Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography
Gymnastics Stuns Ball State, Rolls to 2-0 League Start
2/9/2025 6:44:00 PM | Gymnastics
Chippewas shine on uneven bars, posts season-high 49.250
MUNCIE, Ind. — Competing twice in four days is no small task, but Central Michigan Gymnastics has proven strong and resilient through it all.
CMU, fresh off a set of non-league home wins against UW-Oshkosh and SEMO on Thursday, ran its victory streak to seven on Sunday afternoon with a road win over Ball State (10-3, 2-1 MAC).
With the 195.750-195.575 win, the Chippewas are now 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the Mid-American Conference.
"We started really strong on bars and continued through all four events," said Head Coach Christine MacDonald. "We had some adversity today as well; we had some student-athletes that were under the weather which once again caused us to make some lineup changes.
"It was just a great team effort from start to finish today."
CMU wasted no time in igniting its spark, banding together for a season-high 49.250 on its first rotation of uneven bars. Freshman Kaitlyn Schwab delivered a career-high 9.850, followed by Luciana Alvarado-Reid's 9.900 and an additional 9.850 from senior Lia Kmieciak.
"Kaitlyn is a standout bar worker," MacDonald said of the freshman. "She's proved herself, her performances have been strong and she's continued to elevate her gymnastics; she has beautiful lines on bars, she swings really well and she's just really growing into a strong competitor.
"She's definitely been a bright spot and someone to keep an eye on."
The 9.900 gave Alvarado-Reid her second uneven bars win of the year, and with scores of 9.775 on vault and balance beam and a 9.825 on floor, took a share of the all-around title at 39.275. The junior ranks second in the league in the all-around, averaging 38.875, and fifth in the league on the floor exercise.
Senior Quinn Skrupa led the Chippewas on vault with a score of 9.825, good for second place, as CMU contributed a meet-leading 48.725 on the event.
Alvarado-Reid and Avah Bootz shared third place on the floor exercise, CMU's third event of the meet, with a score of 9.825.
Bootz, a senior, posted a career-high 9.850 on floor on Thursday after being moved into the floor lineup for the first time in the 2025 season.
"Avah was a late addition, but she came in and got another solid score in her second time competing on floor," MacDonald said of the senior. "She did a great job."
The Chippewas finished on beam, posting a consistent 48.875 as a team.
Senior Hannah Appleget scored a career-best-tying 9.850 to share the event title, her first of the year for balance beam, a critical score to help the Chippewas officially seal the deal. The Lindenwood transfer tallied a career-high 9.900 on Thursday to win the floor exercise in Mount Pleasant.
Now looking to the heart of Mid-American Conference competition, CMU is slated to return to McGuirk Arena on Feb. 14 to host league foe Eastern Michigan. The Eagles are 4-3 overall after falling to reigning MAC Champion Western Michigan on Sunday.
"We're looking to continue to build off our performances over the past several weeks," MacDonald said. "We're excited to get back to the gym and continue to work on getting stronger.
CMU, fresh off a set of non-league home wins against UW-Oshkosh and SEMO on Thursday, ran its victory streak to seven on Sunday afternoon with a road win over Ball State (10-3, 2-1 MAC).
With the 195.750-195.575 win, the Chippewas are now 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the Mid-American Conference.
"We started really strong on bars and continued through all four events," said Head Coach Christine MacDonald. "We had some adversity today as well; we had some student-athletes that were under the weather which once again caused us to make some lineup changes.
"It was just a great team effort from start to finish today."
CMU wasted no time in igniting its spark, banding together for a season-high 49.250 on its first rotation of uneven bars. Freshman Kaitlyn Schwab delivered a career-high 9.850, followed by Luciana Alvarado-Reid's 9.900 and an additional 9.850 from senior Lia Kmieciak.
"Kaitlyn is a standout bar worker," MacDonald said of the freshman. "She's proved herself, her performances have been strong and she's continued to elevate her gymnastics; she has beautiful lines on bars, she swings really well and she's just really growing into a strong competitor.
"She's definitely been a bright spot and someone to keep an eye on."
The 9.900 gave Alvarado-Reid her second uneven bars win of the year, and with scores of 9.775 on vault and balance beam and a 9.825 on floor, took a share of the all-around title at 39.275. The junior ranks second in the league in the all-around, averaging 38.875, and fifth in the league on the floor exercise.
Senior Quinn Skrupa led the Chippewas on vault with a score of 9.825, good for second place, as CMU contributed a meet-leading 48.725 on the event.
Alvarado-Reid and Avah Bootz shared third place on the floor exercise, CMU's third event of the meet, with a score of 9.825.
Bootz, a senior, posted a career-high 9.850 on floor on Thursday after being moved into the floor lineup for the first time in the 2025 season.
"Avah was a late addition, but she came in and got another solid score in her second time competing on floor," MacDonald said of the senior. "She did a great job."
The Chippewas finished on beam, posting a consistent 48.875 as a team.
Senior Hannah Appleget scored a career-best-tying 9.850 to share the event title, her first of the year for balance beam, a critical score to help the Chippewas officially seal the deal. The Lindenwood transfer tallied a career-high 9.900 on Thursday to win the floor exercise in Mount Pleasant.
Now looking to the heart of Mid-American Conference competition, CMU is slated to return to McGuirk Arena on Feb. 14 to host league foe Eastern Michigan. The Eagles are 4-3 overall after falling to reigning MAC Champion Western Michigan on Sunday.
"We're looking to continue to build off our performances over the past several weeks," MacDonald said. "We're excited to get back to the gym and continue to work on getting stronger.
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