The Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team continued its 2025 campaign with a resounding home victory on Thursday, Feb. 27, in Ypsilanti, Mich. Facing Wilberforce University for the first time in program history, the Eagles delivered a dominant performance, securing a 191.575–155.025 win. This matchup not only marked the first meeting between the two schools but also established a significant 36.550-point margin of victory that now stands as the benchmark for this burgeoning rivalry.
Under the guidance of Head Coach Katie Minasola the Eagles entered the meet with the goal of extending their home winning streak. The team's depth was on full display throughout the evening as gymnasts contributed to the final score.
Vault Rotation Provides Early Momentum
The Eagles opened the night on vault, posting a collective score of 48.200. Junior Gwendelyn Cantu, led the rotation with a first-place finish, earning a 9.700. She was followed closely by freshman Savanna Dunwoody, who impressed in her home appearance with a 9.675. A pair of Eagles tied for third place as junior Kendall Landry and freshman Georgie Slack both recorded scores of 9.625. Junior Abby Brushwood also contributed a 9.575, while Kyrie Lowe rounded out the scoring lineup with a 9.400. Freshman Macy Nihart performed in the exhibition spot, earning a solid 9.550.
Consistency Carries Through the Bars Rotation
Moving to the uneven bars, Eastern Michigan tallied a team score of 46.875. The event saw a tie for the individual title between senior Kyrie Lowe and sophomore Analiah Solorio, both of whom executed routines that earned them 9.650. Freshman Georgie Slack continued her strong night with a 9.525, placing third in the event. Other scores in the rotation included sophomore Keeley Kohler with a 9.175, junior Gwendelyn Cantu with an 8.875, and sophomore Sanai Evans with an 8.800. Sophomore Jaelyn Stetz served as the exhibition gymnast for bars, scoring a 9.300.
Confidence and Control Shine on Beam
The Eagles remained steady as they transitioned to the balance beam, finishing the rotation with a 48.000. Junior Jacquelyn Patterson, a Mason, Ohio native, provided the highlight of the entire meet by securing the individual beam title with a meet-high score of 9.850. She was supported by junior Katin Childress, who took second place with a 9.725, and Analiah Solorio, who earned her second 9.650 of the night to take third. Freshman Macy Nihart also put up a counting score of 9.625. Senior Kyrie Lowe and sophomore Keeley Kohler completed the rotation with scores of 9.150 and 8.850, respectively. Notably, junior Genae Daniel delivered a standout exhibition routine, scoring a 9.700.
High Energy on Floor Caps a Complete Performance
Eastern Michigan saved their highest-scoring rotation for last, putting up an impressive 48.500 on the floor exercise. Junior Abby Brushwood, hailing from State College, Pa., captured the floor title with a stellar 9.825. Senior Priya Karle took the runner-up spot with a 9.750, while Kyrie Lowe placed third with a 9.675. Savanna Dunwoody with 9.650, Macy Nihart producing a 9.600 and Sanai Evans a 9.500 also provided strong scores to seal the victory for EMU.
All-Around and Season Context
Senior Kyrie Lowe was the night’s premier all-arounder, finishing with a total of 37.875. Her consistent performance across all four events has been a recurring theme this season, following her lead in the Eagles' recent Golden Girls Meet victory in mid-January. The Eagles have shown steady progress this year, coming off a third-place finish at the Air Force Quad in Colorado where Abby Brushwood also shared a floor win.
The victory against Wilberforce moves the Eagles to a 3-0 home record for the season and sets a positive tone as they look to maintain momentum. The team's balanced mix of veteran leadership from seniors like Lowe and Karle, combined with the emergence of talented freshmen like Dunwoody and Slack, suggests a promising trajectory for the remainder of the 2025 schedule.
Fans can continue to follow the Eagles through Eagle All-Access and ESPN+ as they navigate their upcoming competitions. The program remains a point of pride for the university, emphasizing both athletic excellence and academic achievement.
