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Western Michigan
The reigning MAC champions will have a lot of work ahead of them if they’re to defend their upset title, as the Broncos have double-digit routines to replace with upperclassmen-heavy lineups leaving holes. To counter, Western Michigan is adding two former three-star recruits to the roster who should make an immediate impact and help levy the losses.
2024 Rewind
No. 39 overall | No. 1 at MACs | No. 39 in regular season
While finishing 39th just a season after ending 27th stings, ranking inside the top 40 is a great result in the program’s overall history and something the Broncos push to repeat in 2025. Western Michigan ranked third in the MAC before its surprise conference title and figures to be in a position to need another upset for a title in 2025.
Losses & Gains
| Returning | In |
| Fifth-Years Sarah Moravansky Seniors Halle Faulkner Molly Freeman DonnaKathryn Roy Ally Schaupp Abby Singh Gigi Singh Cassie St. Clair Juniors Agenair Abeyta Makenna King Sophomores Leanne Desmond Brooke Gelesko Julie Korfhage Emily Krzciok Hannah Milton Reese Samuelson | Freshmen Kennedy Cooper Reilan Garvey Patricia Mills Kyler Webster Transfers Sidnei Heubach (Talladega) |
| Out | |
| Graduated Amanda Gruber (BB, FX) Payton Murphy (AA) Dani Petrousek (AA) Breckin Quoss (UB) Josephine Thomas (VT) |
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2024 Event Ranking: No. 30 | NQS: 49.155 | Average: 49.075
Returning NQS: Cassie St.Clair (9.860 NQS), Halle Faulkner (9.860), Sarah Moravansky (9.835), Abby Singh (9.810), Hannah Milton (9.780)
Other Contributors: Kennedy Cooper, Reilan Garvey, Estee Goltsman, Tricia Mills, Kyler Webster
Bars
2024 Event Ranking: No. 47 | NQS: 48.935 | Average: 48.683
Returning NQS: Sarah Moravansky (9.820), Abby Singh (9.815), DonnaKathryn Roy (9.750)
Other Contributors: Makenna King, Kennedy Cooper, Reilan Garvey, Tricia Mills
Beam
2024 Event Ranking: No. 51 | NQS: 48.865 | Average: 48.573
Returning NQS: Sarah Moravansky (9.790), Hannah Milton (9.740), Gigi Singh (9.715), Sidnei Heubach (9.480)
Other Contributors: Abby Singh, Kennedy Cooper, Reilan Garvey, Estee Goltsman, Tricia Mills
Floor
2024 Event Ranking: No. 19 | NQS: 49.440 | Average: 49.296
Returning NQS: Cassie St.Clair (9.900), Ally Schaupp (9.875), DonnaKathryn Roy (9.855)
Other Contributors: Sarah Moravansky, Kennedy Cooper, Reilan Garvey, Estee Goltsman, Tricia Mills, Kyler Webster
Records Watch
Team: 197.100 | AA: 39.550 | VT: 49.250/9.925 | UB: 49.325/9.925 | BB: 49.375/9.950 | FX: 49.575/9.975
Returning regionals qualifier Cassie St. Clair is one of the current individual vault and floor record holders and will have another shot at perfect scores on each event in her senior campaign. She projects to anchor both of those lineups for the Broncos, showcasing their lone 10.0 start value vault with her tucked Tsuk one and a half.
The Big Picture
Look for St. Clair to lead the leg events and fifth-year Sarah Moravansky to shine on bars and beam as the duo will be tasked with keeping the Broncos challenging for the top half of the MAC. With plenty of lineup spots up for grabs, former three-star freshmen will have the opportunity to make an impact—particularly Reilan Garvey with her handstand work on bars.
Central Michigan
Central Michigan will be a new-look team in 2025. This perennial MAC contender lost a lot of routines over the offseason but might gain even more from both freshmen and transfers. As usual, you’ll want to watch the international talent in particular.
