Ontario) took top honors on the vault with a 9.825. She also took second on the bars (9.825) and tied for second in the floor exercise (9.850).
Sophomore Bethany Couturier (Grand Rapids) won the balance beam with a 9.90 to mark the second time this season she has posted a 9.9 on the beam. Couturier also took second in the all-around (39.275), tied for second in the floor exercise (9.850) and tied for third on the bars (9.80).
SCOUTING THE FIELD: Florida won the Gatorade Conference Showcase last weekend with a score of 195.40. The Gators defeated Louisiana State, Iowa State and North Carolina State. George Washington improved to 15-3 on the year with a 194.90-193.700 win over Rhode Island on Sunday while Kentucky lost to Alabama, 196.125-193.925.
SCHOOL RECORD: Senior Nikki Liphardt posted a 9.90 on the bars against Ball State to tie a Chippewa record. She tied Selina Nickason who recorded a 9.90 in 1997. Liphardt won the bars (9.90), floor exericse (9.925) and all-around (39.400) versus the Cardinals.
TEAM RECORD: The Chippewas' team score of 195.550 against Ball State set a new school record and marked the third time in school history that CMU has scored 195.00 or better. Central scored a 195.425 at the MAC Championships (3/27/99) and 195.000 against Bowling Green (2/27/99).
VERRINDER ON VAULT: Freshman Tammy Verrinder won the vault for the second time this season with a 9.825. She also took second on the bars (9.825) and tied for second in the floor exercise (9.850).
UPCOMING: The Chippewas host Western Michigan on March 11 at 2 p.m.
