Central Michigan University Athletics
Neel Named MAC Specialist of the Week
3/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
MOUNT PLEASANT – Central Michigan University sophomore gymnast Jessica Neel has been named the Mid-American Conference Specialist of the Week winner for March 26, the conference announced today.
Neel set career highs on both vault and beam and matched her career high on floor exercise in CMU’s 195.600-193.075 win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday. She scored 9.775 on vault, which tied for first place on that event, and hit for a 9.850 on balance beam to finish third individually. Finally, as a last-minute addition to the lineup on floor, she matched her career high with a 9.750 as the Chippewas posted their second-highest score of the season, which was also the second-best team total of any MAC team in 2007.
The Fairborn, Ohio native was given a conference honor for the first time in her career. She becomes the fifth Chippewa gymnast to earn a MAC award this season, joining Katie Simon (Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 19, Feb. 26 and March 5), Sheena Smith (Specialist of the Week on Jan. 22 and Feb. 26), Laura Rogers (Gymnast of the Week on Jan. 22) and Jules Passy (Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 12).
CMU’s win on Saturday clinched the top seed for this weekend’s MAC Championships. The Chippewas will have the first choice of competition order for the conference meet that will be held at Eastern Michigan’s Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich., this Saturday, March 31, beginning at 2 p.m.
Neel set career highs on both vault and beam and matched her career high on floor exercise in CMU’s 195.600-193.075 win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday. She scored 9.775 on vault, which tied for first place on that event, and hit for a 9.850 on balance beam to finish third individually. Finally, as a last-minute addition to the lineup on floor, she matched her career high with a 9.750 as the Chippewas posted their second-highest score of the season, which was also the second-best team total of any MAC team in 2007.
The Fairborn, Ohio native was given a conference honor for the first time in her career. She becomes the fifth Chippewa gymnast to earn a MAC award this season, joining Katie Simon (Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 19, Feb. 26 and March 5), Sheena Smith (Specialist of the Week on Jan. 22 and Feb. 26), Laura Rogers (Gymnast of the Week on Jan. 22) and Jules Passy (Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 12).
CMU’s win on Saturday clinched the top seed for this weekend’s MAC Championships. The Chippewas will have the first choice of competition order for the conference meet that will be held at Eastern Michigan’s Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich., this Saturday, March 31, beginning at 2 p.m.
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