KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan's gymnastics team had its best opener in program history, beating Illinois-Chicago, 194.025-190.700. The win was the largest margin of victory in a duel meet for the Broncos since the season opener in 2012 against Centenary College.
“I thought vault was awesome for us,” head coach Penny Jernigan said. “It was the best vault we've ever done to open the season. The kids were really good. On bars we had some hiccups and I think it's just dusting off the cobwebs. They bounced back beautifully on beam. They know now they are ready and I think we'll really see them attack bars and do just as well in the other events.”
In the aforementioned vault the Broncos totaled 48.600 as a team. Last season it took Western Michigan six meets into the season to better the score of 48.600. Leading the way in the day's opening event were Jessi Buis, Anna Corbett and Kelsey Hood all who scored a 9.750, giving them a three-way tie for top score among the 12 competitors on both sides.
Corbett's 9.750 was a sign of things to come on the day, as she totaled 9.700 or better on all four events, finishing with an all-around total of 39.050. Her all-around total was the highest of the five competitors on both teams who qualified for all-around.
“Anna was just phenomenal,” Jernigan said. “To go over a 39 in the first meet of the season, coming off being the MAC champion was stellar.”
Western Michigan's best event was its final of the day on the floor where the Broncos scored a 48.975. Top honors in the event belonged to Rachael Underwood who scored a 9.825, one of three WMU athletes in the event to go 9.80 or higher in the event along with Hood and Corbett who each totaled a 9.80.
Kira Hoy scored a 9.775 in the event, just the second time competing in the floor in her career. She competed once as a freshman last year on the floor, scoring a 9.550.
Underwood's results came in her collegiate debut for the freshman. Along with her performance in the floor, she also scored a 9.650 in the vault and 9.725 on the beam.
“Rachael looked like a veteran competing out there,” Jernigan said. “I couldn't be more proud of all of them. They really are a cohesive group and had each other's backs the whole time.
Overall the Broncos had individuals win three of four events. Aside from the aforementioned three-way tie in the vault, and Underwood's title in the floor, Jessi Peszek won the balance beam title with a score of 9.800.
Western Michigan will return to action on Sunday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m., as it competes in a three-way meet with Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan.
