Central Michigan University Athletics
Gymnastics Outlasts Illinois State in Season Opener
1/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
NORMAL, Ill. — Senior Katie Simon’s solid debut helped pace the Central Michigan gymnastics team to a season-opening 191.650-191.475 victory at Illinois State on Sunday.
Simon won four events to help the Chippewas, who featured six gymnasts making their collegiate debuts, win their season opener for the second straight year.
“Katie showed a lot of resolve tonight,” head coach Jerry Reighard said. “She struggled a little bit with the bars on the first rotation, but she had this look on her face that she was regrouping. She really started to grow towards the end of last season and it is carrying over to her senior year.”
Illinois State jumped to an early lead in the first rotation. The Redbirds scored 47.850 on the vault while the Chippewas finished the uneven bars at 47.625. Kristin Teubner led CMU with a 9.700.
“Kristin got us off to a nice start in the bars,” Reighard said. “We hung around for the next few routines, but they weren’t really quality routines and we found ourselves behind after that rotation.”
CMU chipped into the ISU lead in the second rotation with a 47.950 in the vault while Illinois State tallied a 47.850 on bars. Simon won the vault with a 9.825 and freshman Britney Taylor took second with a 9.750.
The Chippewas stormed in front, 143.800-143.550 with a strong performance in the third rotation, scoring 48.225 on the floor exercise compared to the Redbirds’ 47.850 mark on beam. Simon and Teubner shared the floor title with a 9.750.
“We were able to shift the momentum after halftime and re-evaluate what went on,” Reighard said. “We had some 9.7s on the floor to get back into it, but inexperience caused us to miss some opportunities. The floor is such a finesse, showmanship event and it was evident that we had a lot of newcomers competing.”
Illinois State climbed closer in the fourth rotation with a 47.925 on the floor exercise, but Central stayed in front with a 47.850 on beam. Simon scored a 9.700 to finish in a first-place tie.
“We competed four freshmen on the beam,” Reighard said. “I tip my hat to them, they didn’t have super high scores, but they stayed on and really came through for us to keep us in front.”
Simon also won the all-around with a score of 38.575.
The Chippewas return to action on Friday when they host Utah State.
Simon won four events to help the Chippewas, who featured six gymnasts making their collegiate debuts, win their season opener for the second straight year.
“Katie showed a lot of resolve tonight,” head coach Jerry Reighard said. “She struggled a little bit with the bars on the first rotation, but she had this look on her face that she was regrouping. She really started to grow towards the end of last season and it is carrying over to her senior year.”
Illinois State jumped to an early lead in the first rotation. The Redbirds scored 47.850 on the vault while the Chippewas finished the uneven bars at 47.625. Kristin Teubner led CMU with a 9.700.
“Kristin got us off to a nice start in the bars,” Reighard said. “We hung around for the next few routines, but they weren’t really quality routines and we found ourselves behind after that rotation.”
CMU chipped into the ISU lead in the second rotation with a 47.950 in the vault while Illinois State tallied a 47.850 on bars. Simon won the vault with a 9.825 and freshman Britney Taylor took second with a 9.750.
The Chippewas stormed in front, 143.800-143.550 with a strong performance in the third rotation, scoring 48.225 on the floor exercise compared to the Redbirds’ 47.850 mark on beam. Simon and Teubner shared the floor title with a 9.750.
“We were able to shift the momentum after halftime and re-evaluate what went on,” Reighard said. “We had some 9.7s on the floor to get back into it, but inexperience caused us to miss some opportunities. The floor is such a finesse, showmanship event and it was evident that we had a lot of newcomers competing.”
Illinois State climbed closer in the fourth rotation with a 47.925 on the floor exercise, but Central stayed in front with a 47.850 on beam. Simon scored a 9.700 to finish in a first-place tie.
“We competed four freshmen on the beam,” Reighard said. “I tip my hat to them, they didn’t have super high scores, but they stayed on and really came through for us to keep us in front.”
Simon also won the all-around with a score of 38.575.
The Chippewas return to action on Friday when they host Utah State.
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