Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
MAC Championships
MAC Champions!: Sixteen is Sweet
3/24/2018 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan gymnastics team joined the women's basketball team in reveling in a Sweet 16 moment on Saturday afternoon.
The Chippewas captured the program's 16th Mid-American Conference championship under head coach Jerry Reighard on their home floor of McGuirk Arena and did it in dominant style and in historic fashion, posting a winning score of 197.025, a team total that ranked third all-time.
"When I think of 16 championships, I can really only think of one at a time," said Reighard. "I am sure that every time that I have been the coach of the winning team that this is the sweetest because it's the most fresh. I have to say that this group was incredible."
"It feels good (to add another ring). It is a great thing to have happen but it's much more rewarding to be able to have those athletes wear that championship ring. It's not just something that goes in a drawer. There are a lot of memories that go along with those."
Northern Illinois placed a distant second (195.875) followed by Bowling Green (195.850), Eastern Michigan (195.275), Western Michigan (194.675), Kent State (194.375) and Ball State (194.225) in the team standings.
Individual titles were earned by Katy Clements in the balance beam (9.950), sophomore Sydney Williams in the vault (9.850) and junior Gianna Plaksa in the all-around (39.350). Williams shared the top spot with three other competitors.
Plaksa's all-around crown is CMU's first since 2012 (Brittany Petzold, 39.150). Her top finishes were in the uneven bars (2nd, 9.900) and balance beam (4th, 9.900).
Clements also placed second in the floor exercise with a score of 9.900, leading CMU in what was the final and title-clinching rotation.
"We said from the start that this was a special team and, today, you saw it," said Clements. "Not just a special team, but a special meet. Something that people are going to remember for a very long time. That was our goal, to leave a legacy here and what a legacy to leave behind in McGuirk Arena."
The driving force behind the team victory was CMU's record-tying performance on the balance beam. The Chippewas totaled a 49.475, which equaled the top mark set on Feb. 14, 2004 at Eastern Michigan. Clements led the way for CMU, scoring a 9.950, which not only was a personal best but also tied for second in the program record book. Sophomore Denelle Pedrick (9.900), Plaksa (9.900) and junior Skyler Memmel (9.850) also earned high scores, all of which were career bests.
CMU was also outstanding in what has been its top event all season - uneven bars. It scored a season high of 49.400, tying for third in the program record book. Bryttany Kaplan, Plaksa and Hayley Porter all received 9.900s to headline the Chippewas.
"It was a locker room situation. It was a crowd situation. It was a team situation. The belief that this group had from the time they began warm-ups was incredible. After warm-ups, I told them 'you no longer have a coach.' You don't need me to coach. You just need to believe in yourselves."
"The bars and beam scores do not surprise because we see that in every single practice. But to chain when it has to chain, that's what is special."
The postseason conference title is the Chippewas' first since 2014 and the third straight when serving as hosts, also winning in 2004 and 2011. The victory came in front of 1,382 fans, a large and very vocal portion of which was there to support host Central Michigan.
Players Mentioned
