On a Sunday afternoon dedicated to more than just gymnastics, the Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team hosted its annual Purple Meet to raise awareness for epilepsy. Despite a spirited performance in front of the home crowd at the George Gervin GameAbove Center, the Eagles fell to the Central Michigan University Chippewas with a final score of 195.275-192.725.
The loss moves Eastern Michigan to a 5-3 overall record and a 2-1 mark in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play. While the result adds another chapter to a challenging historical rivalry—CMU now holds a 29-8 advantage over EMU since 2003—the afternoon was highlighted by several career-best performances and an individual event title for the Eagles.
Struggles on vault and bars give CMU an early lead
The meet began with the Eagles on the vault, where they posted a team score of 48.250. Freshman Kendall Landry led the scoring lineup for Eastern, earning a 9.700 to place fifth overall. Following closely were Abby Brushwood and Gwendelyn Cantu, who both posted scores of 9.675 to tie for sixth. Kyrie Lowe delivered a standout performance in exhibition with a 9.725, though the Chippewas swept the top three podium spots, led by Lia Kmieciak’s 9.825.
The second rotation saw Eastern move to the uneven bars, finishing with a team total of 47.000. Analiah Solorio was the bright spot for the Eagles, tying her career high with a 9.800 to secure a tie for fourth place. Keeley Kohler followed with a solid 9.775 for seventh, while Jacquelyn Patterson rounded out the top EMU performers with a 9.700. However, Central Michigan’s bar lineup was dominant, posting a massive 49.300 team score, fueled by Kmieciak’s near-perfect 9.950.
Childress claims beam title in strongest rotation
The Eagles found their rhythm in the third rotation on the balance beam, which proved to be their highest-scoring event of the day at 48.800. The highlight of the entire meet for Eastern was Katin Childress, who captured the event title with a stellar 9.850.
The beam lineup showed remarkable depth as the Eagles occupied several top spots. Solorio continued her strong day with a 9.800, finishing third, while Lowe earned a 9.750 to tie for fourth. Kohler and Patterson added identical scores of 9.700, ensuring the Eagles remained competitive as the meet headed into its final stage.
Finishing strong on floor
Eastern Michigan closed out the afternoon on the floor exercise, recording a team score of 48.675. Abby Brushwood led the way for the Eagles with a 9.825, which was good enough to tie for second place overall. Lowe remained consistent with a 9.800, and Macy Nihart contributed a 9.750 to tie for sixth.
In the all-around standings, EMU’s Kyrie Lowe finished second overall with a total score of 38.200, trailing only CMU’s Luciana Alvarado-Reid, who took the top spot with a 38.725.
Looking forward
While the Eagles were unable to extend their home winning streak, the meet served as a platform for growth, particularly for newcomers like Kendall Landry, who competed on the floor for the first time in her collegiate career, and Macy Nihart, who made her first collegiate vault appearance.
The Eagles will look to bounce back as they return to the road for another MAC showdown. Eastern Michigan is scheduled to face Ball State University on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 1 p.m. Fans can follow the action live on ESPN+ as the Eagles attempt to improve their conference standing.
