Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, April 2
Ann Arbor, Mich.
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
NCAA Regionals
Photo by: Jonathan Knight Photography
Eagles Turn in Incredible NCAA Regional Performance
4/2/2016 11:41:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Green and White stood tall with three of the top teams in the country
Complete Results
Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – In front of a huge crowd of 4,325 fans, the Eastern Michigan University women's gymnastics team turned in an incredible meet in its first ever NCAA Regional, April 2. The Green and White finished with a team score of 196.250, and were just .275 away from first-place Stanford and Auburn.
The entire meet was very close, and the Eagles were in the fight the entire way. In fact, after two rotations, the Green and White held onto a tie for first-place. The team's top event on the day was bars, where the team scored a 49.200. Additionally, EMU scored above a 49 on both beam, 49.075, and floor, 49.075. Junior Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Sturgeon Heights) also tied for third on beam with a 9.875, while sophomore Rachel Slocum (Holly Springs, N.C. – Holly Springs) tied for first on floor with a 9.9. Based on her finish, Slocum qualified to the NCAA Championships as an individual competitor on floor, just the second gymnast that EMU has sent to nationals.
"We had three fantastic teams in front of us that we were going to have to beat," explained Head Coach Jay Santos. "We came in as the fourth-seed, and are going out as the fourth-seed from the region, but our kids stood toe-to-toe with those three strong teams. We were leading the meet after a few rotations, and we hung with three of the best teams in the country. I'm super proud of what we did today, and I'm proud of the kids in general throughout the entire season."
"I think it's fantastic that Rachel is going to Nationals," remarked Santos. "She has been consistent all year long, and she just hits routines. She's been anchoring that lineup, and in the last few meets she has gotten the big scores that we have been looking for. For her to qualify, it's fantastic and we're excited for her."
Following a first-rotation bye, the Eagles began their meet on floor. The Eagles were incredibly consistent on the event yet again, notching four scores of 9.8 or better. Freshman Ciara Gresham (Shiloh, Ill. – Belleville) got the 9.8 streak started following a routine with powerful tumbling and solid landings. From there, junior Sydney McEachern (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Kelvin) notched another 9.8, after which senior Kimberly Ebeyer (Greenwood, Ind. – Whiteland Community) scored the same. To close out the rotation, Slocum had one of her best routines of the season, tying her career-high with a huge 9.9. With their first event complete, the Eagles notched a 49.075 and were right in the hunt for one of the top-two spots.
The Green and White kept it rolling on vault, as the team continued to stay consistent and hit routines. The team got off to a hot start, as both Ebeyer and sophomore Julia Schwartz (Gilbert, Ariz. – Mesquite) stuck their vaults, with Ebeyer scoring a 9.8 while Schwartz notched a 9.725. From there, Conrad also managed to score a 9.8, while Slocum led the Eagles with her unique handspring front pike ½, scoring a 9.825. EMU finished the event with a 48.9, and sat in a tie for first with a 97.975 after two events.
The Eagles then put together a fantastic bars rotation, notching four scores of 9.825 or better on four stuck dismounts. After the leadoff routine from McEachern, sophomore Kirsten Gendron (Birch Run, Mich. – Frankenmuth) tied her career-high with a 9.75, after which junior Lacey Rubin (Plainview, N.Y. – Plainview Old Bethpage John F Kennedy) performed a beautiful routine, scoring a 9.875. From there, Gervais scored a 9.85, with sophomore Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich. – Brighton) following with a 9.825. To end the event, sophomore Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J. – Holmdel) had one of her best routines of the season, sticking her full twisting double back dismount for a 9.9. With a 49.200 on bars, which was just .025 off of the program record, the Eagles held a three-event total of 147.175.
On their last event, the Eagles remained incredibly consistent, hitting all six routines and posting four scores of 9.8 or better. Ebeyer got the Green and White off to a fantastic start, scoring a 9.75 on a great routine. Following her, Rubin notched a 9.8, after which Gervais posted the team's highest score on the event with a 9.875. Valentin turned in a solid set as well, notching a 9.85 after sticking her dismount. Finally, Conrad closed the rotation with a 9.8, giving the Eagles an event total of 49.075.
Ultimately, the team finished with a 196.250, putting them in fourth-place, but just 0.275 away from first place Stanford and Auburn.
At the conclusion of the meet, Jay Santos was named Regional Coach of the Year, while Jess Santos was named Regional Assistant Coach of the Year.
This meet marks the final competition for the Eagles in this incredible, record-breaking season. Slocum will see action one more time in Fort Worth, Texas, as the NCAA Championships take place April 15-16.
Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – In front of a huge crowd of 4,325 fans, the Eastern Michigan University women's gymnastics team turned in an incredible meet in its first ever NCAA Regional, April 2. The Green and White finished with a team score of 196.250, and were just .275 away from first-place Stanford and Auburn.
