Gymnastics Runs MAC Record to 3-0 at Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - CMU Gymnastics put together a dominant performance on Sunday as the Chippewas won their Tri-Meet at host Bowling Green with a season-high score of 196.425.

The win over BGSU keeps CMU perfect in the Mid-American Conference standings. In addition to Bowling Green, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh also competed.

Consistency was the theme of the day as the Chippewas never scored less than 48.875 in any of its events. Meanwhile, neither competing school managed to score above 48.800 in any event.

"It was a full team effort from the first event to the last," Head Coach Christine MacDonald said. "We really focused on taking it one event at a time. I'm just really proud of their effort to make that happen today."

Indeed, the focus on taking the meet one event at a time worked out for CMU. It was something MacDonald stressed to her team in practice throughout the week leading up to the meet.

"We really focused this week on the little details," she said. "That was just the focus. We really stayed in the present and just reset after each event. We just continue to work together. We've been doing that in the gym the last couple weeks specifically, and it's really starting to show as we compete."

The Chippewas kicked off their day on the uneven parallel bars, earning a score of 48.875. Freshman Samantha Shannon registered a career-high mark of 9.875, earning her the win in the event. Graduate student Ashley Veglucci also tied her career high score with a 9.825 in the event, giving her a second-place finish.

Following the bars, CMU rotated to balance beam. The Chippewas scored 48.900 in the event, with senior Adriana Bustelo earning the win with a 9.875. Behind her were senior Amber Mueller (9.825) and freshman Karina Lankamer (9.800).

While it was a very solid day all around, the floor exercise is where CMU shined. A season-high score of 49.450 and a trio of scores over 9.900 highlighted the event for the Chippewas.

"Floor definitely has been a continual build for us each week," MacDonald said. "Really proud of their efforts. Like I said, we've focused a lot on the little details continually the last couple of weeks and it's really starting to show when we perform. They're much more confident. Everything from their performance to their tumbling, it's solid start to finish and we're just seeing a consistent build with each individual."

Sophomore Luciana Alvarado-Reid won the event with a career-high mark of 9.925. Veglucci also registered a career-high in the event with a score of 9.900 - tied with senior Hallie Hornbacher for second place.

"Ashley had two career bests on her two events today," MacDonald said. "It was another great example of the consistency she's had."

CMU ended the day on vault and set a season-high mark for the second event in a row, scoring 49.200. Five different gymnasts tied for first with a score of 9.850, three being Chippewas (Avah Bootz, Elizabeth Cesarone and Alvarado-Reid).

"Avah learned a new vault this year and that was our high score today," MacDonald said of the Ludington junior.

Additionally, freshmen Shannon and Jenna Germond were right behind with a score of 9.825 each.

Alvarado-Reid won the all-around with a score of 39.250, in competition with two Falcon gymnastics.

CMU will return to McGuirk Arena next to host Ball State, the Chippewas' first home meet of the season. The meet is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. ET.

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Players Mentioned

Luciana Alvarado-Reid

Avah Bootz

Adriana Bustelo

Elizabeth Cesarone

Jenna Germond

Hallie Hornbacher

Karina Lankamer

Amber Mueller

Samantha Shannon

Ashley Veglucci