Central Michigan University Athletics
Gymnastics Looks To Go Undefeated In MAC Play
3/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 11, 2003
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THE MATCHUP: The Central Michigan University gymnastics team (19-5 overall, 4-0 Mid-American) looks to finish a strong 2003 season with a pair of home meets.
CMU takes on the Bowling Green Falcons on Saturday, March 15. The meet is set for 2 p.m.
The Chippewas have not lost a home meet or a MAC meet this season. With two home meets remaining, CMU has the chance to post a 6-0 MAC record. The last time the Chippewas posted a perfect MAC record was the 2000 season. In 2000, CMU notched a 12-0 record and won the MAC tournament. The 2000 team was the second team to participated in the NCAA Regional competition.
The 1999 and 2002 teams also competed at NCAA regionals.
This year, the team hopes to become the fourth team to make an NCAA regional appearance.
With a RQS (regional qualifying score) of 195.130, CMU ranks fifth in the Central region. The top five-to-six teams from each region qualify for the NCAA Regional competiton in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on April 12.
CMU's opponent this weekend, Bowling Green, is ninth in the Central region with a 193.060 RQS.
BGSU scored a season-high 194.275 against Pittsburgh and Wilson College earlier this season.
Last weekend, the Falcons participated in the All Ohio Championship. Bowling Green finished third (193.475) behind Ohio State (196.650) and Kent State (195.450).
Ann Marie Kassouf placed fourth in the all-around with a 38.900. She scored a 9.725 on the vault for the highest Bowling Green finish on the event.
Bowling Green's two MAC wins are against Western Michigan (192.850-192.375) and Ball State (193.800-188.675).
Senior Kathy Emerson owns the top two scores on the beam for the Falcons this season. She has two first-place finishes with 9.9 and 9.875 scores.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The Chippewas are ranked 25th nationally with a RQS of 195.130. CMU is ranked 14th on floor with a 49.210 RQS and 12th on bars with a 49.090 RQS.
MAC RANKINGS: The Maroon and Gold rank second in season-highs on vault (49.150), floor exercise (49.425), and team score (195.850). CMU ranks first on bars (49.400) and third on beam (49.000).
HOME STANCE: In their last seven home meets, the Chippewas are 7-0. The last time CMU lost at home was against Eastern Michigan on February 11, 2001.
LAST WEEKEND: CMU posted a 195.075 in a tri-meet with Utah State and Southern Utah, but finished third.
It was the fifth 195 or better mark that CMU has posted this season.
Utah State won the meet with a 195.850 and Southern Utah took second with a 195.375.
Despite the loss, several Chippewas posted season and career highs in the meet.
Sophomore Kara Reighard (Mount Pleasant) took first-place honors on the beam with a career-high 9.925. She tied for second place on the vault with a 9.850. Reighard finished tied for fifth in the all-around with a 39.200. She also scored a 9.650 on bars and a 9.775 on the floor exercise.
Sara Burtinsky (Oshawa, Ont./So.) notched a career high in the all-around with a 39.225. She took fourth in the all-around which was the highest CMU all-around score. Burtinsky tied for first on bars with a 9.850. She tied for third on the floor (9.825) and placed seventh on beam (9.825). Burtinsky scored a 9.725 on vault to tie her season high.
Freshman Mattie Crawford (Plymouth, Minn.) scored a season-high 9.800 on the vault which tied for fourth place.
Sophomore Shanna Duggan (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) tied for seventh on bars with a season-high 9.800.
Utah State secured the top three all-around spots. Meagan Nelson placed first (39.350), Nicole Kilpatrick took second (39.325), and Jessica Parenti took third (39.250).
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.
He has compiled a 251-142-2 record and a 103-32 MAC slate.
UPCOMING: The Chippewas host Eastern Michigan on Saturday, March 22 at 2 p.m.
