The Eastern Michigan University gymnastics team traveled to Bowling Green, Ohio, on Saturday, March 21, to compete in the 2026 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships. In a highly competitive field hosted by Bowling Green State University, the Eagles finished the afternoon with a team score of 194.675, securing fourth place overall. While Central Michigan took home the conference title with a score of 196.025, Eastern Michigan managed to finish ahead of Western Michigan (194.525), Bowling Green (194.275), and Northern Illinois (193.675) to cap off their season.
Individual stars shine on the podium
The afternoon was highlighted by exceptional individual efforts that placed EMU athletes among the conference's elite. Kyrie Lowe continued her dominant season by posting a 9.825 on the uneven bars, earning a tie for third place overall in the event. Lowe’s performance was a continuation of her recent success, having been named the MAC Gymnast of the Week just days prior on March 19.
Joining Lowe on the podium was Katin Childress, who delivered a stellar routine on the balance beam. Childress recorded a 9.850, which also earned her a tie for third place overall. These top-three finishes provided the Eagles with the momentum needed to stay competitive throughout the multi-rotation meet.
Event breakdown: Consistency across rotations
Uneven bars and balance beam
The Eagles began their quest for the title with a bye before moving to the uneven bars for their first active rotation. The team posted a 48.500 on the bars, led by Lowe’s 9.825. Contributing to the solid start were Jacquelyn Patterson and Keeley Kohler, who both recorded scores of 9.750. Gwendelyn Cantu and Genae Daniel rounded out the primary scoring with a 9.625 and 9.550, respectively.
Moving to the balance beam, the Eagles improved slightly with a team score of 48.525. Childress was the standout here with her 9.850, followed closely by Lowe, who remained consistent with a 9.800. Kendall Landry added a valuable 9.750 to the event total, while Patterson contributed a 9.625.
Floor exercise and vault
Following a second bye, Eastern Michigan transitioned to the floor exercise, where they posted a team score of 48.800. Abby Brushwood led the way for the Eagles on the floor, scoring a 9.875 to tie for fourth place overall in the event. Macy Nihart followed with a strong 9.800, while Priya Karle and Kendall Landry added scores of 9.775 and 9.700, respectively.
The Eagles saved their best team rotation for last, closing the meet on the vault with a score of 48.850. Brushwood once again led the charge, recording a season-best score of 9.825 to tie for seventh in the event. Cantu followed with a 9.800, while Landry and Georgia Slack each contributed scores of 9.750 to solidify the Eagles' fourth-place standing.
Season accolades and looking ahead
The 2026 season has been defined by significant individual growth and conference-wide recognition for the EMU roster. In addition to her podium finish at the championships, Kyrie Lowe was named to the All-MAC Second Team on March 17. Freshman Macy Nihart was also honored earlier in the week, earning a spot on the All-MAC Freshman Team for her contributions throughout the regular season.
Kyrie Lowe also competed as an all-arounder during the championships, finishing with a total score of 37.875. Her consistency has been a hallmark of the team's performance this year, particularly following the Eagles' regular-season finale, where they posted their best beam performance of the year on March 15.
With the MAC Championships concluded, the focus for the program shifts toward the upcoming NCAA Regionals, which are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, April 1. The Eagles' performance in Bowling Green serves as a strong final chapter to the 2026 conference season, showcasing a team capable of competing with the best in the Mid-American Conference.
