Gymnastics beats Kent State, staying undefeated in the MAC
In front of its largest crowd of the season, the Central Michigan gymnastics team beat Kent State 194.475 to 193.550 Saturday at McGuirk Arena.
CMU exuded confidence not seen this season with first place on the line during CMU gymnastics alumni day.
Senior Kristin Teubner performed her best in front of the alumni not wanting to let them down.
“You could definitely feel their presence today,” Teubner said. “Especially with me being a senior, I know some of them now. We wanted to perform for them, show them we are a good team and that we will beat Kent State.”
It was a turning point in the season for the Chippewas, as Kent State and CMU have been consistent perennially powers in the Mid-American Conference over the last 25 years.
“This is probably going to make our season,” head coach Jerry Reighard said. “This-25 year-old rivalry continues each year, each team pushed each other to the max. I believe the belief instilled in this team after this meet will carry us a long way.”
For the second-straight meet, Teubner finished with an all-around score above 39.
Focus is a big part of Teubner’s recent high-scoring outburst.
“The beginning of the season I was really focused on what was going on around me with the team and what I needed to do for them,” Teubner said. “I had a turning point. I started just thinking more about myself. If I do my job, the team will do theirs. It’s been paying off.”
Freshman Halle Moraw competed all-around after battling mono in the preseason.
“I’m glad to be back doing all-around. I was hoping to be back here earlier,” Moraw said. “I’m really happy. I’m glad I was able to hit 4/4.”
Reighard has watched Moraw battle back from mono to earn the honors of competing as an all-arounder.
“She had mono, as recently as Christmas break,” Reighard said. “The wind could of blown the poor girl away some days when she came back. She really stepped it up and made the team a believer.”
Moraw finished with an overall score of 38.675.
Along with Teubner’s 39.225, sophomore Brittany Petzold stepped up and scored a 39.00.
CMU was 24 out of 24 on events, not counting a fall for the first time this season.
“We finally did it; we finally put it all together,” Teubner said. “It was a perfect time to do it. There is no better feeling than beating Kent State at home.”
The win continues CMU’s dominance over the MAC and puts them in complete control of the MAC.
According to Reighard, it also gives Kent State no hope.
“With the final score, even if they hadn’t counted a fall, we still would of beaten them,” Reighard said. “They can’t ride home and say 'oh there is hope, or we could of done this or that;' we took care of business today.”
