Central Michigan University
State of Michigan Classic
Gymnastics Nabs Third In State of Michigan Classic
2/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Feb. 4, 2006
MOUNT PLEASANT - Thanks to a brilliant performance on its final event, the floor exercise, the Central Michigan University gymnastics team finished third in the prestigious State of Michigan Classic here Friday night. CMU's score of 192.425 placed the Chippewas behind Michigan (first - 196.375) and Michigan State (second - 193.525) but ahead of Mid-American Conference rivals Western Michigan (fourth - 192.300) and Eastern Michigan (fifth - 191.800) in the annual event featuring the five NCAA Division-I gymnastics programs in the state of Michigan. With its 2-2 record at the meet, CMU is now 3-4 overall on the season and 1-1 in the MAC.
"Our team did a tremendous job tonight with its back against the wall," CMU head coach Jerry Reighard said. "There is just a fire inside of this group that refuses to be put out, no matter the circumstances. We're pleased that we were able to come away from the meet defeating our two MAC rivals."
The Chippewas sat in last place after four of the meet's five rotations, trailing its nearest competitor, Eastern Michigan, by more than three-tenths of a point and sitting more than a point-and-a-half behind Western Michigan. The Chippewas, though, shined on the floor, totaling an impressive 49.125 on the event to catapult ahead of both EMU and WMU in the overall standings. CMU finished second only to Michigan's remarkable total of 49.500, tops in the country on the floor this year. All five of CMU's counted scores were 9.800 or higher, and its team total was the seventh-highest mark in the country in 2006. Seniors Mattie Crawford and Stephanie Langley tied for the team lead on the event with a 9.850.
"In recent years, we've really established a reputation on the floor at CMU," Reighard said. "It seems that the judges remarks often speak of engaging and crisp routines on the floor. What we did on that event tonight should be a great confidence group for our team."
After sitting out the first rotation, CMU opened with a solid performance on the vault, tallying a team total of 48.275, exactly its season average through two meets. Crawford and Langley led the way here as well, posting a 9.750 and 9.725 respectively.
However, the Chippewas slipped and stumbled on both the uneven bars and balance beam, posting the lowest team totals on both events. By the time they got off the beam, the Chippewas were in last place overall.
"Both the bars and the beam are tough events," Reighard said. "The misses we had tonight were on very difficult skills, releases and dismounts that are the highest-rated maneuvers. It was a calculated risk we took, but we felt that the reward was worth it. In this sport, it's a matter of millimeters even more than inches. Don't count us out on those things. We're working extremely hard in practice, and we've got a room full of determined athletes."
A Chippewa did post an individual win in an event, with Langley tying for first on the balance beam with Michigan State's Kristen Coleman at 9.775. Langley also tied for fifth on the floor exercise, along with Crawford, while Crawford was the top finisher on the vault in seventh.
Junior Whitney Burton and freshman Jessica Neel both had solid all-around performances. Neel totaled 38.550 on all four events with Burton close behind at 38.350.
"Whitney and Jessica were really fun to watch in this meet," Reighard said. "Whitney may be a junior, but this is her first year of competition with us due to injuries. She's got a twinkle in her eye right now, and that's confidence growing as she continues to step up big for us. Jessica is someone to keep an eye on, because she's going to leave her mark at CMU. In her first meet at Bowling Green, she was scared to death. Now, just two weeks later, she's out there enjoying every moment. It's a joy to watch as a coach."
CMU is back in action next weekend with a conference dual meet at Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 11. The meet begins at 4 p.m. in Ypsilanti.
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