Central Michigan University Athletics
Gymnastics Aims For Fourth Straight MAC Title
3/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 19, 2001
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THE TEAM: The Central Michigan University gymnastics team (10-10 overall, 3-3 Mid-American Conference) heads to Kent State for the MAC championships set for Saturday, March 24, at 2 p.m. The Chippewas are looking to win their fourth consecutive league title.
THE COACH: Jerry Reighard enters his 17th year at the helm of the CMU gymnastics program. He has led the Chippewas to eight MAC championships and two appearances in the NCAA regionals. Reighard also helped Nicole Bills (1999) and Nikki Liphardt (2000) to a berth in the NCAA championships. He has compiled a 210-126-2 record and an 85-27 MAC slate.
LAST WEEK: The Chippewas wrapped up the regular season with a 193.500-188.450 win over Northern Illinois on Sunday afternoon at Rose Arena.
Central made a clean sweep by taking top honors in all individual events.
Tammy Verrinder (London, Ontario/So.) won a pair of events to lead the Chippewas. She won the vault with a 9.80 and the bars with a 9.825. Verrinder also took second in the floor exercise (9.90) and third in the all-around (38.600).
Laura Chow (Mississauga, Ontario/Sr.) won the balance beam with a 9.80 and took second on the bars with a career-high tying 9.775.
Michele Orloski (Clifton Park, N.Y./So.) finished first in the floor exercise with a 9.925. Orloski also took second on the vault with a 9.725.
Gina Black (Palatine, Ill./Sr.) rounded out the event winners with a first-place finish in the all-around (38.600). She also took third in the floor exercise (9.875) and tied for third on the balance beam (9.75).
Freshman Tiffani Berra (Bay City) had an impressive 9.800 in the floor exercise while Tara Cartier (East Granby, Conn./So.) had a 9.775 on the balance beam.
ON THE REBOUND: ?After opening the MAC season with an 0-3 mark, the Chippewas recovered to win their next three conference matchups. The winning streak started with a school-record score of 195.950 against Kent State and continued with victories over Bowling Green and Northern Illinois.
DOUBLE DOSE: Sophomore Tammy Verrinder won a pair of events to lead the Chippewas to their win over Northern Illinois. Verrinder won both the vault (9.80) and the bars (9.825).
NOTES: After posting an 1-8 mark in the first half of the season, Central only lost twice in the last half. The losses were to Ohio State at the Wolfpack Invite and Kentucky at the Kentucky Quad ... Tiffani Berra had a season-high 9.80 in the floor exercise versus NIU ... Sarah Dame (Maple City/So.) tied her career-best in the floor exercise with a 9.85.
