Chippewas Sweep All 4 Events At Illinois State

Friday, February 1

Normal, Ill.

8 p.m.

Central Michigan University

194.200

191.725

Illinois State

Photo by: Allissa Rusco

2/1/2019 11:21:00 PM | Gymnastics

CMU improves to 8-1 with non conference victory

By: Nick Vuylsteke, CMUChippewas.com

NORMAL, Ill. -- The Central Michigan gymnastics team won all four events on Friday in posting a 194.200 team score in topping Illinois State in a nonconference dual meet at the Redbirds' Horton Field House.

Illinois State finished at 191.725. It marked CMU's second win over the Redbirds this season, and the Chippewas improved on their score from their last meet, a victory over Western Michigan. CMU improved to 8-1.

"I think the team showed a lot more grit," CMU coach Jerry Reighard said. "We got through the meet without having any major falls, which was one of our major goals coming off last weekend. So, I thought we did a good job of maintaining that composure and making sure we were doing the elements to get full credit. We're doing much better job of staying within ourselves."

LEADERS
Abbie Rose Zoeller won the floor exercise, Skyler Memmel tied for first on the balance beam, Gianna Plaksa captured the uneven parallel bars, and Denelle Pedrick won the vault and tied for first in the all-around to lead the Chippewas.

FLOOR
Zoeller's 9.850 on floor was CMU's highest score of the meet, regardless of event. CMU's Macey Hilliker was third, while Pedrick and teammate Nora Fettinger tied for fourth. Hilliker posted a solid 9.775 score.

"Rose Zoeller has struggled as of late and she did (on Friday) what we know she can do," Reighard said. "I thought she did a great job. Her floor routine was very well executed and was obviously the highlight of the meet, not just the event.

"Hiliker had a scary injury a year ago, and to see her to come back and perform, it's very heartwarming. To see what she's overcome and to see her back in the lineup, she's done a great job for us, and she'll get better and better as she competes. She's definitely a great asset for us now."

BEAM
Memmel posted a season-best 9.825 in winning the beam, and it was just shy of her career best (9.850). Plaska was third (9.725).

"Memmel's score really helped us push over the 194 mark," Reighard said. Had she been any less, we wouldn't have made it into the 194 mark."

BARS
Plaksa posted a 9.775 to win bars. Teammate Hayley Porter tied with Pedrick for second.

VAULT
Pedrick scored a 9.775 on vault, finishing ahead of teammate Sydney Williams (9.750). Pedrick tied with Gabrielle Cooke of Illinois State for the all-around at 38.950. It was Pedrick's second-highest all-around score this season.

NEXT
The Chippewas return to Mid-American Conference competition on Sunday, Feb. 10 (1 p.m.) at Kent State. The Golden Flashes are 4-4 after dropping their MAC opener on Friday, at Northern Illinois. The Huskies finished at 194.500, while Kent State posted a 192.075.