MAC Championships on Tap For No. 18 Gymnastics
3/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – No. 18 Central Michigan gymnastics looks to make history this weekend at the Mid-American Conference Championships hosted by Eastern Michigan on Saturday, March 22, at 2 p.m.
The Chippewas are looking to become the first program to win five-consecutive MAC championships. Last season was the second time CMU won four in a row with the previous run going from 1990-93. The Chippewas are looking for their 15th team championship as their 14 is the most in conference history.
CMU will meet six other MAC teams at the EMU Convocation Center. Central Michigan will take on Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Kent State, Northern Illinois and Ball State. The Chippewas rotation goes bye, beam, floor, bye, vault, bye and bars.
Kent State is CMU’s main competition this weekend as the Golden Flashes captured the MAC regular season title this year. KSU defeated the Chippewas in Mount Pleasant during the regular season, defeating CMU by 0.025. Bowling Green finished third in conference standings at 4-2, followed by Northern Illinois (3-3), Eastern Michigan (2-4), Western Michigan (1-5), and Ball State (0-6).
Six of the Mid-American Conference teams rank in the top 50 nationally. Central Michigan ranks highest at No. 18, followed by Kent State (26), Bowling Green (42), Eastern Michigan (45), Western Michigan (46) and NIU (50). Ball State ranks just outside of the top 50 teams in the nation, coming in at No. 56.
Although the Chippewas fell to Kent State, Central Michigan gymnastics still holds the top spot on every event in the conference, both as a team and individually. CMU’s Taylor Noonan (beam), Kylie Fagan (bars), Kirsten Petzold (vault) and Halle Moraw (floor) are ranked first on their specific events in regional qualifying score amongst other MAC gymnasts.
Moraw is CMU’s lone returning MAC champion from last season, as she won the floor title with a career-best 9.950. She was also the only Chippewa to be named to the All-MAC team this week, earning first team honors.
The Chippewas are looking to become the first program to win five-consecutive MAC championships. Last season was the second time CMU won four in a row with the previous run going from 1990-93. The Chippewas are looking for their 15th team championship as their 14 is the most in conference history.
CMU will meet six other MAC teams at the EMU Convocation Center. Central Michigan will take on Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Kent State, Northern Illinois and Ball State. The Chippewas rotation goes bye, beam, floor, bye, vault, bye and bars.
Kent State is CMU’s main competition this weekend as the Golden Flashes captured the MAC regular season title this year. KSU defeated the Chippewas in Mount Pleasant during the regular season, defeating CMU by 0.025. Bowling Green finished third in conference standings at 4-2, followed by Northern Illinois (3-3), Eastern Michigan (2-4), Western Michigan (1-5), and Ball State (0-6).
Six of the Mid-American Conference teams rank in the top 50 nationally. Central Michigan ranks highest at No. 18, followed by Kent State (26), Bowling Green (42), Eastern Michigan (45), Western Michigan (46) and NIU (50). Ball State ranks just outside of the top 50 teams in the nation, coming in at No. 56.
Although the Chippewas fell to Kent State, Central Michigan gymnastics still holds the top spot on every event in the conference, both as a team and individually. CMU’s Taylor Noonan (beam), Kylie Fagan (bars), Kirsten Petzold (vault) and Halle Moraw (floor) are ranked first on their specific events in regional qualifying score amongst other MAC gymnasts.
Moraw is CMU’s lone returning MAC champion from last season, as she won the floor title with a career-best 9.950. She was also the only Chippewa to be named to the All-MAC team this week, earning first team honors.
MAC Championships Cinematic Melt
Monday, March 24
Lia Kmieciak Post Championship Interview
Saturday, March 22
Coach MacDonald Post Championship Interview
Saturday, March 22
Hannah Appleget Post Championship Interview
Saturday, March 22