Saturday, January 4
Minneapolis, Minn.
4 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. ET
Central Michigan University
193.400
at
194.450
Minnesota
Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography
New Year, New Chippewas: Gymnastics Opens Season at Minnesota
1/4/2025 8:16:00 PM | Gymnastics
CMU falls in season-opening dual, 193.400-194.450
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — New year, new season, new opportunities.
Central Michigan Gymnastics rung in the New Year and opened its 2025 season on Saturday at Minnesota, where five CMU gymnasts competed in the maroon and gold for the first time alongside eight seasoned returners to debut a multitude of new routines.
The Chippewas finished with a score of 193.400, capitalizing on a 48.775 event total on the floor exercise to lead the team's first meet of the year. Minnesota won the meet with a score of 194.450.
"We look at (competing against a ranked team like Minnesota) as great opportunity to gain valuable experience against a very seasoned program," said Head Coach Christine MacDonald, who enters her 6th season leading CMU. "To come into an arena with a very competitive and qualified opponent, it's exciting. We are always striving for more and meets like this one allow us to grow."
Energy was key for the Chippewas, who brought the momentum straight away in CMU's meet-opening event, the uneven bars.
Senior Lia Kmieciak and junior Luciana Alvarado-Reid set the tone with a score of 9.825 each, which earned them second place in the event. The event marked the return of Kmieciak, who forewent a majority of the 2024 season due to injury.
"(Lia and Lucy) have worked really hard at the details over the summer and just did what they normally do," said MacDonald. "The consistency that they provide to this team, and especially in that first rotation, was something that inspired the whole group and that's something that we're going to continue to build off of."
"It was an emotional moment for them and we had several of those today, and those are some of the unseen things that you don't see on a scoresheet. They've been building towards those moments, and I'm really proud of those two."
Chippewa freshmen Ava Wellmeier, Zoe Zimmerman and Kaitlyn Schwab alongside transfers Hannah Appleget and Heather Parker made great impact to CMU's lineups, with each playing an important role.
Wellmeier led CMU on the floor exercise and vault, scoring 9.825 and 9.725, respectively. The freshman's 9.825 on floor tied for the event win with Minnesota 5th year Mya Hooten and placed 3rd on vault.
Zimmerman tied for 3rd on the floor exercise with a score of 9.800.
"All of our freshmen and newcomers did an extremely good job this weekend," MacDonald said. "It was so exciting to see some of them experience collegiate gymnastics for the first time and truly get the feel for what collegiate athletics is all about. I'm really proud of them, they have each been very consistent in the gym so we weren't surprised about the execution and the outcome."
Appleget, a senior transfer from Lindenwood, competed in the all-around, while Parker competed on the floor. Appleget was named to the Mid-American Conference's 'Gymnasts to Watch" list on Jan 3, as voted on by league coaches, alongside Alvarado-Reid.
"Heather and Hannah feel like they have always been with us. They have adapted to different expectations and we are so happy with their addition to our program, MacDonald said of the pair. "Hannah's been consistent in the gym and she has the experience as an all-arounder, which really showed today."
The Chippewas additionally returned sophomores Samantha Shannon, Jenna Germond, Zoie Pelfrey and Gabrielle Johnson to the lineup, alongside seniors Avah Bootz and Quinn Skrupa, who all saw action in the 2024 season.
"We had, really, a whole new group out there, we had four new routines on beam and four new routines on floor," said MacDonald. "When you look at the depth and the changing of the guard, it is a new team, new year and new start, with nine total new faces. You're going to see these lineups continue to grow and change over the next few months and it is going to be exciting!"
The Chippewas are set to host back-to-back home dual meets in McGuirk Arena, starting with West Virginia on Jan. 12 (1 p.m.). CMU will host a joint gymnastics-wrestling event, 'Rumble and Tumble', on Jan. 17 (7 p.m.) as the Chippewa gymnasts compete against Mid-American Conference foe Bowling Green.
Tickets for both events can be purchased here.
