Cleveland, Ohio – Central Michigan gymnastics has been named the regular-season favorite in the 2024 Mid-American Conference preseason coaches poll, the league announced Friday.
In a vote of the league’s seven coaches, the Chippewas earned 32 points to tie with Ball State for the upcoming 2024 regular season title pick.
CMU was scheduled to win the regular season and tournament title in 2023, as the Chippewas emerged with their second straight MAC championship in March. CMU won the title with a first-place tournament score of 196.525, besting regular season champion Ball State (196.325) and Kent State (196.175).
In addition, Chippewa gymnasts Leah Kmisiak And Luciana Alvarado Reid They were named to the “2024 MAC Gymnasts to Watch” lists, as nominated by the league’s coaches.
Kmisiak, a junior, competed in all 10 meets in the 2023 season, primarily on vault and bars. She posted a career-best 9.875 on vault at Ball State and at Kent State, and finished with a career-best 9.850 on bars four times during the season, including the 2023 MAC championship.
Alvarado-Reed, a sophomore, was named the 2023 MAC Freshman of the Year after a standout performance at the MAC Championships, where she placed third on vault with a score of 9.850 and fourth in the all-around with scores of 9.850 on bars and 9.825. on beam and a season-high 9.875 on floor, setting a career-high 39.400.
Central Michigan opens the 2024 season on Monday, Jan. 8 (9 p.m. ET) at Arizona State.
2024 Mid-American Conference Prep Gymnastics Coaches Poll (1st Place Votes)
T1. Ball condition (4) – 32 points
T1. Central Michigan (2) – 32 points
3. Western Michigan – 26 points
4. Kent State – 24 points (1)
T5. Bowling Green – 12 points
T5. Eastern Michigan – 12 points
7. Northern Illinois – 9 points
MAC Championship Champion: ball case (5), Central Michigan (1), Western Michigan (1).
2024 Mid-American Conference gymnasts to watch
Zoe Middleton, a student at Ball State
Grace Sumner, Junior, Ball State
Isabella Revelli, a student at Bowling Green
Katherine Wheelbacker, Junior, Bowling Green
Luciana Alvarado Reidstudent, Central Michigan
Leah KmisiakJunior, Central Michigan
Raisa Burris, senior, Eastern Michigan
Jacqueline Patterson, freshman, Eastern Michigan
Alyssa Jones, Junior, Kent State
Heidi Schultz, student, Kent State
Alyssa Ashari, senior, Northern Illinois
Isabella Ceci, Junior, Northern Illinois
Amanda Gruber, graduate student, Western Michigan
Payton Murphy, graduate student, Western Michigan