Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Gymnastics Downs Western, Remains Unbeaten
1/20/2018 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - With three straight wins to start the season, CMU coach Jerry Reighard said his gymnastics team is exactly where it needs to be.
A win over a rival doesn't hurt the confidence either.
The Chippewas posted a 195.600 to take a Mid-American Conference win over rival Western Michigan on Saturday at McGuirk Arena. The Broncos scored a 195.425. CMU is 2-0 in MAC duals.
"This sport is about perfection and that's what we're striving for," CMU senior Bryttany Kaplan said. "Even with three wins, it gives us confidence, but we know there's more."
In a sport where the tiniest of margins can taint the perfection, Reighard said he is looking towards the rest of the season with confidence and readiness.
"I don't want to sound arrogant, but it doesn't surprise me where we're at as far as the wins," said Reighard, whose team entered Saturday's meet ranked 14th nationally.
"This is a really good team. The last two meets we had to count some major deductions and you can't hang with the big dogs by doing that. But their performances never surprise me because I know we're going to stay on and land on our feet. Gymnastics is very hard, but our job is to make it really look easy."
Following a mediocre 48.225 on the floor last weekend against Eastern Michigan, the Chippewas entered the Saturday's meet ready to bounce back. They won the floor with a 49.050 against Western Michigan's 48.625. CMU's Katy Clements finished first with a 9.875 - tying her season-high. Clements also won the balance beam with a 9.925 score, which matched her career best.
"This week on floor we really worked on our landings and our focus, which obviously made a huge difference," said Chippewa Courtney Campbell.
Central Michigan won the bars with a season-best 49.150. The Chippewas' Kennedy Rae Johnson tying for the top spot in the event (9.900). The freshman came back strong from a 9.250 performance on the vault to begin the meet.
CMU's Denelle Pedrick won the vault with a 9.900, which tied her career best. Pedrick finished with an all-around score of 38.750. Morgan Spence posted a 39.025 for Western Michigan.
The Chippewas are scheduled to face Northern Illinois on the road on Jan. 28. The Huskies are 1-5, 0-1 MAC.
"We're exactly where we need to be and we don't need to change anything," Reighard said. "We just need to continue pressing the envelope open and that's what we'll do."
Players Mentioned
