Central Michigan University Athletics
Season Outlook: Gymnastics Aims for Continued Improvement
1/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
MOUNT PLEASANT — The Central Michigan gymnastics programs enters the 2010 season hoping to take that last step from so close to Mid-American Conference champions.
CMU is coming off a rebound 2009 season that saw the Chippewas go 19-7 overall and 10-2 in the MAC. The Maroon and Gold competed valiantly at the MAC Championships, scoring 194.375 points; only .125 behind MAC champion Kent State.
“Last season was bittersweet,” head coach Jerry Reighard said. “We had a lot of growth last season. The losses in dual meets were by slim margins, We lost to Missouri by half a tenth and it was one of those margins again at the MAC Championship. It was a slim margin, but something I feel we should have controlled better as a team.”
Central boasts a roster full of accomplished gymnasts in all classes. The Chippewas return six letterwinners, including three seniors, who will be counted on for leadership both in and out of the gym.
“It’s been a fun preseason,” Reighard said. “Having more athletes without a question adds to the business of the gym. The ability to coach more athletes for different skills I see as a fun challenge. We have more depth than I have had in a long time. It isn’t the same kind of depth, but it pushes each gymnast in different areas. That has been a healthy addition to our team and I think it’s going to pay off.”
Seniors
The Maroon and Gold will depend on their two seniors for consistent performances and leadership this winter, and the class is up to the task.
Headlining this group is Katie Simon. In 2009, Simon became the first gymnast in MAC history to win four events at the MAC Championships. The Bristol, Wis., native took home outright titles in the vault and all-around while sharing the crown on bars and the floor exercise.
“I’ve always said you win with seniors on the floor,” Reighard said. “Whenever we’ve had a strong senior class we have done really well. Katie has been a great competitor for CMU. She came into her own last year in particular due to all her hard work. She has been given the title hardest worker by the team a couple times in her career. We know she is going to be there.”
Joining Simon is senior Jessica Suder. Suder has been one of the Chippewas’ top performers, particularly on beam, throughout her career. After battling injuries in 2008, Suder ranked fourth in the conference and 17th in the region on the balance beam last year.
“Suder is excellent on the balance beam and been on the floor for years,” Reighard said. “That is going to be a point for us to have her. If you don’t have them you have to train a freshman. There’s a gap between someone who has scored 9.7s and 9.8s to someone who hasn’t yet. The senior class is really important.”
Juniors
The junior class features a pair of gymnasts who have accomplished a great deal at CMU, bringing forth even higher expectations for the group this winter.
Andrea de la Garza followed her 2008 MAC Freshman of the Year campaign with a second season of solid performances. The 2008 MAC all-around champion scored 9.8 or better seven times and had 25 scores of 9.7 or better. She finished the year ranked ninth in the conference in the vault and 15th on the floor.
“Our junior class is very strong, led by Andrea,” Reighard said. “She has accomplished a great deal already as a former all-around champion and we expect big things from her again this year.”
Another steadying presence the Chippewas will depend on is Cheryl Conlin. After raising her scores in every event last season, Conlin will likely see time in the all-around for the first time collegiately in 2010.
“Cheryl kind of reminds me of Katie,” Reighard said. “Like Katie, she has worked very hard and is beginning to see it pay off.”
Sophomores
One key to the success of coach Reighard’s program has been the immediate contributions he has gotten from his top recruits, and the sophomore class figures to provide valuable points once again.
Returning to the mix is Kristin Teubner, the 2009 MAC Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-MAC selection after sharing the floor title with Simon at the MAC Championships. Teubner’s award marked the third consecutive year a Chippewa has been named the conference’s top newcomer (Simon in 2007 and de la Garza in 2008).
“Kristin is a great find for us,” Reighard said. “She is not the warrior on the outside, but she has it on the inside. She really lived up to our recruiting expectations last year. When you win an individual MAC title, that’s not an accident. The nice thing about Kristin is that she has a lot of pride, she wants to continue growing and does not want to be a flash in the pan.”
Another gymnast in this class is Samantha Ursch, who has battled injuries during her first two seasons with the Chippewas. A former level 10 national qualifier at the club level, Ursch is hoping to add valuable scores to the squad in a healthy 2010 compaign.
“This will be Samantha’s first collegiate campaign after fighting through injuries,” Reighard said. “We are hopeful that she will add some scores for us.”
Freshmen
If the previous three seasons are any indication, CMU can expect big contributions from its freshman class. Each class is highlighted by a former MAC Freshman of the Year and the Maroon and Gold roster features eight true freshmen and one redshirt freshman.
“I put the carrot out in front of our freshmen in September,” Reighard said. “I asked them who is going to be freshman of the year? I think we have several possibilities on this team.”
Returning to the mix after redshirting is Samantha Piotrowski. The Naperville, Ill., native was a two-time regional and sectional champion at the club level.
“Our past freshmen of the year have been tough and have not let anything stand in their way,” Reighard said. “Our freshmen learn a lot from our upper classmen. If we get another freshman of the year, that’s going to be a big reason why.”

Rounding out the freshman class are Bailey Brumbach, Kristi Conroy, Karina Cutiva, Kari Dieffenderfer, Emily LaFontaine, Meaghan McWhorter, Britney Taylor and Darrian Tissenbaum. The group includes seven level 10 gymnasts at the club level who have combined for 19 national appearances.
Schedule
The Chippewas begin their 2010 campaign with a dual meet at Illinois State on Jan. 10. CMU opens up its home slate at Rose Arena five days later (Jan. 15) against Utah State.
From there, Central heads out to Denver, Colo., for a tri-meet against NCAA participants Denver and Brigham Young on Jan. 22.
“I made a conscious effort of scheduling tough teams out of conference,” Reighard said. “Three of our four out of conference opponents have been in major championships. We need to see ourselves in the same light as those teams see themselves. Denver is going to be a very competitive meet, they have a great team and very few teams go there and win. BYU is always a very good program as well. We see Arizona State, who has a lot of pride. Year in and year out they produce excellent teams. Those are going to be great challenges for us and it will hone us for the MAC season.”


The squad starts its Mid-American Conference schedule on Jan. 30 when it faces Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti, Mich.


CMU heads to Kalamazoo, Mich., the following weekend for the State of Michigan Classic on Feb. 7. The tournament will feature two more NCAA squads in Michigan and Michigan State.
Following that tournament, the Chippewas wrap up their regular season with six dual meets. Central hosts defending MAC champion Kent State (Feb. 13), Western Michigan (Feb. 21) and Ball State (March 13) while traveling to Northern Illinois (Feb. 28), NCAA participant Arizona State (March 5) and Bowling Green (March 21).


The 2010 MAC Championships will be hosted by Bowling Green on March 27 and the NCAA Regional Championships will be held on April 10.
