The Eastern Michigan women’s gymnastics team started the season 1-0 with a victory on the road versus Bowling Green State University on Saturday, Jan. 11. The final score was 194.875-193.325 in favor of the Eagles, who were led by Jada Rondeau, Emili Dobronics, Caitlin Satler, Kara Roberts and others.
Rondeau started the season for EMU with a 9.850 score on bars. Rondeau is a 5’0” junior from Minnesota, who competes in all phases. She also earned a 9.800 on the floor and a 9.775 on the beam. She finished with an all-around score of 38.925. Courtney Bezold was next up on the bars and she scored a 9.800.
With that score, the Eagles had the top two finishers in bars. Four other EMU gymnasts competed in that event and three of them scored higher than 9.700 as Roberts (9.750), Arileyah Harris (9.700) and Hannah Hartung (9.700) did so. Molly Parris also added a score of 9.375.
The Eagles led 48.800-48.350 after the first rotation and they only increased their lead on the vault. Dobronics, a senior out of Illinois, finished with a team-high 9.775, which was good enough for third place. Roberts, who finished in fourth place, had a 9.725. EMU was also good enough to pick up fifth and sixth place from Cali Harden and Parris. They both had scores of 9.600.
EMU lead 97.150-96.500 after two rotations.
Once they moved to the floor, Bowling Green was able to move a bit closer. Dobronics had a 9.850, the best on the team, followed by Rondeau’s 9.800. Roberts wasn’t too far behind, notching a 9.775. Three other EMU athletes competed on the floor as Brianna Price (9.625), Mickayla Stuckey (9.575) and Satler (9.500) helped the Eagles keep a late lead.
Eastern Michigan snatched the momentum back with a really strong performance on the beam, sealing the victory. Satler tied her career-high with a score of 9.875. That was good enough for first place. Dobronics was next up and she kept it going, scoring 9.850. Shannon Gregory pitched in a 9.825 to help secure the win by a point differential of +1.550.
The Eagles will get a week off before returning to the floor. They will face rival Central Michigan on Sunday, Jan. 18 at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti. The meet will start at 1 p.m. The following meet will be versus Western Michigan on Friday, Jan. 24 at home. That event takes place on Epilepsy Awareness Day at the Convocation Center.
