Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, April 1
Champaign, Ill.
4 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
NCAA Regionals
Photo by: Andrew Mascharka
Eagles Conclude Historic 2017 Season at NCAA Regionals
4/1/2017 8:43:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Green and White tallied a 195.400 against some very tough teams in Champaign
Complete Results
Photo Gallery
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's gymnastics team wrapped up another incredible season today, April 1, at the NCAA Regionals in Champaign, Ill. The Green and White finished sixth as a team with a score of 195.400 against some very tough competition, while the squad also had five top-six finishes on the individual level at the program's second ever regional championships.
"I'm so proud of how the team competed today," stated Head Coach Sarah Brown. "I thought the judging was very tight throughout, but our team came out and had another strong meet. Obviously I'm disappointed that the careers of our seniors are now over, but they definitely left the program better than it was when they got here. We're going to continue building and just getting better each and every day."
The Eagles began the day on beam, both encountering and overcoming some adversity. After a tough fall from the first competitor, the Green and White rattled off five straight hit routines, including three scores of 9.800-or-better. Leading Eastern on beam was junior Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J. – Holmdel), who tallied a 9.850 in the fifth spot. Both junior Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich. – Brighton) and senior Lacey Rubin (Plainview, N.Y. – Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy) received a 9.800, with Rubin also sticking her dismount. Senior Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Sturgeon Heights) kicked in a 9.575, while sophomore Ciara Gresham (Shiloh, Ill. – Belleville) added a 9.550. With the first rotation complete, the Green and White sat in fourth-place.
Following a bye, Eastern then moved to floor, where the team posted a solid 48.875 after six hit routines. Senior Sydney McEachern (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Kelvin) and junior Kirsten Gendron (Birch Run, Mich. – Frankenmuth) paced the team, as each scored a 9.800, with Gendron's falling just short of her career-best. Gresham had a strong routine as well, tallying a 9.775 after some very powerful tumbling. Rounding out the Green and White's top-five on floor was Conrad and freshman Emili Dobronics (Orland Park, Ill. – Carl Sandburg), both of whom posted a 9.750. With two events in the book, Eastern maintained sixth-place with a two-event total of 97.450.
The Green and White had a quick turnaround, heading straight to vault after floor. Like floor, the Eagles were able to tally six more hits and finish with an event total of 48.840. Similar to beam, Valentin had Eastern's best score of the day, posting a 9.825 after a beautiful yurchenko full. Gresham utilized her powerful vault to earn a 9.775, while three Eagles scored a 9.750. Earning that mark for EMU was Conrad, Hultgren, and junior Julia Schwartz (Gilbert, Ariz. – Mesquite). After three events, the Green and White held a 146.300 with the team's best event remaining.
EMU wrapped up the meet on bars, turning in the squad's best event total of the day with a 49.100. In fact, that total was the seventh-best bars total in the EMU record books. Rubin had an incredible routine, sticking her dismount and scoring a 9.900 to tie her career-best. In fact, her score was tied for third behind a pair of UCLA gymnasts. Both Valentin and Conrad turned in strong performances as well, with each earning 9.850's. Additionally, Gervais scored a 9.800. Finally, McEachern pitched in a 9.700 as the second gymnast to compete for Eastern.
With all 24 routines completed, the Green and White finished with a 195.400, putting them in sixth against some stiff competition. Conrad also wrapped up the all-around competition in sixth-place, scoring a 39.150, which was her fourth-best all-around total this year. She was also just one spot away from qualifying to the NCAA Championships as an all-arounder.
UCLA and Oregon State both punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships after tallying team scores of 196.800 and 196.150, respectively. Iowa finished third with a 196.050 after a furious rally on beam, while Illinois took fourth after scoring a 195.825. Finally, Ohio State took fifth with a 195.700 while Eastern claimed sixth with a 195.400.
This marks the end to another historic season for the Green and White. Not only did the Eagles claim the program's third ever Mid-American Conference title and the first regular season conference championship in school history, but the team also qualified to regionals for just the second time ever.
Photo Gallery
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's gymnastics team wrapped up another incredible season today, April 1, at the NCAA Regionals in Champaign, Ill. The Green and White finished sixth as a team with a score of 195.400 against some very tough competition, while the squad also had five top-six finishes on the individual level at the program's second ever regional championships.
"I'm so proud of how the team competed today," stated Head Coach Sarah Brown. "I thought the judging was very tight throughout, but our team came out and had another strong meet. Obviously I'm disappointed that the careers of our seniors are now over, but they definitely left the program better than it was when they got here. We're going to continue building and just getting better each and every day."
