Central Michigan University Athletics
Gymnastics Host Western Michigan
3/6/2000 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 6, 2000
THE TEAM: The Central Michigan University gymnastics team (12-6 overall, 5-0 Mid-American Conference) hosts Western Michigan University (12-11 overall, 4-1 Mid-American Conference) on Saturday, March 11, 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 took second place in a quad meet at the University of Kentucky on Friday night. Florida won the meet with a score of 195.900 and was followed by CMU (195.600), George Washington (194.800) and host Kentucky (194.175).
The Chippewas were led by three event winners. Sophomore Bethany Couturier (Grand Rapids) took top honors in the all-around with a 39.275 and tied for first on the balance beam with a 9.875. She also had CMU's top score on the bars with a 9.850 that was good for fifth place.
Freshman Tammy Verrinder (London, Ontario) tied for first on the beam with a season-best 9.875 and tied for first on the vault with a 9.875.
Senior Nicole Liphardt (Ajax, Ontario) took fourth on the floor with a 9.825 and fourth in the all-around with a 39.150 while freshman Alexis Summers (Spearfish, SD) posted a season-high 9.80 on the bars.
SCOUTING WMU: The Broncos won a quad meet at Temple University on Sunday. Western won with a 194.125 and was followed by Rhode Island (191.400), Temple (186.125) and West Chester (184.325). WMU beat the Chippewas earlier in the year at the Michigan Classic by a 192.375-191.650 count.
TEAM RECORD AGAIN: For a second week in a row the Chippewas set a new team score record. CMU's 195.600 marked the fourth time in school history that CMU has scored 195.00 or better. Central scored a 195.550 last week against Ball State, 195.425 at the MAC Championships (3/27/99) and 195.000 against Bowling Green (2/27/99).
COUTURIER TOPS: Sophomore Bethany Couturier won the all-around with a 39.275 and tied for first on the beam at Kentucky with a season-best 9.875.
SEASON BESTS: Freshman Tammy Verrinder posted a season-best 9.875 on the beam at Kentucky while freshman Alexis Summers had a season-high 9.8 on the bars and junior Andrea Price (Woodhaven) had a season-best 9.80 on the beam.
UPCOMING: The Chippewas travel to the MAC Championships on March 18 at Eastern Michigan University. Competition begins at 2 p.m.
