Sweet Repeat and a Sweep: Gymnastics Wins 2nd Straight MAC Championships Title

Saturday, March 21

Bowling Green, OH

2:00 p.m.

Central Michigan University

Bowling Green

Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography

Sweet Repeat and a Sweep: Gymnastics Wins 2nd Straight MAC Championships Title

3/21/2026 8:16:00 PM | Gymnastics

Final Results (PDF)MAC Release MAC Championship Central Photo Gallery

Complete team effort gives Central Michigan its 20th MAC Championships title; Luciana Alvarado-Reid earns MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year and MAC Gymnast of the Year awards; coach Christine MacDonald earns MAC Coach of the Year honors.

By: Josie Ransley

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – A sweet repeat for Central Michigan Gymnastics.

Luciana Alvarado-Reid placed first in two events and won the all-around and Lia Kmieciak also had a first-place finish on Saturday as the Chippewas successfully defended their Mid-American Conference Championships title at Bowling Green's Stroh Center.

"We are so dedicated to the process," Central Michigan Head Coach Christine MacDonald said. "It starts every day, it's not just today. I really believe that we learn every year and we grow and that's part of the journey together. Our athletes keep us energized and excited to come in everyday and work."

"This team has bought in and over the last seven years [as head coach] it's been truly a joy to coach them."

It marked the fourth MAC Championships title in the last five years for the Chippewas and their 20th in program history. They finished with a 196.025 team score. Ball State was second with 195.800.

"It's really surreal," MacDonald said. "This group has been amazing, and it's been such a journey. We've been working so hard for everyday and every outcome. I'm so happy and so proud of them because today was truly a team effort. We showed a lot of fight and a lot of grit today."

Alvarado-Reid tied for first on vault and on balance beam, and Kmieciak tied for first on vault to lead the Chippewas, who last week claimed the MAC regular-season championship with a perfect 6-0 record in league duals.

It marked the fifth time in the last 15 years that CMU has earned both the league regular-season and MAC Championships crowns. The others came in 2011, 2012, 2018 and 2022.

Alvarado-Reid, a native of Cartago, Costa Rica repeated as the MAC Gymnast of the Year and was also named the MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year. Denelle Pedrick (2020) was the last Chippewa to sweep the prestigious awards.

"I think that we have worked so hard," senior Luciana Alvarado-Reid said. "This team knows work more than any other team I know and I am so happy that work showed up today."

CMU's Christine MacDonald earned the MAC Coach of the Year Award. The former Chippewa gymnast and longtime assistant who is now in her seventh year in leading the program, captured her first coach of the year honor in 2022. The Chippewas' undefeated MAC regular-season record was a first for MacDonald.

"It's truly an honor," MacDonald said. "This isn't just a coach of the year; this is our staff. Our staff is amazing. From our coaching staff, our sports medicine staff, our strength coach and everybody that's involved in it. This is for everybody, this is not for me, and it is a testament to our team too."

The Chippewas posted the top balance beam score (49.125) of the day, tied for second with a 49.175 on floor exercise, and were second on both vault (49.100) and bars (48.625).

Alvarado-Reid placed second with a 9.900 score as CMU kicked off the meet with a stellar floor rotation.

Kmieciak and Alvarado-Reid both posted a 9.850 on vault. It marked Kmieciak's 13th career vault title and Alvarado-Reid's sixth. CMU freshman Alexandra Reddick recorded a career-best 9.800.

The Chippewas ended the meet on balance beam, and their 49.125, was their season best. Alvarado-Reid posted a 9.875 score for her 10th career beam title. CMU junior Gabrielle Johnson posted a career-best 9.850 to place third, while Chippewa sophomore Zoe Zimmerman tied her career best with a 9.800.

Alvarado-Reid claimed her 37th career all-around gold with a 39.325 score.

Central Michigan marked a 48.625 on the uneven bars.

2026 MAC Gymnastics Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Christine MacDonald, Central Michigan
Gymnast of the Year: Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Senior, Central Michigan
Specialist of the Year: Ashley Szymanski, Junior, Ball State
Senior Gymnast of the Year: Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Central Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Carley Stalder, Ball State

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