KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan had four different individuals
reach the podium and placed third as a team at the 2012 Mid-American Conference
Championships, hosted by Northern Illinois.
Regular season champion Central Michigan took home the conference crown for
the third straight year, totaling a 195.675. Kent State placed second with a
195.225, ahead of WMU's 195.000. NIU took fourth (194.525), followed by Bowling
Green (193.150), Eastern Michigan (193.150) and Ball State (192.950).
Western Michigan's 195.00 was the school's best ever score at the conference
meet, topping last year's 194.150. The score was also WMU's fourth highest
all-time, overall. It marked the third time this season WMU went 195.00 or
better, after having done so just one other time in program history, back in
2004.
It was the second straight year WMU finished in the top three, the
first time accomplishing that feat since winning back-to-back titles under
current Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard in 1987 and 1988.
Junior Caroline O'Brien finished runner-up on the uneven bars with a 9.850,
while sophomore Kelsey Turnquist and senior Taylor Zondervan registered third
place finishes. Turnquist scored a season-high 9.800 on the balance beam and
Zondervan had a 9.875 on the floor exercise.
Senior Cepeda Carter was the fourth Bronco to reach the podium, totaling a
career-best 38.975 in the all-around and placing third. It was the second time
in her career Carter had a podium finish at the MAC Championships, also placing
fourth on vault in 2010.
"We competed hard, and I couldn't be more proud of our effort and
focus," said third-year head coach Dave Kuzara. "Having athletes
place in three events, as well as the all-around was amazing. It is a great day
to be a Bronco."
Carter had two top-10 event finishes, placing seventh on balance beam with a
9.750 and tying for eighth with Zondervan on bars with a 9.750. Sophomore
Lauren Bledsoe also had a top-10 finish, placing 10th on floor, scoring a
9.825. Senior Shelia Dible finished off her career with a personal-best 9.775
on vault.
