Gymnast of the Week:
Jennifer Sturgis
Western Michigan
Sr. ● (Novi, Mich. /Novi)
Sturgis led the Broncos in three of four events against No. 25 Michigan State this weekend and broke WMU's all-time all-around record. She tied for first in the beam, with a career-high 9.900 - tying for the third best score in WMU history. She added a career-high 9.85 in the floor and tied a season high with a 9.825 in the vault, while recording a 9.650 in the bars. Totaling a 39.225 in the all-around, Sturgis placed second and shattered the Brown & Gold school record of 39.175 set by Lori Gerhardt.
Other Nominees:
Kelly Watson
Ball State
Sr. ● (Ravenna, Mich. /Allendale)
All Around
Watson was the lone Cardinal to perform in the all-around in both of their wins this weekend at Alaska Anchorage. In Watson's first day she took third on vault (9.525) which helped her place second in the all-around (37.525) on March 16. Watson charmed the audience with a first place showing on floor9.775 on Sunday, March 18. The senior earned first place honors in the all-around 38.600. Watson also helped the Cardinals to their best team performance on bars with a 48.250 and on beam 48.275.
Jessica Neel
Central Michigan
So. ● (Fairborn, Ohio/Fairborn)
Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam
Neel hit for a career high 9.825 on balance beam and had two other strong scores on vault and uneven bars as Central Michigan stayed on track to take the top spot in the MAC with a 193.500-192.175 victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday. In addition to her beam effort, Neel scored 9.675 on vault and 9.650 on bars to help CMU improve to 4-1 in the MAC this season.
Jolene Worley
Eastern Michigan
Jr. ● (Orlando, Fla. /William R. Boone)
All Around
Worley had a solid day on the mat with setting a season-high mark in the vault and tying a season-high mark in the all-around. On the vault Worley posted a 9.750, tying for second place honors behind teammate Erin Grigg. On the balance beam Worley again tied for second with a 9.725. On the floor portion of Saturday’s meet Worley would take medalist honors scoring a 9.800. After posting three top two finishes Worley would tie her season-high mark of 39.025 on her way to her second medalist honors of the day.
Kristin Peters
Kent State
Jr. ● (Maineville, Ohio/Kings)
Vault, bars, beam
Kent State was led in their meet against EMU this weekend by junior tri-captain Kristin Peters who captured first place finishes on both bars and beam. She tallied a 9.875 on bars and a 9.850 on beam. She also finished in eighth place on vault with a solid 9.625 effort.
Specialist of the Week:
Andrea Perini
Western Michigan
So. ● (Sterling Heights, Mich. /Sterling Heights)
Perini set career highs in four events - bars, floor, beam and all-around. Perini recorded a 9.825 in both the bars and the floor, and had a 9.775 in the beam. She registered a 9.500 in the vault, the only event she didn’t set a new personal best in. Her all-around total was 38.925.
Other Nominees:
Jenna Tarkington
Ball State
Sr. ● (Kokomo, Ind. /Northwestern)
Tarkington had strong performances in the Cardinals back-to-back victories over Alaska Anchorage. The senior tallied a 9.600 in BSU's first victory (March 16). Tarkington then pulled off another first place win on Sunday after scoring a 9.825 which was her second best performance this season.
Jessica Suder
Central Michigan
Fr. ● (Cranberry Township, Pa. /Seneca Valley)
Balance Beam, Floor Exercise
Suder became the second gymnast in the MAC this season to score 9.900 or better on balance beam this season, earning a 9.900 in Saturday's dual meet victory over Northern Illinois, 193.500-192.175. Suder won the beam, and added another strong score of 9.725 on floor exercise as the Chippewas remained in contention to win the regular season title in the MAC this season.
Erin Grigg
Eastern Michigan
Fr. ● (North Bay, Ontario/Widdifield)
Vault, Bars
Grigg posted a 9.775 on the vault, setting a career-high mark on her way to medalist honors in the event this past weekend in Eastern Michigan’s final home meet of the season against Kent State. Grigg would also set a second career-high mark in the same meet, posting a 9.775 on bars on her way to a tie for second place.
Julie Huynh
Kent State
Sr. ● (Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood)
Julie Huynh had a strong meet for the Flashes this weekend with her first-ever first place finish on floor with a season-high tying effort of 9.800. She also had a very solid bars routine where she placed second with a mark of 9.775.