Chippewa Gymnasts Eye Outright Crown On Senior Night

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan gymnastics team will entertain Northern Illinois in a Mid-American Conference dual on Friday, March 15 (7 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena.

AT STAKE
Central Michigan comes into the meet 12-2, 5-0 record, already claiming a share of the MAC regular-season championship. A win gives CMU its second consecutive outright title. CMU last won back-to-back crowns in 2011 and '12.

"To win (the outright title) is always something you strive for every year," CMU associate head coach Christine MacDonald said. "You want to win your conference; that's your first focus."

Northern Illinois is 12-6, 4-1. If the Huskies win, they share the crown with the Chippewas.

WHERE THEY STAND
CMU ranks No. 32 in the nation, averaging 195.430 per meet. The top 36 teams earn NCAA Regional bids. The Chippewas also rank No. 32 on beam, No. 34 in floor, No. 40 in bars, and No. 45 in vault.

CMU junior Denelle Pedrick is No. 44 in the nation all-around, averaging 39.115. She posted a career-best 39.450 score last week in a dual at Kentucky. That performance led to her winning the MAC Gymnast of the Week Award for the fifth time this year.

CMU senior Skyler Memmel was named MAC Specialist of the Week after posting a career-best 9.900 on the balance beam at Kentucky. That score is tied for second-highest this season among MAC Gymnasts.

Northern Illinois is ranked No. 42 in the nation, averaging 194.880 per meet. The Huskies rank No. 18 on floor, No. 41 on bars, No. 43 on beam, and No. 50 in vault.

SENIOR NIGHT
Friday's meet is also Senior Night for the Chippewas. The seniors celebrating their last home meet are Macey Hilliker, Memmel, Kailey Miller, Gianna Plaksa, and Abbie Zoeller.

If CMU wins the outright MAC title on Friday, it will be the icing on the cake on what is already a special year for the seniors.

"It's one thing to share the title, but to completely have it be our own, nothing beats that," Memmel said. "It's definitely important to me. With my family being in the stands, and it's the last time I'm in McGuirk, I really want to go out with a bang."

"It would be a great way to go out," Plaksa said. "That would be the icing on the cake for my senior year here. It's almost like everything is leading up to this last showing in McGuirk, so I just want to leave it all out on the floor, perform my routines to my best, and just enjoy the moment and have fun doing it."

Said MacDonald: "For the seniors, you just want them to have an outstanding day. We're just really excited to be back in front of our fans and to be able to let (our athletes) have their moment in the limelight."

NEXT
The Chippewas will travel to Dekalb, Ill. to compete in the MAC Championships on Saturday, March 23 (2 p.m.). CMU is the defending champion.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Macey Hilliker

Skyler Memmel

Kailey Miller

Denelle Pedrick

Gianna Plaksa

Abbie Zoeller

Central Michigan University Athletics