Saturday, March 19
Ypsilanti, Mich.
2 p.m.
Central Michigan University
at
MAC Championships
MAC CHAMPIONS!
3/19/2022 7:20:00 PM | Gymnastics
Gymnasts deliver in final rotation to capture Mid-American Conference Championships
YPSILANTI, Mich. – It was, quite simply, one of those days.
Extraordinary, dramatic, wonderful, thrilling, unforgettable.
Pick an adjective. They all fit.
The Central Michigan gymnastics team came from behind in the final rotation to post a 196.275 team total on Saturday to win the Mid-American Conference Championships at Eastern Michigan's George Gervin GameAbove Center.
"Amazing," CMU coach Christine MacDonald said. "It's just been an amazing day, an amazing year. We couldn't be more excited for the whole team."
CMU's Hannah DeMers earned the MAC Gymnast of the Year, Sierra DeMarinis was named the co-MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year, and MacDonald was named the MAC Coach of the Year as the Chippewas won their first MAC Championships title since 2018 and completed the sweep after they won the regular season co-championship by finishing 5-1 in league duals.
It marked CMU's first sweep of both titles since 2018.
"We worked so hard this year," said DeMers, who captured the all around title and tied for third on both vault and uneven parallel bars. "This is the most resilient, hard-working team I've ever been a part of. We all came in expecting nothing less, we all had high expectations and they delivered."
It is the first MAC Championships crown as a head coach for MacDonald, a former CMU gymnast and longtime assistant coach who took over the program in 2020.
"I would say first that it's coaches of the year," she said of the award in a nod to assistants Don Houlton and Katy Clements. "Our coaching staff, it's not one coach and it never has been; it's always about your coaching staff and our trainer (Juliana Perno) too. We're all a part of that and all the administration and everybody. They come with that award.
"It just resonates with the journey we've been on this year. We talk about re-setting and re-establishing our culture and having enjoyment in what we do and knowing that we're going to be there for each other, start to finish, no matter the outcome. Just so proud of each and every one of these gymnasts."
The Chippewas posted a 49.175 on bars to start the meet and then followed with a season-best 49.200 on balance beam. They recorded in a 48.825 – subpar by their standards – on floor exercise and went into the final rotation, vault, in second place, .350 behind Western Michigan.
CMU entered Saturday's meet ranked No. 1 on vault and the Chippewas delivered – big time – with a 49.075 to pull ahead of the Broncos. Northern Illinois finished second with 196.125 and Western (196.075) was third.
"We got together in the locker room and we talked about doing our job – do what we do every day," MacDonald said of the leadup to vault. "We always start off on vaulting at our home meets and we kind of looked at it as a fresh start. Vaulting has been a very comfortable event for us and that put us at ease. It's a great event for us to end on and be in that final rotation."
"Before the vault," DeMers said, "I was like, 'We've done our best today and no matter what happens, this is the best time I've ever had with my team.'
"The competition atmosphere was amazing. It was a healthy competition, and I was having a blast. The only thing I wanted to do was land my vault and cheer with my team. I'm beyond happy and I'm beyond proud of everyone."
CMU sophomore Katie Kowalski tied for first on vault with a 9.875, her second-best score of the year, while DeMarinis was eighth and Elizabeth Cesarone was 12th.
CMU freshman Lia Kmieciak and DeMers tied for third on bars at 9.875 and the Chippewas' Adriana Bustelo was sixth.
Chippewa senior Morgan Tong for second (9.900) on beam, Bustelo tied for fourth, and DeMarinis tied for sixth. Junior Taylor Pitchell tied for third (9.900) for CMU's lone top-10 finish on floor.
DeMers, Kowalski and Tong were named to the MAC Championships All-Tournament Team.
DeMers, who won the all around with a 39.225, is the seventh Chippewa to capture the MAC Gymnast of the Year Award. It marks the third time in the last four years that a Chippewa has earned the honor after Denelle Pedrick accomplished the feat in 2019 and again in 2020.
"Hannah, she puts in the time and the work, and we talk about it all the time that hard work pays off and you're going to have to go out there and earn it," MacDonald said. "Today wasn't a perfect day for her but she never gave up. Hannah was there today for the team. To have her have that individual success was something that she strives for, but that is second to what she wants for the team.
"For her today I think it was a shining moment. She's done the work all year and she's clearly deserving of it."
DeMarinis is the 10th Chippewa to earn the MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year Award. She shared the honor with Tara Kofmehl of Northern Illinois. DeMarinis and Tong are the lone two seniors on the roster.
"They mean everything to us," MacDonald said. "They put in the time every day and strive for that perfection, but beyond that they're there for the team and it means more to them to produce for their teammates than for themselves.