"Collectively, I'm really proud of our first start and our efforts," MacDonald said of the evening in Minneapolis. "This is something that we're going to continue to build upon for the year and we're so excited to be back home in McGuirk next weekend to see our home crowd."
Central Michigan Gymnastics rung in the New Year and opened its 2025 season on Saturday at Minnesota, where five CMU gymnasts competed in the maroon and gold for the first time alongside eight seasoned returners to debut a multitude of new routines.
The Chippewas finished with a score of 193.400, capitalizing on a 48.775 event total on the floor exercise to lead the team's first meet of the year. Minnesota won the meet with a score of 194.450.
"We look at (competing against a ranked team like Minnesota) as great opportunity to gain valuable experience against a very seasoned program," said Head Coach Christine MacDonald, who enters her 6th season leading CMU. "To come into an arena with a very competitive and qualified opponent, it's exciting. We are always striving for more and meets like this one allow us to grow."
Energy was key for the Chippewas, who brought the momentum straight away in CMU's meet-opening event, the uneven bars.
Senior Lia Kmieciak and junior Luciana Alvarado-Reid set the tone with a score of 9.825 each, which earned them second place in the event. The event marked the return of Kmieciak, who forewent a majority of the 2024 season due to injury.
"(Lia and Lucy) have worked really hard at the details over the summer and just did what they normally do," said MacDonald. "The consistency that they provide to this team, and especially in that first rotation, was something that inspired the whole group and that's something that we're going to continue to build off of."
"It was an emotional moment for them and we had several of those today, and those are some of the unseen things that you don't see on a scoresheet. They've been building towards those moments, and I'm really proud of those two."
Chippewa freshmen Ava Wellmeier, Zoe Zimmerman and Kaitlyn Schwab alongside transfers Hannah Appleget and Heather Parker made great impact to CMU's lineups, with each playing an important role.
Wellmeier led CMU on the floor exercise and vault, scoring 9.825 and 9.725, respectively. The freshman's 9.825 on floor tied for the event win with Minnesota 5th year Mya Hooten and placed 3rd on vault.
Zimmerman tied for 3rd on the floor exercise with a score of 9.800.
"All of our freshmen and newcomers did an extremely good job this weekend," MacDonald said. "It was so exciting to see some of them experience collegiate gymnastics for the first time and truly get the feel for what collegiate athletics is all about. I'm really proud of them, they have each been very consistent in the gym so we weren't surprised about the execution and the outcome."
Appleget, a senior transfer from Lindenwood, competed in the all-around, while Parker competed on the floor. Appleget was named to the Mid-American Conference's 'Gymnasts to Watch" list on Jan 3, as voted on by league coaches, alongside Alvarado-Reid.
"Heather and Hannah feel like they have always been with us. They have adapted to different expectations and we are so happy with their addition to our program, MacDonald said of the pair. "Hannah's been consistent in the gym and she has the experience as an all-arounder, which really showed today."
The Chippewas additionally returned sophomores Samantha Shannon, Jenna Germond, Zoie Pelfrey and Gabrielle Johnson to the lineup, alongside seniors Avah Bootz and Quinn Skrupa, who all saw action in the 2024 season.
"We had, really, a whole new group out there, we had four new routines on beam and four new routines on floor," said MacDonald. "When you look at the depth and the changing of the guard, it is a new team, new year and new start, with nine total new faces. You're going to see these lineups continue to grow and change over the next few months and it is going to be exciting!"
The Chippewas are set to host back-to-back home dual meets in McGuirk Arena, starting with West Virginia on Jan. 12 (1 p.m.). CMU will host a joint gymnastics-wrestling event, 'Rumble and Tumble', on Jan. 17 (7 p.m.) as the Chippewa gymnasts compete against Mid-American Conference foe Bowling Green.
Tickets for both events can be purchased here.
"Collectively, I'm really proud of our first start and our efforts," MacDonald said of the evening in Minneapolis. "This is something that we're going to continue to build upon for the year and we're so excited to be back home in McGuirk next weekend to see our home crowd."
Players Mentioned
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ 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