Friday, February 3
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
7 p.m.
Central Michigan University
196.250
vs
192.025
Eastern Michigan
Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography
Gymnastics Remains Undefeated in the MAC With Win Over Eastern Michigan
2/3/2023 11:00:00 PM | Gymnastics
Senior Hannah DeMers tallies 39.525 in all-around, registers top scores in three of four events; Chippewas coast to victory on Senior Night; Eight seniors recognized after the meet.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan won its third consecutive Mid-American Conference meet, using a spectacular all-around performance from senior Hannah DeMers to defeat in-state rival Eastern Michigan 196.250-192.025 Friday evening at McGuirk Arena. Following the competition, eight Central Michigan seniors were recognized for their career achievements as the Chippewas hosted their final home meet of the year.
With the victory, Central Michigan improves to an undefeated 3-0 in Mid-American Conference competition.
Competing in the final home event of her career, DeMers notched top meet scores in three of the four events, including floor (9.950), vault (9.825), and bars (9.950). Her all-around score of 39.525 was just shy of her career-best of 39.550. But it was a team win as the Chippewas posted a season-best 196.250 score.
"We are looking to build off the momentum from today," Central Michigan Head Coach Christine MacDonald said. "We will continue to work, hard and have fun. We really shined and this was truly a team win. We had a lot of true personal bests—Lia (Kmieciak) winning vault, that's huge for her. She has worked really hard for that. Luci had a personal-best in bars, too. We changed up the lineup on vault and put up some good scores there. Ashley (Veglucci) had her career-best score on floor. She worked so hard for that and just to see these great performances was awesome."
"Hannah's always been a crowd-pleaser," MacDonald said. "She continues to shine for us and she's truly a product of hard work and passion. She's also there for her teammates. That's when she does her best, when she's fully engaged for them. You can see that from her performance."
Central Michigan took the early lead after its vault showing. DeMers and Kmieciak both scored 9.825s, while sophomore Avah Bootz registered a 9.775 and freshman Luciana Alvardo-Reid and junior Elizabeth Cesarone both tallied 9.725s.
The Chippewas extended their lead on uneven bars. DeMers put up a 9.950, the meet's best score in any event, Alvarado-Reid registered with a career-best 9.900, and Kimieciak followed with a 9.850.
Junior Adriana Bustelo notched a 9.875 in beam and DeMers did it again as she chipped in a 9.800 score. Veglucci scored a 9.775 and Taylor Pitchell tallied a 9.750.
CMU had a sizable lead heading into the floor exercise. Alvarado-Reid scored a 9.850, then Veglucci electrified the crowd with a 9.900, and DeMers brought the house down with a career-high tying 9.950. Pitchell finished off floor with a spectacular 9.900.
The event culminated with CMU's annual senior day festivities as CMU's eight seniors and their families were recognized at the conclusion of the meet. A highlight video played depicting great team moments. Then each of the eight seniors were introduced including DeMers, Audriana Hammond, Brenna Hauser, Aleysia Kolyvanova, Savana Kotas, Pitchell, Christie Tini, and Veglucci.
"Our seniors are a really special group for me," MacDonald said. "To see them from the summer before they arrived to now, to watch them grow as individuals and shine more so as a group has been awesome. I can't wait to continue this journey with them. It's more than just our seniors; it's the parents too. We have a great nucleus, they travel with us, they're engaged. They get together. They're just a great group. We are appreciative of that support. It means a lot to the athletes too. They do it for the athletes and the family."
With the victory, Central Michigan improves to an undefeated 3-0 in Mid-American Conference competition.
Competing in the final home event of her career, DeMers notched top meet scores in three of the four events, including floor (9.950), vault (9.825), and bars (9.950). Her all-around score of 39.525 was just shy of her career-best of 39.550. But it was a team win as the Chippewas posted a season-best 196.250 score.
"We are looking to build off the momentum from today," Central Michigan Head Coach Christine MacDonald said. "We will continue to work, hard and have fun. We really shined and this was truly a team win. We had a lot of true personal bests—Lia (Kmieciak) winning vault, that's huge for her. She has worked really hard for that. Luci had a personal-best in bars, too. We changed up the lineup on vault and put up some good scores there. Ashley (Veglucci) had her career-best score on floor. She worked so hard for that and just to see these great performances was awesome."
"Hannah's always been a crowd-pleaser," MacDonald said. "She continues to shine for us and she's truly a product of hard work and passion. She's also there for her teammates. That's when she does her best, when she's fully engaged for them. You can see that from her performance."
Central Michigan took the early lead after its vault showing. DeMers and Kmieciak both scored 9.825s, while sophomore Avah Bootz registered a 9.775 and freshman Luciana Alvardo-Reid and junior Elizabeth Cesarone both tallied 9.725s.
The Chippewas extended their lead on uneven bars. DeMers put up a 9.950, the meet's best score in any event, Alvarado-Reid registered with a career-best 9.900, and Kimieciak followed with a 9.850.
Junior Adriana Bustelo notched a 9.875 in beam and DeMers did it again as she chipped in a 9.800 score. Veglucci scored a 9.775 and Taylor Pitchell tallied a 9.750.
CMU had a sizable lead heading into the floor exercise. Alvarado-Reid scored a 9.850, then Veglucci electrified the crowd with a 9.900, and DeMers brought the house down with a career-high tying 9.950. Pitchell finished off floor with a spectacular 9.900.
The event culminated with CMU's annual senior day festivities as CMU's eight seniors and their families were recognized at the conclusion of the meet. A highlight video played depicting great team moments. Then each of the eight seniors were introduced including DeMers, Audriana Hammond, Brenna Hauser, Aleysia Kolyvanova, Savana Kotas, Pitchell, Christie Tini, and Veglucci.
"Our seniors are a really special group for me," MacDonald said. "To see them from the summer before they arrived to now, to watch them grow as individuals and shine more so as a group has been awesome. I can't wait to continue this journey with them. It's more than just our seniors; it's the parents too. We have a great nucleus, they travel with us, they're engaged. They get together. They're just a great group. We are appreciative of that support. It means a lot to the athletes too. They do it for the athletes and the family."
—CMU—
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Lia Kmieciak Post Championship Interview
Saturday, March 22
Coach MacDonald Post Championship Interview
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Hannah Appleget Post Championship Interview
Saturday, March 22