Sunday, February 23
Kent, Ohio
1 p.m.
Central Michigan University
195.300
at
195.350
Kent State
Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography
Gymnastics Finishes Strong at Kent State
2/23/2025 7:28:00 PM | Gymnastics
Alvarado-Reid earns sixth All-Around title of season
KENT, Ohio. — Central Michigan Gymnastics was handed its first Mid-American Conference loss of the 2025 season on Sunday in a nail-biting dual with a league-leading Kent State, 195.350-195.300, at the Golden Flashes' Memorial and Athletic Convocation Center.
The Chippewas' tallied six total scores of 9.850 or above and won three of four events against the Golden Flashes.
The Chippewas are now 8-2 overall and 3-1 on the season with two more league matchups on the schedule before hosting MAC Championships in McGuirk Arena on March 22.
"I'm really proud of our team's resilience and their consistent fight throughout the meet today," said Head Coach Christine MacDonald. "We didn't have our strongest start today but we came back strong and ended up in a good place."
Senior Avah Bootz emerged with CMU's leading score of the meet, having placed second on vault with a career-high 9.875, which is a season-high for the Chippewas.
"(Avah) has been working very hard on her vault details this season and is primarily a vault and floor specialist," said MacDonald. "Coming back from last year's injury, to do what she's doing and to do it so well, is very rewarding. She's doing a great job.
The Chippewas kept their focus and stayed the course which earned them a season-high 49.100 on the balance beam, courtesy of a pair of 9.850 scores from senior Hannah Appleget and junior Luciana Alvarado-Reid. They both tied for second on the event and additionally shared the tie for first place on the uneven bars with 9.825 scores.
"We've been working really hard for the details on each event," said MacDonald. "We have a strong beam team and their performance today is something they've been gaining ground on meet after meet.
"I'm just really proud of their focus on each performance today; that's something we've been building into our practice plans, and I'm really happy for the team and for the outcome today."
Alvarado-Reid earned her sixth all-around title of the season, totaling 39.200. The Cartago, Costa Rica junior has scored above 39.000 seven times of eight meets this season. As of Feb. 17 rankings, which are updated weekly, she leads the MAC in the all-around and is ranked 28th nationally.
CMU also scored 49.100 on the floor exercise, where Alvarado-Reid shared second place on the floor with Ava Wellmeier with a score of 9.850. It was a career-high on the event for Wellmeier, who also tied her career-best on vault with a 9.850 score to place third.
"Ava's consistency from practice to competition is showing," said MacDonald of the freshman. "She's really growing into a strong competitor for us and she's been very consistent as well.
"Her performance level and the amplitude on her skills really does separate her. I'm proud of her consistency, it was really nice to see her hit both events."
The Chippewas look onward in their journey to a postseason appearance at NCAA Regionals, and is set to compete in a non-league quad meet at Illinois State on Feb. 28 with Bowling Green and Centenary College.
"This meet is very important just like every other meet has been," said MacDonald. "It's another great opportunity to prepare for postseason and the competition at MAC Championships with a four-team meet.
"We're looking to have the energy that it's going to bring, and that's a good thing for us, to continue to challenge ourselves in different situations."
The Chippewas' tallied six total scores of 9.850 or above and won three of four events against the Golden Flashes.
The Chippewas are now 8-2 overall and 3-1 on the season with two more league matchups on the schedule before hosting MAC Championships in McGuirk Arena on March 22.
"I'm really proud of our team's resilience and their consistent fight throughout the meet today," said Head Coach Christine MacDonald. "We didn't have our strongest start today but we came back strong and ended up in a good place."
Senior Avah Bootz emerged with CMU's leading score of the meet, having placed second on vault with a career-high 9.875, which is a season-high for the Chippewas.
"(Avah) has been working very hard on her vault details this season and is primarily a vault and floor specialist," said MacDonald. "Coming back from last year's injury, to do what she's doing and to do it so well, is very rewarding. She's doing a great job.
The Chippewas kept their focus and stayed the course which earned them a season-high 49.100 on the balance beam, courtesy of a pair of 9.850 scores from senior Hannah Appleget and junior Luciana Alvarado-Reid. They both tied for second on the event and additionally shared the tie for first place on the uneven bars with 9.825 scores.
"We've been working really hard for the details on each event," said MacDonald. "We have a strong beam team and their performance today is something they've been gaining ground on meet after meet.
"I'm just really proud of their focus on each performance today; that's something we've been building into our practice plans, and I'm really happy for the team and for the outcome today."
Alvarado-Reid earned her sixth all-around title of the season, totaling 39.200. The Cartago, Costa Rica junior has scored above 39.000 seven times of eight meets this season. As of Feb. 17 rankings, which are updated weekly, she leads the MAC in the all-around and is ranked 28th nationally.
CMU also scored 49.100 on the floor exercise, where Alvarado-Reid shared second place on the floor with Ava Wellmeier with a score of 9.850. It was a career-high on the event for Wellmeier, who also tied her career-best on vault with a 9.850 score to place third.
"Ava's consistency from practice to competition is showing," said MacDonald of the freshman. "She's really growing into a strong competitor for us and she's been very consistent as well.
"Her performance level and the amplitude on her skills really does separate her. I'm proud of her consistency, it was really nice to see her hit both events."
The Chippewas look onward in their journey to a postseason appearance at NCAA Regionals, and is set to compete in a non-league quad meet at Illinois State on Feb. 28 with Bowling Green and Centenary College.
"This meet is very important just like every other meet has been," said MacDonald. "It's another great opportunity to prepare for postseason and the competition at MAC Championships with a four-team meet.
"We're looking to have the energy that it's going to bring, and that's a good thing for us, to continue to challenge ourselves in different situations."
Players Mentioned
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