Friday, February 11
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
7 p.m.
Central Michigan University
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Western Michigan & MSU Tri-meet
Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22
Phenomenal Night For Gymnasts
2/11/2022 10:03:00 PM | Gymnastics
196.475 is CMU's best score in four seasons; DeMarinis caps it with 9.950 on floor
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – It may be tough to top the performances and numbers the Central Michigan gymnastics team posted on Friday.
But it sure will be fun trying.
The Chippewas set season highs in all four events in finishing with 196.475 points, their best score since the 2018 Mid-American Conference Championships, when they finished at 197.025. That covers a stretch of 39 meets.
"I think this just shows our potential," said CMU senior Sierra DeMarinis, who capped the evening with a career-high-tying 9.950 to claim first place on the floor exercise. "We still have room to grow and we still have improvements to make.
"This team works harder and complains less than any other team I've ever been a part of. Last weekend we set some goals and we wrote down what we were going to do to get a 196 and that showed up today.
"We work so well together. There's always good energy in the gym. It's never a negative. It was just so exciting to see it come to life today at the meet."
Michigan State, which is ranked 15th, edged the 49th-ranked Chippewas for first place in the tri-meet. The Spartans finished with 196.500. MAC foe Western Michigan, which is ranked 23rd, was third with 195.400.
The Chippewas improved to 2-1 in MAC meets and handed the Broncos (3-1 league) their first conference loss. That leaves Kent State (3-0 league) the only unbeaten team in the MAC. CMU plays host to the Golden Flashes in a dual in two weeks.
CMU's 196.475 is the highest score posted this season by a MAC team.
"Western is having a great season and they are a very consistent team and they were again today," CMU coach Christine MacDonald said. "It was very important for us to have that head-to-head win.
"I think the MAC Championships is going to be a great event for both teams."
The Chippewas, who were competing at home for the first time in more than a month, won vault (49.025), uneven parallel bars (49.100) and floor (49.300) with season-best scores. They were second behind the Spartans on balance beam with a 49.050, also a season best.
CMU's Katie Kowalski won the vault with a career-high tying 9.900 and freshman Lia Kmieciak made the most of her first opportunity to compete in a Chippewa uniform, leading off on bars and posting a 9.850 score, good for second place.
"She just did a standout job and I think it put a different tone in our bars lineup and that's something that we're going to continue," MacDonald said. "We have some routines that we haven't yet put in the lineup."
CMU's Audriana Hammond, Audriana Bustelo and Hannah DeMers tied for fourth on bars.
DeMers was also fourth on vault, tied for fourth with teammate Quinn Skrupa on beam, and tied for fourth on floor as she won all around with 39.400, which tied her season high.
It was a remarkable and memorable night at every turn for the Chippewas as the meet unfolded in front of a boisterous Friday-night crowd that no doubt was bolstered by the fact that the two opponents were in-state rivals.
And the Chippewas delivered big numbers that should serve as an internal confidence boost but also sends a message to the rest of the MAC.
"It just comes from the hard work and the continued discipline in the gym," MacDonald said. "Every weekend we go back, we're motivated, we take what we learned from that previous week and we set out new goals for the week.
"It's not about being perfect, it's about being excellent and doing excellent gymnastics. I think that takes off the focus on being perfect and lets them do their best gymnastics."
But it sure will be fun trying.
The Chippewas set season highs in all four events in finishing with 196.475 points, their best score since the 2018 Mid-American Conference Championships, when they finished at 197.025. That covers a stretch of 39 meets.
"I think this just shows our potential," said CMU senior Sierra DeMarinis, who capped the evening with a career-high-tying 9.950 to claim first place on the floor exercise. "We still have room to grow and we still have improvements to make.
"This team works harder and complains less than any other team I've ever been a part of. Last weekend we set some goals and we wrote down what we were going to do to get a 196 and that showed up today.
"We work so well together. There's always good energy in the gym. It's never a negative. It was just so exciting to see it come to life today at the meet."
Michigan State, which is ranked 15th, edged the 49th-ranked Chippewas for first place in the tri-meet. The Spartans finished with 196.500. MAC foe Western Michigan, which is ranked 23rd, was third with 195.400.
The Chippewas improved to 2-1 in MAC meets and handed the Broncos (3-1 league) their first conference loss. That leaves Kent State (3-0 league) the only unbeaten team in the MAC. CMU plays host to the Golden Flashes in a dual in two weeks.
CMU's 196.475 is the highest score posted this season by a MAC team.
"Western is having a great season and they are a very consistent team and they were again today," CMU coach Christine MacDonald said. "It was very important for us to have that head-to-head win.
"I think the MAC Championships is going to be a great event for both teams."
The Chippewas, who were competing at home for the first time in more than a month, won vault (49.025), uneven parallel bars (49.100) and floor (49.300) with season-best scores. They were second behind the Spartans on balance beam with a 49.050, also a season best.
CMU's Katie Kowalski won the vault with a career-high tying 9.900 and freshman Lia Kmieciak made the most of her first opportunity to compete in a Chippewa uniform, leading off on bars and posting a 9.850 score, good for second place.
"She just did a standout job and I think it put a different tone in our bars lineup and that's something that we're going to continue," MacDonald said. "We have some routines that we haven't yet put in the lineup."
CMU's Audriana Hammond, Audriana Bustelo and Hannah DeMers tied for fourth on bars.
DeMers was also fourth on vault, tied for fourth with teammate Quinn Skrupa on beam, and tied for fourth on floor as she won all around with 39.400, which tied her season high.
It was a remarkable and memorable night at every turn for the Chippewas as the meet unfolded in front of a boisterous Friday-night crowd that no doubt was bolstered by the fact that the two opponents were in-state rivals.
And the Chippewas delivered big numbers that should serve as an internal confidence boost but also sends a message to the rest of the MAC.
"It just comes from the hard work and the continued discipline in the gym," MacDonald said. "Every weekend we go back, we're motivated, we take what we learned from that previous week and we set out new goals for the week.
"It's not about being perfect, it's about being excellent and doing excellent gymnastics. I think that takes off the focus on being perfect and lets them do their best gymnastics."
Players Mentioned
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MAC Championships Cinematic Melt
Monday, March 24
Lia Kmieciak Post Championship Interview
Saturday, March 22
Coach MacDonald Post Championship Interview
Saturday, March 22
Hannah Appleget Post Championship Interview
Saturday, March 22