"The journey with them the last four years, to see them grow as individuals and as human beings … They give so much to us and to our program we're just really so proud of them and so happy for them today."
Extraordinary, dramatic, wonderful, thrilling, unforgettable.
Pick an adjective. They all fit.
The Central Michigan gymnastics team came from behind in the final rotation to post a 196.275 team total on Saturday to win the Mid-American Conference Championships at Eastern Michigan's George Gervin GameAbove Center.
"Amazing," CMU coach Christine MacDonald said. "It's just been an amazing day, an amazing year. We couldn't be more excited for the whole team."
CMU's Hannah DeMers earned the MAC Gymnast of the Year, Sierra DeMarinis was named the co-MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year, and MacDonald was named the MAC Coach of the Year as the Chippewas won their first MAC Championships title since 2018 and completed the sweep after they won the regular season co-championship by finishing 5-1 in league duals.
It marked CMU's first sweep of both titles since 2018.
"We worked so hard this year," said DeMers, who captured the all around title and tied for third on both vault and uneven parallel bars. "This is the most resilient, hard-working team I've ever been a part of. We all came in expecting nothing less, we all had high expectations and they delivered."
It is the first MAC Championships crown as a head coach for MacDonald, a former CMU gymnast and longtime assistant coach who took over the program in 2020.
"I would say first that it's coaches of the year," she said of the award in a nod to assistants Don Houlton and Katy Clements. "Our coaching staff, it's not one coach and it never has been; it's always about your coaching staff and our trainer (Juliana Perno) too. We're all a part of that and all the administration and everybody. They come with that award.
"It just resonates with the journey we've been on this year. We talk about re-setting and re-establishing our culture and having enjoyment in what we do and knowing that we're going to be there for each other, start to finish, no matter the outcome. Just so proud of each and every one of these gymnasts."
The Chippewas posted a 49.175 on bars to start the meet and then followed with a season-best 49.200 on balance beam. They recorded in a 48.825 – subpar by their standards – on floor exercise and went into the final rotation, vault, in second place, .350 behind Western Michigan.
CMU entered Saturday's meet ranked No. 1 on vault and the Chippewas delivered – big time – with a 49.075 to pull ahead of the Broncos. Northern Illinois finished second with 196.125 and Western (196.075) was third.
"We got together in the locker room and we talked about doing our job – do what we do every day," MacDonald said of the leadup to vault. "We always start off on vaulting at our home meets and we kind of looked at it as a fresh start. Vaulting has been a very comfortable event for us and that put us at ease. It's a great event for us to end on and be in that final rotation."
"Before the vault," DeMers said, "I was like, 'We've done our best today and no matter what happens, this is the best time I've ever had with my team.'
"The competition atmosphere was amazing. It was a healthy competition, and I was having a blast. The only thing I wanted to do was land my vault and cheer with my team. I'm beyond happy and I'm beyond proud of everyone."
CMU sophomore Katie Kowalski tied for first on vault with a 9.875, her second-best score of the year, while DeMarinis was eighth and Elizabeth Cesarone was 12th.
CMU freshman Lia Kmieciak and DeMers tied for third on bars at 9.875 and the Chippewas' Adriana Bustelo was sixth.
Chippewa senior Morgan Tong for second (9.900) on beam, Bustelo tied for fourth, and DeMarinis tied for sixth. Junior Taylor Pitchell tied for third (9.900) for CMU's lone top-10 finish on floor.
DeMers, Kowalski and Tong were named to the MAC Championships All-Tournament Team.
DeMers, who won the all around with a 39.225, is the seventh Chippewa to capture the MAC Gymnast of the Year Award. It marks the third time in the last four years that a Chippewa has earned the honor after Denelle Pedrick accomplished the feat in 2019 and again in 2020.
"Hannah, she puts in the time and the work, and we talk about it all the time that hard work pays off and you're going to have to go out there and earn it," MacDonald said. "Today wasn't a perfect day for her but she never gave up. Hannah was there today for the team. To have her have that individual success was something that she strives for, but that is second to what she wants for the team.
"For her today I think it was a shining moment. She's done the work all year and she's clearly deserving of it."
DeMarinis is the 10th Chippewa to earn the MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year Award. She shared the honor with Tara Kofmehl of Northern Illinois. DeMarinis and Tong are the lone two seniors on the roster.
"They mean everything to us," MacDonald said. "They put in the time every day and strive for that perfection, but beyond that they're there for the team and it means more to them to produce for their teammates than for themselves.
"The journey with them the last four years, to see them grow as individuals and as human beings … They give so much to us and to our program we're just really so proud of them and so happy for them today."
Players Mentioned
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/ Gymnastics
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