Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, March 5
Morgantown, W.Va.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
196.225
at
195.800
West Virginia
Photo by: Andrew Mascharka
Eagles Score Season-Best 196.225 in Morgantown for Second-Place Finish
3/5/2017 4:09:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Green and White finished with the second-best beam total in program history
Complete Results
Photo Gallery
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's gymnastics team had its best road meet of the season Sunday, March 5, as the Eagles notched their highest team total of the season in a quad meet at West Virginia, posting a 196.225 to finish second, with the team total also being the fourth-best in the EMU record books. The Green and White had a historic day on beam, totaling a 49.300, which is the second-best beam total in program history, while junior Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J. – Holmdel) tied the program record on bars.
"This was a really exciting meet," exclaimed Head Coach Sarah Brown. "It's been a while since we competed in a quad-meet and I thought this meet was great preparation for postseason. There was a lot of talent on the floor and our team fought through each event. I'm incredibly proud of the athletes who accomplished career-highs today and overall I couldn't be happier with where we are as a team."
The Eagles began the meet on floor, totaling a 48.925, tying the floor total from last week against Ball State. Leading the charge on the opening event was sophomore Ciara Gresham (Shiloh, Ill. – Belleville), who notched a strong 9.825, her third consecutive score of 9.80-or-better. Junior Megan Marino (Girard, Ohio – Howland) and senior Sydney McEachern (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Kelvin) each received a 9.80, with that being Marino's fifth 9.80-or-better this season, while it is McEachern's sixth. Rounding out EMU's top-five was junior Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich. – Brighton) and freshman Emili Dobronics (Orland Park, Ill. – Carl Sandburg), both of whom earned a 9.75. With one rotation complete, Eastern sat in third behind George Washington and West Virginia, and ahead of Pittsburgh.
Eastern kept the momentum rolling on vault, totaling a 48.975 behind a trio of career-bests. In fact, the Green and White's vault total was the best of the season. Gresham continued her excellent meet with a huge 9.875, besting her previous career-high of 9.825 by .05. Senior Kelsie Brooks (Winston, Ga. – Alexander) tied her career-high score of 9.80, which was set last week, while sophomore Megan Hultgren (Rockford, Ill. – Sacred Heart Classical Center) also earned a 9.80, setting a new personal-best. Finally, Valentin made her return to vault, also notching a 9.80 after not competing on the event over the last few weeks. With half of the meet complete, Eastern jumped into second-place with a two-event total of 97.900.
As had been the case throughout the year, EMU excelled on bars, totaling a 49.025, marking the eighth time this season Eastern has totaled a 49-or-better on the event. Valentin had an incredible routine, scoring a career-best 9.950. Not only was her score a personal-best, but it also tied the program record set by Natalie Hashimoto in 2003. Conrad continued her strong year on bars with a 9.85, as the Brighton, Mich. native has scored a 9.8-or-better on bars in every meet this year. Senior Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Sturgeon Heights) pitched in a 9.775, while fellow senior Lacey Rubin (Plainview, N.Y. – Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy) received a 9.75. Heading into the final rotation, EMU remained in second with a 146.925, .400 behind George Washington.
The Eagles saved their best for last however, scoring a huge 49.300 on beam to close out the meet. That score was not only the best of the year, but also the second-best in program history. Gervais had an outstanding routine, tying her career-high of 9.925, which also ranks second in the EMU record books. Behind Gervais, Eastern had three competitors each score a 9.85, as Conrad, Gresham, and Valentin all received the same mark. Gresham's was also a career-best, capping off one of her best meets donning the Green and White. Finally, Rubin also scored above a 9.80, securing a 9.825 to round out EMU's top-five. With all four events complete, EMU finished with its best score of the season, notching a 196.225 to finish second behind George Washington University.
The Eagles conclude the regular season next week, hosting Bowling Green, Saturday, March 11, for Senior Night. Action from the Convocation Center is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Photo Gallery
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's gymnastics team had its best road meet of the season Sunday, March 5, as the Eagles notched their highest team total of the season in a quad meet at West Virginia, posting a 196.225 to finish second, with the team total also being the fourth-best in the EMU record books. The Green and White had a historic day on beam, totaling a 49.300, which is the second-best beam total in program history, while junior Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J. – Holmdel) tied the program record on bars.
