Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography
Gymnastics Slated for MAC Championship and Regular Season Title; Alvarado-Reid and Shannon earn Preseason Nominations.
1/2/2026 3:05:00 PM | Gymnastics
Three league coaches pick CMU to sweep the MAC Championships and regular season title.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Central Michigan Gymnastics has been voted to win the 2026 Mid-American Conference Championship and regular season title as voted on by league coaches in a preseason poll, the league announced on Friday.
In a vote with the league's seven head coaches, the Chippewas earned three votes as the Championship favorite. CMU was also slated to finish first in the regular season.
In the 2025 preseason poll, the Chippewas were picked first for the MAC Championship and finished on top. In 2024, they were selected as the regular season favorite and finished tied for third in the league with a 4-2 conference meet record.
Luciana Alvarado-Reid and Samantha Shannon were named to the 'Gymnasts to Watch' list, as nominated by opposing league coaches.
Alvarado-Reid, who was nominated to the list in 2024 and 2025, is entering her senior season. The Cartago, Costa Rica All-Arounder was named MAC Freshman of the year in 2023 and earned the individual MAC title on floor in 2025. In 2024, Alvarado-Reid claimed the individual MAC title on uneven bars at the 2024 MAC Championships.
Shannon is entering her junior season. In the 2025 regular season, Shannon earned two balance beam titles and one uneven bars title. Samantha Shannon was a starter on 3 events last season and is slated to work into the AA this year. As a freshman she competed in all twelve meets and finished first on beam against Western Michigan and first on bars against Bowling Green.
The Chippewas open the 2026 season on Friday, Jan. 9 (7:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm CST) at SEMO.
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2026 MAC Gymnastics Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Central Michigan – 33 points (3)
2. Kent State – 31 points (3)
T3. Ball State – 23 points (1)
T3. Eastern Michigan – 23 points
5. Western Michigan – 19 points
6. Bowling Green – 12 points
7. Northern Illinois – 6 points
MAC Tournament Champion: Central Michigan (3), Kent State (3), Western Michigan (1)
2026 MAC Gymnasts to Watch
Ashley Szymanski, Junior, Ball State Carley Stalder, Freshman, Ball State Keira Thornton, Junior, Bowling Green
Megan Dzialo, Junior, Bowling Green
Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Senior, Central Michigan
Samantha Shannon, Junior, Central Michigan
Kyrie Lowe, Senior, Eastern Michigan
Keeley Kohler, Sophomore, Eastern Michigan Charlie Behner, Senior, Kent State
Ashley Morgan, Junior, Kent State
Ashlie Leage, Junior, Northern Illinois Deziray Boykin, Freshman, Northern Illinois Julie Korfhage, Junior, Western Michigan Casey Mooney, Freshman, Western Michigan
Follow Central Michigan Gymnastics
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— CMU —
In a vote with the league's seven head coaches, the Chippewas earned three votes as the Championship favorite. CMU was also slated to finish first in the regular season.
In the 2025 preseason poll, the Chippewas were picked first for the MAC Championship and finished on top. In 2024, they were selected as the regular season favorite and finished tied for third in the league with a 4-2 conference meet record.
Luciana Alvarado-Reid and Samantha Shannon were named to the 'Gymnasts to Watch' list, as nominated by opposing league coaches.
Alvarado-Reid, who was nominated to the list in 2024 and 2025, is entering her senior season. The Cartago, Costa Rica All-Arounder was named MAC Freshman of the year in 2023 and earned the individual MAC title on floor in 2025. In 2024, Alvarado-Reid claimed the individual MAC title on uneven bars at the 2024 MAC Championships.
Shannon is entering her junior season. In the 2025 regular season, Shannon earned two balance beam titles and one uneven bars title. Samantha Shannon was a starter on 3 events last season and is slated to work into the AA this year. As a freshman she competed in all twelve meets and finished first on beam against Western Michigan and first on bars against Bowling Green.
The Chippewas open the 2026 season on Friday, Jan. 9 (7:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm CST) at SEMO.
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2026 MAC Gymnastics Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Central Michigan – 33 points (3)
2. Kent State – 31 points (3)
T3. Ball State – 23 points (1)
T3. Eastern Michigan – 23 points
5. Western Michigan – 19 points
6. Bowling Green – 12 points
7. Northern Illinois – 6 points
MAC Tournament Champion: Central Michigan (3), Kent State (3), Western Michigan (1)
2026 MAC Gymnasts to Watch
Ashley Szymanski, Junior, Ball State Carley Stalder, Freshman, Ball State Keira Thornton, Junior, Bowling Green
Megan Dzialo, Junior, Bowling Green
Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Senior, Central Michigan
Samantha Shannon, Junior, Central Michigan
Kyrie Lowe, Senior, Eastern Michigan
Keeley Kohler, Sophomore, Eastern Michigan Charlie Behner, Senior, Kent State
Ashley Morgan, Junior, Kent State
Ashlie Leage, Junior, Northern Illinois Deziray Boykin, Freshman, Northern Illinois Julie Korfhage, Junior, Western Michigan Casey Mooney, Freshman, Western Michigan
Follow Central Michigan Gymnastics
TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK
— CMU —
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