Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Gymnastics Places Nine on Academic All-MAC Team
3/30/2016 2:29:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Eagles had the second most honorees in the conference
MAC Release
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team placed nine on the Academic All-Mid-American Conference team, announced today, March 30, by the league office. The Eagles finished second in the conference with nine honorees, while Ball State led with 10.
The Eagles' selections for the team include: Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich. - Brighton), Kimberly Ebeyer (Greenwood, Ind. - Whiteland Community), Kirsten Gendron (Birch Run, Mich. - Frankenmuth), Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba - Sturgeon Heights), Megan Marino (Girard, Ohio - Howland), Sydney McEachern (Winnipeg, Manitoba - Kelvin), Lacey Rubin (Plainview, N.Y. - Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy), Rachel Slocum (Holly Springs, N.C. - Holly Springs), and Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J.- Holmdel).
The Academic All-MAC honor is for student-athletes who have excelled both in athletics and academics. In order to qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. Freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible for the award.
The Eagles sophomores paced the group, as five qualified for the honor. Conrad, who led the Eagles in the all-around, was named Second Team All-MAC at the conclusion of the regular season, along with also earning a spot on the 2016 All-Tournament Team. This year, her highest four-event total of 39.350 came in the final regular season meet against Central Michigan and SEMO, March 10. She also posted new career-bests on every event throughout the season, with her highs being 9.85 on vault, 9.9 on bars, 9.875 on beam, and 9.85 on floor.
After competing just once as a freshman, Gendron became a regular in the bars lineup throughout the season this year while also competing on floor on four occasions. Her top bars score of 9.75 came on the road at Michigan, Feb. 8, as well as at home against Central Michigan, Feb. 5. On floor, she notched a 9.675 on two occasions as well, both coming away from the Convocation Center.
After not competing as a freshman, Marino entered the floor lineup on six occasions for the Eagles, hitting every routine. In her first season of competition donning the Green and White, Marino posted a career-best 9.75 on floor while on the road at Bowling Green, Feb. 13.
Slocum had a spectacular season for the Eagles, as she was named MAC Specialist of the Week twice, in addition to earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Finally, she was named MAC Specialist of the Year after the MAC Championships. She also tied for second on vault at the conference championship, as well as tied for third on floor. The Holly Springs, N.C. native posted career-highs on both vault and floor this season. Her best vault of 9.925 came on the road at Ohio State, Feb. 27, while her career-high on floor occurred at the MAC Championships where she notched a 9.9.
Finally, Valentin earned First Team All-MAC honors following the regular season, as well as a spot on the 2016 All-Tournament Team. Additionally, she was named MAC Gymnast of the Week to open the season. Valentin was incredible for the Eagles this season, primarily competing on vault, bars, and beam, while also competing on floor and all-around on five occasions. She set a career-best of 9.9 on vault, along with a huge 9.925 on bars. Additionally, she notched a 9.875 on beam, as well as a 9.725 on floor. Her top all-around score of the season came in at a 39.200 while on the road at Michigan, Feb. 8.
The team also placed three juniors on the Academic All-MAC team. Gervais was named to the 2016 All-Tournament Team following the MAC Championships in which she took second on beam. The junior posted some of the team's top scores of the season, as she notched a personal-best 9.9 on bars against Western Michigan, Feb. 19. Additionally, the junior also scored a career-best 9.925 on beam at Bowling Green, Feb. 13, as well as a 9.775 against WMU. This marks the second time Gervais has earned the academic honor.
McEachern provided a solid veteran presence for the Eagles all season long, consistently competing on vault, bars, and floor. Throughout the season, she posted a top score of 9.775 on vault on two occasions at Pittsburgh, Jan. 10, and at Bowling Green, Feb. 13. McEachern also notched a 9.8 on bars at home against Western Michigan, Feb. 19, and a huge 9.9 on floor at the MAC Championships, March 19. Like Gervais, this is the second time that McEachern has been named to the Academic All-MAC team.
Rubin had a fantastic season for the Eagles, as she was named MAC Specialist of the Week following the team's first home meet of the season against Northern Illinois, Jan. 30. She was extremely consistent for the Eagles this season on bars and beam, while also setting career-bests on both. She scored a 9.9 on bars while at Ohio State, Feb. 27, in addition to notching a 9.9 on beam at Bowling Green, Feb. 13.
Finally, the lone senior on the squad also nabbed the academic honor. Ebeyer excelled in the leadoff spot for the Eagles on vault, beam, and floor. At the MAC Championships, March 19, she tied for third on floor with a career-best 9.9. She also tied for ninth on vault and 17th on beam. Ebeyer posted her best season with the Green and White this year, setting career highs on both vault and floor. Her top score of 9.825 on vault came on the road at Ohio State, Feb. 27, while her top beam score of 9.8 and top floor score of 9.9 both came at the MAC Championships. This marks the third season in which the senior has been recognized for her success in the classroom.