The Eagles began the day on beam, both encountering and overcoming some adversity. After a tough fall from the first competitor, the Green and White rattled off five straight hit routines, including three scores of 9.800-or-better. Leading Eastern on beam was junior Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J. – Holmdel), who tallied a 9.850 in the fifth spot. Both junior Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich. – Brighton) and senior Lacey Rubin (Plainview, N.Y. – Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy) received a 9.800, with Rubin also sticking her dismount. Senior Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Sturgeon Heights) kicked in a 9.575, while sophomore Ciara Gresham (Shiloh, Ill. – Belleville) added a 9.550. With the first rotation complete, the Green and White sat in fourth-place.
Following a bye, Eastern then moved to floor, where the team posted a solid 48.875 after six hit routines. Senior Sydney McEachern (Winnipeg, Manitoba – Kelvin) and junior Kirsten Gendron (Birch Run, Mich. – Frankenmuth) paced the team, as each scored a 9.800, with Gendron's falling just short of her career-best. Gresham had a strong routine as well, tallying a 9.775 after some very powerful tumbling. Rounding out the Green and White's top-five on floor was Conrad and freshman Emili Dobronics (Orland Park, Ill. – Carl Sandburg), both of whom posted a 9.750. With two events in the book, Eastern maintained sixth-place with a two-event total of 97.450.
The Green and White had a quick turnaround, heading straight to vault after floor. Like floor, the Eagles were able to tally six more hits and finish with an event total of 48.840. Similar to beam, Valentin had Eastern's best score of the day, posting a 9.825 after a beautiful yurchenko full. Gresham utilized her powerful vault to earn a 9.775, while three Eagles scored a 9.750. Earning that mark for EMU was Conrad, Hultgren, and junior Julia Schwartz (Gilbert, Ariz. – Mesquite). After three events, the Green and White held a 146.300 with the team's best event remaining.
EMU wrapped up the meet on bars, turning in the squad's best event total of the day with a 49.100. In fact, that total was the seventh-best bars total in the EMU record books. Rubin had an incredible routine, sticking her dismount and scoring a 9.900 to tie her career-best. In fact, her score was tied for third behind a pair of UCLA gymnasts. Both Valentin and Conrad turned in strong performances as well, with each earning 9.850's. Additionally, Gervais scored a 9.800. Finally, McEachern pitched in a 9.700 as the second gymnast to compete for Eastern.
With all 24 routines completed, the Green and White finished with a 195.400, putting them in sixth against some stiff competition. Conrad also wrapped up the all-around competition in sixth-place, scoring a 39.150, which was her fourth-best all-around total this year. She was also just one spot away from qualifying to the NCAA Championships as an all-arounder.
UCLA and Oregon State both punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships after tallying team scores of 196.800 and 196.150, respectively. Iowa finished third with a 196.050 after a furious rally on beam, while Illinois took fourth after scoring a 195.825. Finally, Ohio State took fifth with a 195.700 while Eastern claimed sixth with a 195.400.
This marks the end to another historic season for the Green and White. Not only did the Eagles claim the program's third ever Mid-American Conference title and the first regular season conference championship in school history, but the team also qualified to regionals for just the second time ever.
Team Standings (% denotes qualifying to NCAA Championships)
1. UCLA 196.800%
2. Oregon State 196.150%
3. Iowa 196.050
4. Illinois 195.825
5. Ohio State 195.700
6. Eastern Michigan 195.400
EMU Results (* denotes a personal-best)
Team 195.400
Vault 48.850
t-4. Kendall Valentin 9.825
t-11. Ciara Gresham 9.775
t-15. Catie Conrad 9.750
t-15. Megan Hultgren 9.750
t-15. Julia Schwartz 9.750
t-24. Kelsie Brooks 9.725
Bars 49.100
t-3. Lacey Rubin 9.900*
t-6. Catie Conrad 9.850
t-6. Kendall Valentin 9.850
t-17. Natalie Gervais 9.800
t-30. Sydney McEachern 9.700
t-36. Julia Schwartz 9.575
Beam 48.575
t-10. Kendall Valentin 9.850
t-22. Catie Conrad 9.800
t-22. Lacey Rubin 9.800
37. Natalie Gervais 9.575
38. Ciara Gresham 9.550
40. Megan Hultgren 9.225
Floor 48.875
t-14. Kirsten Gendron 9.800
t-14. Sydney McEachern 9.800
t-21. Ciara Gresham 9.775
t-26. Catie Conrad 9.750
t-26. Emili Dobronics 9.750
t-36. Megan Marino 9.600
All Around
6. Catie Conrad 39.150
Players Mentioned
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