Central Michigan University Athletics
Gymnastics Takes First Road Trip To Cardinal Classic
1/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 20, 2003
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THE MATCHUP: The Central Michigan University gymnastics team (2-0 overall, 0-0 Mid-American) travels to Muncie, Indiana for its first road meet of the season. The Chippewas will compete in the Cardinal Classic at the home site of the defending MAC champion, Ball State (2-4, 2-1 MAC), on Friday, January 24. The meet is set for 7 p.m.
Other teams competing in the Cardinal Classic are Northern Illinois (1-3, 0-1 MAC), Southeast Missouri (1-1), Winona State (1-1), Wisconsin-Oshkosh (1-2), and Wisconsin-Stout (0-3).
"We'll be faced with a rough environment competing at Ball State," said head coach Jerry Reighard. "BSU is the defending MAC champion and this will be a tough meet for us. I think that we have the personnel to improve our team score and come out with a win.
"We'll be working on more mental training this week than physical training."
Ball State and Northern Illinois competed at the Illinois Quadrangular meet last weekend. BSU (191.575) came in third behind Illinois (194.925) and Auburn (193.975). The Cardinals beat NIU (189.600).
UW-Oshkosh was defeated by Gustavus Adolphus College, 176.600-172.700. The Titans took first on the vault with a score of 8.85. Brianna Lentz added three second-place finishes for the Titans (all-around-35.65, vault-8.7, and bars-9.1).
UW-Stout swept the all-around against UW-LaCrosse last weekend. The Stout Blue Devils won the meet, 177.350-174.200.
The last time Winona State competed was January 12 against Northern Illinois. NIU captured each individual event to defeat the Warriors, 191.675-182.950. WSU's Nikki Terbilcox finished fourth in the all-around with a 36.425.
Southeast Missouri nearly took out Illinois State last Sunday. The Otahkians won the vault, bars, and floor, but ISU nailed its beam routine to take the meet, 192.850-192.575.
ON THE ROAD: The Chippewas are faced with their first road meet of the 2003 season. In 2002, CMU was 15-13 in road meets.
"Going on the road gives you a different mind set," said Reighard. "It could be easier for us than a home meet because at home the athletes feel more pressure in front of friends and family."
RANKINGS: The Chippewas are ranked 14th nationally on the floor exercise with a team-high score of 49.225 (average 48.875) and are tied for 15th on bars with Kent State with a team-high 48.975 (average 48.525).
Last week, CMU was tied for 20th. The Chippewas slipped out of the top-25 rankings this week.
HOME ADVANTAGE: In their last seven home meets, the Chippewas are 7-0. The last time CMU lost at home was against Eastern Michigan on Febuary 11, 2001.
LAST WEEKEND: CMU upset No. 17 West Virginia (3-1) in a home meet on Sunday afternoon. The meet score was 193.725-192.275.
"It was a big win for us and one more goal we can check off," said Reighard. "We had some second-meet problems, though. Good teams find ways to win and both teams were capable. We just made less mistakes."
The Chippewas swept the all-around with sophomore Sara Burtinsky (Oshawa, Ont.) leading the way. Burtinsky posted a 39.025 in the all-around with a 9.6 on vault, season-high 9.8 on bars, season-high 9.9 on beam to tie for first place, and 9.725 on floor.
Bethany Couturier (Grand Rapids/Sr.) placed second with an all-around score of 39.000 and Kara Reighard (Mount Pleasant/So.) took third with a season-high 38.275.
Couturier recorded season highs of 9.875 on bars for first place and 9.90 on beam to tie for first. Reighard notched season highs of 9.750 on bars and 9.350 on beam.
CMU's bars routine made the difference in the meet. The Chippewas scored a team season-high 48.975 to the Mountaineers 46.900.
Shani Andrews was the top all-arounder for WVU with a 38.250. She posted a 9.850 on vault, 8.950 on bars, 9.700 on beam, and 9.750 on floor.
WVU's vault unit took the top-three vault places. TeShawne Jackson won the vault with a 9.925. Andrews was second and Kari Williams placed third with a 9.825.
CMU's Stephanie Langley (Champlin, Minn./Fr.) placed fourth on vault with a 9.750.
Senior Michele Orloski (Clifton Park, N.Y.) took second on the floor with a 9.850 behind WVU's Dinorh Boyd (9.90).
THE COACH: Jerry Reighard is in his 19th year at the helm of the CMU gymnastics program. Assisted by Christine MacDonald and Debbie Milligan, the Chippewas have captured eight MAC championships and made three appearances in the NCAA regionals.
Reighard is one MAC victory away from his 100th conference win. He has compiled a 235-139-2 record and a 99-32 MAC slate.
UPCOMING: The Chippewas head to East Lansing for the Michigan Classic on Sunday, February 2. The meet is set to begin at 4:30 p.m., and includes Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Michigan, and Michigan State.