The Eagles continue their season with their first ever trip to NCAA Reginoals this weekend, April 2. Action from the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor is slated to begin at 6 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at MGoBlue.com/tickets, or by calling (734) 764-0247 or (866) 296-MTIX. The price of tickets is $10 for adults, $8 for youth/students/seniors and $5 in advance for groups of 10 or more.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team placed nine on the Academic All-Mid-American Conference team, announced today, March 30, by the league office. The Eagles finished second in the conference with nine honorees, while Ball State led with 10.
The Eagles' selections for the team include: Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich. - Brighton), Kimberly Ebeyer (Greenwood, Ind. - Whiteland Community), Kirsten Gendron (Birch Run, Mich. - Frankenmuth), Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba - Sturgeon Heights), Megan Marino (Girard, Ohio - Howland), Sydney McEachern (Winnipeg, Manitoba - Kelvin), Lacey Rubin (Plainview, N.Y. - Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy), Rachel Slocum (Holly Springs, N.C. - Holly Springs), and Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J.- Holmdel).
The Academic All-MAC honor is for student-athletes who have excelled both in athletics and academics. In order to qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. Freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible for the award.
The Eagles sophomores paced the group, as five qualified for the honor. Conrad, who led the Eagles in the all-around, was named Second Team All-MAC at the conclusion of the regular season, along with also earning a spot on the 2016 All-Tournament Team. This year, her highest four-event total of 39.350 came in the final regular season meet against Central Michigan and SEMO, March 10. She also posted new career-bests on every event throughout the season, with her highs being 9.85 on vault, 9.9 on bars, 9.875 on beam, and 9.85 on floor.
After competing just once as a freshman, Gendron became a regular in the bars lineup throughout the season this year while also competing on floor on four occasions. Her top bars score of 9.75 came on the road at Michigan, Feb. 8, as well as at home against Central Michigan, Feb. 5. On floor, she notched a 9.675 on two occasions as well, both coming away from the Convocation Center.
After not competing as a freshman, Marino entered the floor lineup on six occasions for the Eagles, hitting every routine. In her first season of competition donning the Green and White, Marino posted a career-best 9.75 on floor while on the road at Bowling Green, Feb. 13.
Slocum had a spectacular season for the Eagles, as she was named MAC Specialist of the Week twice, in addition to earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Finally, she was named MAC Specialist of the Year after the MAC Championships. She also tied for second on vault at the conference championship, as well as tied for third on floor. The Holly Springs, N.C. native posted career-highs on both vault and floor this season. Her best vault of 9.925 came on the road at Ohio State, Feb. 27, while her career-high on floor occurred at the MAC Championships where she notched a 9.9.
Finally, Valentin earned First Team All-MAC honors following the regular season, as well as a spot on the 2016 All-Tournament Team. Additionally, she was named MAC Gymnast of the Week to open the season. Valentin was incredible for the Eagles this season, primarily competing on vault, bars, and beam, while also competing on floor and all-around on five occasions. She set a career-best of 9.9 on vault, along with a huge 9.925 on bars. Additionally, she notched a 9.875 on beam, as well as a 9.725 on floor. Her top all-around score of the season came in at a 39.200 while on the road at Michigan, Feb. 8.
The team also placed three juniors on the Academic All-MAC team. Gervais was named to the 2016 All-Tournament Team following the MAC Championships in which she took second on beam. The junior posted some of the team's top scores of the season, as she notched a personal-best 9.9 on bars against Western Michigan, Feb. 19. Additionally, the junior also scored a career-best 9.925 on beam at Bowling Green, Feb. 13, as well as a 9.775 against WMU. This marks the second time Gervais has earned the academic honor.
McEachern provided a solid veteran presence for the Eagles all season long, consistently competing on vault, bars, and floor. Throughout the season, she posted a top score of 9.775 on vault on two occasions at Pittsburgh, Jan. 10, and at Bowling Green, Feb. 13. McEachern also notched a 9.8 on bars at home against Western Michigan, Feb. 19, and a huge 9.9 on floor at the MAC Championships, March 19. Like Gervais, this is the second time that McEachern has been named to the Academic All-MAC team.
Rubin had a fantastic season for the Eagles, as she was named MAC Specialist of the Week following the team's first home meet of the season against Northern Illinois, Jan. 30. She was extremely consistent for the Eagles this season on bars and beam, while also setting career-bests on both. She scored a 9.9 on bars while at Ohio State, Feb. 27, in addition to notching a 9.9 on beam at Bowling Green, Feb. 13.