The entire meet was very close, and the Eagles were in the fight the entire way. In fact, after two rotations, the Green and White held onto a tie for first-place. The team's top event on the day was bars, where the team scored a 49.200. Additionally, EMU scored above a 49 on both beam, 49.075, and floor, 49.075. Junior Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Sturgeon Heights) also tied for third on beam with a 9.875, while sophomore Rachel Slocum (Holly Springs, N.C. – Holly Springs) tied for first on floor with a 9.9. Based on her finish, Slocum qualified to the NCAA Championships as an individual competitor on floor, just the second gymnast that EMU has sent to nationals.
"We had three fantastic teams in front of us that we were going to have to beat," explained Head Coach Jay Santos. "We came in as the fourth-seed, and are going out as the fourth-seed from the region, but our kids stood toe-to-toe with those three strong teams. We were leading the meet after a few rotations, and we hung with three of the best teams in the country. I'm super proud of what we did today, and I'm proud of the kids in general throughout the entire season."
"I think it's fantastic that Rachel is going to Nationals," remarked Santos. "She has been consistent all year long, and she just hits routines. She's been anchoring that lineup, and in the last few meets she has gotten the big scores that we have been looking for. For her to qualify, it's fantastic and we're excited for her."
Following a first-rotation bye, the Eagles began their meet on floor. The Eagles were incredibly consistent on the event yet again, notching four scores of 9.8 or better. Freshman Ciara Gresham (Shiloh, Ill. – Belleville) got the 9.8 streak started following a routine with powerful tumbling and solid landings. From there, junior Sydney McEachern (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Kelvin) notched another 9.8, after which senior Kimberly Ebeyer (Greenwood, Ind. – Whiteland Community) scored the same. To close out the rotation, Slocum had one of her best routines of the season, tying her career-high with a huge 9.9. With their first event complete, the Eagles notched a 49.075 and were right in the hunt for one of the top-two spots.
The Green and White kept it rolling on vault, as the team continued to stay consistent and hit routines. The team got off to a hot start, as both Ebeyer and sophomore Julia Schwartz (Gilbert, Ariz. – Mesquite) stuck their vaults, with Ebeyer scoring a 9.8 while Schwartz notched a 9.725. From there, Conrad also managed to score a 9.8, while Slocum led the Eagles with her unique handspring front pike ½, scoring a 9.825. EMU finished the event with a 48.9, and sat in a tie for first with a 97.975 after two events.
The Eagles then put together a fantastic bars rotation, notching four scores of 9.825 or better on four stuck dismounts. After the leadoff routine from McEachern, sophomore Kirsten Gendron (Birch Run, Mich. – Frankenmuth) tied her career-high with a 9.75, after which junior Lacey Rubin (Plainview, N.Y. – Plainview Old Bethpage John F Kennedy) performed a beautiful routine, scoring a 9.875. From there, Gervais scored a 9.85, with sophomore Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich. – Brighton) following with a 9.825. To end the event, sophomore Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J. – Holmdel) had one of her best routines of the season, sticking her full twisting double back dismount for a 9.9. With a 49.200 on bars, which was just .025 off of the program record, the Eagles held a three-event total of 147.175.
On their last event, the Eagles remained incredibly consistent, hitting all six routines and posting four scores of 9.8 or better. Ebeyer got the Green and White off to a fantastic start, scoring a 9.75 on a great routine. Following her, Rubin notched a 9.8, after which Gervais posted the team's highest score on the event with a 9.875. Valentin turned in a solid set as well, notching a 9.85 after sticking her dismount. Finally, Conrad closed the rotation with a 9.8, giving the Eagles an event total of 49.075.
Ultimately, the team finished with a 196.250, putting them in fourth-place, but just 0.275 away from first place Stanford and Auburn.
At the conclusion of the meet, Jay Santos was named Regional Coach of the Year, while Jess Santos was named Regional Assistant Coach of the Year.
This meet marks the final competition for the Eagles in this incredible, record-breaking season. Slocum will see action one more time in Fort Worth, Texas, as the NCAA Championships take place April 15-16.
Team Standings (% denotes qualifying to NCAA Championships)
1. Auburn 196.525%
1. Stanford 196.525%
3. Michigan 196.475
4. Eastern Michigan 196.250
5. Penn State 195.125
6. New Hampshire 193.900
Eagles Results (*denotes career high, % denotes qualifying to NCAA Championships)
Team 196.250
Vault 48.900
Rachel Slocum 9.825
Catie Conrad 9.80
Kimberly Ebeyer 9.80
Kendall Valentin 9.75
Julia Schwartz 9.725
Ciara Gresham 9.65
Bars 49.200
Kendall Valentin 9.90
Lacey Rubin 9.875
Natalie Gervais 9.85
Catie Conrad 9.825
Kirsten Gendron 9.75*
Sydney McEachern 9.70
Beam 49.075
Natalie Gervais 9.875
Kendall Valentin 9.85
Catie Conrad 9.80
Lacey Rubin 9.80
Kimberly Ebeyer 9.75
Megan Hultgren 9.725
Floor 49.075
Rachel Slocum 9.90*%
Kimberly Ebeyer 9.80
Sydney McEachern 9.80
Ciara Gresham 9.80
Catie Conrad 9.775
Natalie Gervais 9.75
All-Around
Catie Conrad 39.200
Players Mentioned
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AA
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AA
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AA
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AA
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AA
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AA
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V,BB,FX
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