"This was a really exciting meet," exclaimed Head Coach Sarah Brown. "It's been a while since we competed in a quad-meet and I thought this meet was great preparation for postseason. There was a lot of talent on the floor and our team fought through each event. I'm incredibly proud of the athletes who accomplished career-highs today and overall I couldn't be happier with where we are as a team."
The Eagles began the meet on floor, totaling a 48.925, tying the floor total from last week against Ball State. Leading the charge on the opening event was sophomore Ciara Gresham (Shiloh, Ill. – Belleville), who notched a strong 9.825, her third consecutive score of 9.80-or-better. Junior Megan Marino (Girard, Ohio – Howland) and senior Sydney McEachern (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Kelvin) each received a 9.80, with that being Marino's fifth 9.80-or-better this season, while it is McEachern's sixth. Rounding out EMU's top-five was junior Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich. – Brighton) and freshman Emili Dobronics (Orland Park, Ill. – Carl Sandburg), both of whom earned a 9.75. With one rotation complete, Eastern sat in third behind George Washington and West Virginia, and ahead of Pittsburgh.
Eastern kept the momentum rolling on vault, totaling a 48.975 behind a trio of career-bests. In fact, the Green and White's vault total was the best of the season. Gresham continued her excellent meet with a huge 9.875, besting her previous career-high of 9.825 by .05. Senior Kelsie Brooks (Winston, Ga. – Alexander) tied her career-high score of 9.80, which was set last week, while sophomore Megan Hultgren (Rockford, Ill. – Sacred Heart Classical Center) also earned a 9.80, setting a new personal-best. Finally, Valentin made her return to vault, also notching a 9.80 after not competing on the event over the last few weeks. With half of the meet complete, Eastern jumped into second-place with a two-event total of 97.900.
As had been the case throughout the year, EMU excelled on bars, totaling a 49.025, marking the eighth time this season Eastern has totaled a 49-or-better on the event. Valentin had an incredible routine, scoring a career-best 9.950. Not only was her score a personal-best, but it also tied the program record set by Natalie Hashimoto in 2003. Conrad continued her strong year on bars with a 9.85, as the Brighton, Mich. native has scored a 9.8-or-better on bars in every meet this year. Senior Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Sturgeon Heights) pitched in a 9.775, while fellow senior Lacey Rubin (Plainview, N.Y. – Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy) received a 9.75. Heading into the final rotation, EMU remained in second with a 146.925, .400 behind George Washington.
The Eagles saved their best for last however, scoring a huge 49.300 on beam to close out the meet. That score was not only the best of the year, but also the second-best in program history. Gervais had an outstanding routine, tying her career-high of 9.925, which also ranks second in the EMU record books. Behind Gervais, Eastern had three competitors each score a 9.85, as Conrad, Gresham, and Valentin all received the same mark. Gresham's was also a career-best, capping off one of her best meets donning the Green and White. Finally, Rubin also scored above a 9.80, securing a 9.825 to round out EMU's top-five. With all four events complete, EMU finished with its best score of the season, notching a 196.225 to finish second behind George Washington University.
The Eagles conclude the regular season next week, hosting Bowling Green, Saturday, March 11, for Senior Night. Action from the Convocation Center is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
EMU Results (* denotes a personal-best, @ denotes a program record)
Team – 196.225
Vault 48.975
1. Ciara Gresham 9.875*
9. Kelsie Brooks 9.800*
9. Megan Hultgren 9.800*
9. Kendall Valentin 9.800
18. Julia Schwartz 9.700
23. Catie Conrad 9.475
Bars 49.025
1. Kendall Valentin 9.950*@
3. Catie Conrad 9.850
10. Natalie Gervais 9.775
12. Lacey Rubin 9.750
15. Sydney McEachern 9.700
19. Julia Schwartz 9.600
Beam 49.300
1. Natalie Gervais 9.925*
4. Catie Conrad 9.850
4. Kendall Valentin 9.850
4. Ciara Gresham 9.850*
10. Lacey Rubin 9.825
17. Megan Hultgren 9.775
Floor 48.925
5. Ciara Gresham 9.825
11. Megan Marino 9.800
11. Sydney McEachern 9.800
19. Catie Conrad 9.750
19. Emili Dobronics 9.750
23. Sydney Audet 9.550
All-Around
3. Catie Conrad 38.925
Players Mentioned
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