Finally, the lone senior on the squad also nabbed the academic honor. Ebeyer excelled in the leadoff spot for the Eagles on vault, beam, and floor. At the MAC Championships, March 19, she tied for third on floor with a career-best 9.9. She also tied for ninth on vault and 17th on beam. Ebeyer posted her best season with the Green and White this year, setting career highs on both vault and floor. Her top score of 9.825 on vault came on the road at Ohio State, Feb. 27, while her top beam score of 9.8 and top floor score of 9.9 both came at the MAC Championships. This marks the third season in which the senior has been recognized for her success in the classroom.
The Eagles continue their season with their first ever trip to NCAA Reginoals this weekend, April 2. Action from the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor is slated to begin at 6 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at MGoBlue.com/tickets, or by calling (734) 764-0247 or (866) 296-MTIX. The price of tickets is $10 for adults, $8 for youth/students/seniors and $5 in advance for groups of 10 or more.
2015-16 Gymnastics Academic All-MAC Team
Shelby Arms, Ball State, Junior, 3.5676, Speech Pathology Audiology
Baylee Bell, Ball State, Sophomore, 3.2445, Business
Clare Collins, Sophomore, 3.2963, Communications
Jackie Duffy, Ball State, Sophomore, 3.7464, Business
Angela Durkac, Ball State, Senior, 3.8679, Pre-Veterinary / Biology
Katie Honarmand, Ball State, Senior, 3.6964, Pre-Physical Therapy
Miranda Kuehl, Ball State, Junior, 3.600, Health and Physical Education
Erin Patchey, Ball State, Senior, 3.3201, Sports Administration
Jordyn Penny, Ball State, Sophomore, 3.3488, Psychology
Jala Washington, Ball State, Junior, 3.6292, Journalism
Caroline Ellingboe, Bowling Green, Senior, 3.607, Graphic Design
Lauren Feely, Bowling Green, Junior, 4.00, inclusive early childhood
Shannon Goniwiecha, Bowling Green, Sophomore, 3.888, Biology
Alyssa Nocella, Bowling Green, Senior, 3.775, Exercise Science
Rachel Reis, Bowling Green, Junior, 4.00, Exercise Science
Taylor Bolendar, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.27, Exercise Science Major
Rachel Carr, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.44, Exercise Science Major
Jordan Charrette, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.37, Exercise Science Major
Katy Clements, Central Michigan, Sophomore, 3.21, Marketing
Carolina Fitzpatrick, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.51, Exercise Science Major
Bryttany Kaplan, Central Michigan, Sophomore, 3.92, Commercial Recreation
Megan Lamphere, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.71, Therapeutic Recreation
Catie Conrad, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 4.0, Business
Kimberly Ebeyer, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.50, Psychology
Kirsten Gendron, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.48, Biology
Natalie Gervais, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.92, Elementary Education
Megan Marino, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.40, Social Work
Sydney McEachern, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.96, Chemistry
Lacey Rubin, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.21, Social Work
Rachel Slocum, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.75, Nursing
Kendall Valentin, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.93, Biology
Nicolle Eastman, Kent State, Senior, 3.659, Early Childhood Education
Milena Fabry, Kent State, Junior, 3.977, Biology/ Pre-Med
Samantha Gordon, Kent State, Junior, 3.308, Criminal Justice/ Pre-Law
Kayla Kosmerl, Kent State, Senior, 3.68, Nursing
Skyelee Lamano, Kent State, Junior, 3.778, Marketing
Michaela Romito, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.709, Nursing
Brooke Timko, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.626, Sports Administration
Natalie Amadio, Northern Illinois, Senior, 3.48, Communications
Jamyra Carter, Northern Illinois, Junior, 3.20, Organizational & Corporate Communications
Kylie Clark, Northern Illinois, Senior, 3.65, Speech Language Pathology
Taylor Crumley, Northern Illinois, Junior, 3.59, Psychology
Megan Gilliam, Northern Illinois, Junior, 3.68, Speech Language Pathology
Megan Greenfield, Northern Illinois, Junior, 3.84, Kinesiology
Jessi Buis, Western Michigan, Senior, 3.68, Nursing
Anna Corbett, Western Michigan, Junior, 3.91, Nursing
Kelsey Hood, Western Michigan, Sophomore, 3.51, Undecided
Jessica Juncaj, Western Michigan, Sophomore, 3.44, Undecided
Audry Merritt, Western Michigan, Sophomore, 3.68, Student Intergrated Curriculum
Jessie Peszek, Western Michigan, Sophomore, 3.77, Biomedical Sciences
Kayla Weber, Western Michigan, Senior, 4.00, Biomedical Sciences
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