Central Michigan University
MAC Championships
CMU Gymnasts Await Regional Invite After 3rd-Place MAC Finish
3/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Central Michigan entered Saturday's Mid-American Conference Gymnastics Championships coming off a 196.575, the best score by a MAC team this season, and one that fueled the Chippewas' confidence.
Unfortunately, the Chippewas could not duplicate that number, and fell short of their goal.
Central Michigan posted a 196.100 to finish in third place at Bowling Green's Stroh Center on Saturday.
Eastern Michigan earned its second consecutive MAC Championships with a season-best 196.500. Bowling Green took a close second with 196.400, the second highest in school history.
CMU will wait until Monday to see where it is headed for the April 1 NCAA Regionals.
"Getting ready for the next step I think we're certainly where we want to be," CMU coach Jerry Reighard said. "We have a few refinements; I think we're going to make some lineup changes. We've got some kids that are really hungry that didn't make the trip here. With two weeks (before regionals), I think we're going to be a little bit of a different team."
Two Chippewas, sophomore Kasey Janowicz and junior Macey Hilliker, were named to the all-tournament team.
Hilliker tied her career high and shared first place in the floor exercise with a 9.950. She posted that number two weeks ago in a dual meet with Rutgers.
Janowicz matched her career high 39.400 in placing second in the all-around, highlighted by her performance on vault, where she posted a CMU-best 9.850, tying for second place.
Rachel Stypiniski of Kent State finished at 39.500 to place first in the all-around. Stypinski named MAC Gymnast of the Year for the second consecutive year.
"Kasey Janowicz, if you remember back, she just did all-around for the first time three weeks ago, so I was really pleased," Reighard said. "Her head is in the right place, her heart is definitely where it needs to be. We're just looking forward to perfecting a little bit more.
"Second place, considering last year she wasn't even in the all-around - I'm really excited for Kasey. She had a couple other places that were very fitting, so it was really a great day for Kasey. (She) kind of led the team."
The Chippewas started off shaky on the parallel bars, posting a 48.675, their worst score in the event since early February.
"The first rotation didn't at all go our way and that definitely cost us a couple places I think," Reighard said.
CMU came back to record a 49.050 on beam with Caroline Fitzpatrick placing third at 9.900. Stypinski was first with a 9.950.
"(Caroline)'s balance beam was great." Reighard said. "Again, one of those routines that is very typical of what she does in practice, so I was really excited to see that happen in this particular meet."
CMU followed with a 49.400 on floor exercise, its second-best total of the season in the event, and it went into the final rotation (vault) needing a good store to edge past Eastern Michigan.
The Chippewas were solid, finishing at 48.975 to place second, but it wasn't enough to surge past EMU, which close on bars with a 49.300.
"All in all, I think this really helped us (prepare for) regionals," Reighard said. "We're definitely in the NCAA Regional and that gives us two more weeks to get better."
Jamyra Carter of Northern Illinois was named the Specialist of the Year, Jessie Peszek of Western Michigan was named the Senior Gymnast of the Year, Jovannah East of Bowling Green earned the Freshman of the Year Award, and Northern Illinois' Sam Morreale was named Coach of the Year.
Players Mentioned
