Gymnastics competes at Pittsburgh
Chris McCarty
CMU claimed its third MAC win Sunday against Western Michigan 193.250 to 190.675.
It was the Chippewas largest margin of victory and they are 4-6 overall and 3-3 in the MAC.
“We are looking for improvements in our routines on Saturday,” Head Coach Jerry Reighard said. “It’s a great chance to see how we can score on the East Coast.”
He said Pittsburgh is aiming for Central and he expects the meet to be a battle between the two teams.
Central will look to improve its performances on each event. The team scored a season-high 49.1 on floor exercise and a 48.55 on the vault.
“We landed our feet on vaulting last week and now it’s time to polish our routines,” Reighard said.
He said the team wants to repeat its performance on floor exercise, which was the second best floor score in the MAC.
Junior Michele Orloski won floor exercise with a season-high 9.9 and took second on beam with a season-high 9.7.
The team looks to hit five of six routines on balance beam and bars, which did not happen against the Broncos.
Central has not had to count a fall in its final beam scores.
“We are looking to be more consistent,” Reighard said.
Reighard credited Assistant Coach Christine MacDonald for a coaching change that gave the team more confidence in practice on balance beam.
“The team had a different attitude after the win,” Reighard said. “In the last two weeks this team has made a lot of progress.”
He said he was optimistic that senior Sarah Nelson would compete Saturday.
Nelson fell off the uneven bars while trying to do her dismount. The fall caused swelling in her knee, but it should not affect her performances.
Freshman Kara Reighard was named the MAC gymnast of the Week for the second time this season.
Reighard won the all around Sunday with a score of 38.6. She tied for first on bars and finished second on floor exercise with a career-high on both events with a 9.825
She placed fourth in the vault with a 9.7 and is among the top three of all arounders in four meets this season.
“This is phenomenal for a freshman to earn this twice in the MAC,” Reighard said.
He said it’s an honor, because there are a lot of good upperclassmen all arounders in the MAC.
Junior Sarah Dame took second in the all around with a 37.750, and tied for second on floor exercise with a 9.825. She took fourth on the vault with a 9.7.
The University of Pittsburgh scored a school-record 194.350 in a win over Rutgers, James Madison and Wilson College.
The Panthers scored school records on balance beam with a 48.9 and a 48.75 on the vault.
Ursinus scored a 182.575 last weekend in a loss to Penn and Temple.
