Chippewas Down Western In MAC Opener

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Denelle Pedrick won the uneven parallel bars and the all-around on Sunday as the Central Michigan gymnastics team edged rival Western Michigan in the Chippewas' Mid-American Conference opener at the Broncos' University Arena.

CMU finished with a 193.675 team score to Western's 192.800. CMU is 7-1; Western Michigan is 1-3.

The Chippewas' Morgan Tong won the vault and Nora Fettinger captured the floor, both with 9.825 scores. Pedrick's winning score on bars was 9.800 and she posted an all-around 39.100 total, a season best.

"I saw the grittiness that we talk about on a daily basis on several occasions (during the meet)," CMU coach Jerry Reighard said. "That mental attitude of being gritty is really what it's all about. We look great in many places, and (the team) is really happy. Our seniors are stepping up and are assuring us those wins, so that was great to see."

HOW IT HAPPENED
Pedrick entered the meet ranked 71^st nationally in all-around, averaging 38.663. The 39.100 she posted against the Broncos is the best among MAC gymnasts this season. CMU's Gianna Plaksa has the second-highest at 39.050.

"Collegiate gymnastics isn't really filled with many athletes that can excel in all four events, and Denelle is certainly one of those and it was her day," Reighard said. "She kept herself in the right place."

The Chippewas' top team score of the day, a 48.625, came on both bars and on the floor exercise.

Fettinger led a strong showing on floor as CMU took four of the top five spots. Pedrick was third, Sierra Demarinis placed fourth and Tong was fifth. After her performance at Western, Fettinger is ranked No. 1 in the MAC on floor.

Plaksa placed second and CMU's Kennedy Rae Johnson was fourth on bars.

The Broncos' Rachael Underwood won the balance beam with a meet-high 9.875. The Chippewas took three of the next four places with Skyler Memmel coming in second, Pedrick placing fourth, and Tong finishing fifth.

BEATING WESTERN
No matter the sport, beating Western is an exciting accomplishment for a CMU team.

"You can talk about the Central vs Western rivalry, and (gymnastics) certainly has that," Reighard said. "We felt like we had a lot of pride coming in here, and we talked about Chippewa pride. But the most important thing is you can't win the MAC regular season if you don't beat your MAC opponents. That was our main goal and we're walking out of here and checking that off our list."

NEXT
The Chippewas will head to Normal, Ill. to take on Illinois State in a nonconference dual on Friday, Feb. 1 (7 p.m.). The Chippewas defeated the Redbirds, 195.275-190.050, at McGuirk Arena on Jan. 11. Illinois State is 2-3.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nora Fettinger

Skyler Memmel

Denelle Pedrick

Gianna Plaksa

Morgan Tong