Saturday, March 19
Ypsilanti, Mich.
2 p.m.
Central Michigan University
at
MAC Championships
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Championship Saturday Looms For Gymnasts
3/18/2022 8:42:00 AM | Gymnastics
Fresh off regular season co-championship, CMU eyes title sweep
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan gymnastics coach Christine MacDonald calls it a wide-open race.
That said, the last 2 ½ months leave a clear indication that MacDonald's Chippewas ought to be considered among the premier contenders on Saturday (2 p.m.) at the Mid-American Conference Gymnastics Championships at Eastern Michigan's Gervin GameAbove Center.
"We feel really good going into this week," said MacDonald, whose team defeated Ball State on Sunday to capture its first MAC regular season championship since 2019. "It's been a season-long preparation not only through competition, but also through practice.
"That preparation has led to our success over the second half of the season and we are definitely hitting our stride."
The Chippewas, who are seeking their first MAC Championships title since 2018, have the third best national qualifying behind Western Michigan and Kent State. The Chippewas are ranked No. 1 in the conference on the vault, No. 2 on floor exercise, and No. 3 on both uneven parallel bars and balance beam.
CMU is led by junior Hannah DeMers, who has the best all around NQS in the league. She is second on beam, third on both bars and vault, and sixth on floor exercise. CMU's Sierra DeMarinis is ranked No. 1 on floor exercise, while teammate Katie Kowalski is second on vault.
The Chippewas improved steadily throughout the season, starting with a 193.425 team score in their opening meet; they cracked the 196 barrier with a sensational 196.475 in their sixth meet of the season and then posted a 196.650 in defeating co-regular season champion Kent State at McGuirk Arena on Feb. 27.
That score was the best for a CMU team since the 2018 squad posted a 197.025 in winning at the MAC Championships.
And while that is all very encouraging, it comes down to performing on one single day, when it most matters, MacDonald said.
"It's very exciting, it's very loud; there are a lot of expectations," she said. "You build up to that day and getting there is half the battle.
"You cannot replicate the noise level that you get at a championship. That makes it a little bit different, but also more exciting.
"I think this year's championship is the most competitive field that we've ever had. I feel like every team there has the opportunity. If it's their day it could go anybody's way. You have seven highly competitive teams vying for one title."
That said, the last 2 ½ months leave a clear indication that MacDonald's Chippewas ought to be considered among the premier contenders on Saturday (2 p.m.) at the Mid-American Conference Gymnastics Championships at Eastern Michigan's Gervin GameAbove Center.
"We feel really good going into this week," said MacDonald, whose team defeated Ball State on Sunday to capture its first MAC regular season championship since 2019. "It's been a season-long preparation not only through competition, but also through practice.
"That preparation has led to our success over the second half of the season and we are definitely hitting our stride."
The Chippewas, who are seeking their first MAC Championships title since 2018, have the third best national qualifying behind Western Michigan and Kent State. The Chippewas are ranked No. 1 in the conference on the vault, No. 2 on floor exercise, and No. 3 on both uneven parallel bars and balance beam.
CMU is led by junior Hannah DeMers, who has the best all around NQS in the league. She is second on beam, third on both bars and vault, and sixth on floor exercise. CMU's Sierra DeMarinis is ranked No. 1 on floor exercise, while teammate Katie Kowalski is second on vault.
The Chippewas improved steadily throughout the season, starting with a 193.425 team score in their opening meet; they cracked the 196 barrier with a sensational 196.475 in their sixth meet of the season and then posted a 196.650 in defeating co-regular season champion Kent State at McGuirk Arena on Feb. 27.
That score was the best for a CMU team since the 2018 squad posted a 197.025 in winning at the MAC Championships.
And while that is all very encouraging, it comes down to performing on one single day, when it most matters, MacDonald said.
"It's very exciting, it's very loud; there are a lot of expectations," she said. "You build up to that day and getting there is half the battle.
"You cannot replicate the noise level that you get at a championship. That makes it a little bit different, but also more exciting.
"I think this year's championship is the most competitive field that we've ever had. I feel like every team there has the opportunity. If it's their day it could go anybody's way. You have seven highly competitive teams vying for one title."
Players Mentioned
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