2024 Rewind
No. 40 overall | No. 4 at MACs | No. 40 in regular season
Central Michigan is a perrenial regionals contender, and missing out for three seasons running is a disappointment. Making it back to the postseason as a team should be a big goal this year. Falling in the middle of the pack at MACs is also slightly below expectations for a team that historically does well at the conference meet.
Losses & Gains
| Returning | In |
| Seniors Avah Bootz Alexis Garcia Lia Kmeciak Ariana Light Quinn Skrupa Juniors Luciana Alvarado-Reid Sophomores Jenna Germond Gabrielle Johnson Karina Lankamer Zoie Pelfrey Sophia Reddy Samantha Shannon | Freshmen Olivia Dittmer Abby Izaks Alisia Murray Kaitlyn Schwab Ava Wellmeier Maylee Wendle Zoe Zimmerman Transfers Hannah Appleget (Lindenwood) Heather Parker (Georgia) |
| Out | |
| Graduated Adriana Bustelo (UB, BB) Elizabeth Buttle (FX) Hallie Hornbacher (VT, FX) Katie Kowalski (VT) Amber Mueller (VT, BB, FX) Ashley Veglucci (UB, BB, FX) Transferred Elizabeth Cesarone (VT, BB, FX) | |
| Injury Update | |
| Senior Lia Kmieciak is expected to return after a midseason injury in 2024. | |
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2024 Event Ranking: No. 34 | NQS: 49.135 | Average: 49.002
Returning NQS: Luciana Alvarado-Reid (9.835 NQS), Jenna Germond (9.815), Samantha Shannon (9.785), Zoie Pelfrey (9.755), Hannah Appleget (9.73)
Other Contributors: Lia Kmieciak, Avah Bootz, Quinn Skrupa, Heather Parker, Zoe Zimmerman, Maylee Wendle, Ava Wellmeier, Kaitlyn Schwab
Bars
2024 Event Ranking: No. 44 | NQS: 48.990 | Average: 48.825
Returning NQS: Luciana Alvarado-Reid (9.875), Hannah Appleget (9.87), Jenna Germond (9.8), Samantha Shannon (9.79), Quinn Skrupa (9.71)
Other Contributors: Lia Kmieciak, Gabrielle Johnson, Heather Parker, Hannah Appleget, Zoe Zimmerman, Kaitlyn Schwab, Maylee Wendle, Ava Wellmeier
Beam
2024 Event Ranking: No. 44 | NQS: 48.945 | Average: 48.644
Returning NQS: Luciana Alvarado-Reid (9.84), Hannah Appleget (9.81), Karina Lankamer (9.8), Quinn Skrupa (9.775)
Other Contributors: Samantha Shannon, Zoie Pelfrey, Hannah Appleget, Zoe Zimmerman, Maylee Wendle, Ava Wellmeier, Olivia Dittmer
Floor
2024 Event Ranking: No. 26 | NQS: 49.360 | Average: 49.175
Returning NQS: Luciana Alvarado-Reid (9.885), Quinn Skrupa (9.805), Hannah Appleget (9.76)
Other Contributors: Jenna Germond, Hannah Appleget, Heather Parker, Zoe Zimmerman, Maylee Wendle, Ava Wellmeier, Alisia Murray
Records Watch
Team: 197.525 | AA: 39.625 | VT: 49.450/10.000 | UB: 49.550/10.000 | BB: 49.475/9.975 | FX: 49.625/10.000
Most of Central Michigan’s records date from between 2001 and 2004. These numbers will be extremely hard to match even in today’s very generous scoring environment. A perfect day on vault with friendly judges might be the best shot at a program record in 2025.
The Big Picture
Lots of important seniors graduated in 2024, but Central Michigan tried out lots of lineup options and thus isn’t short on experience in the top six. A large, talented freshman class should make an impact right away, and two important transfers offer experience as well as lots of routine options. It’s very plausible for the Chippewas to improve and make it back to regionals this year.
Eastern Michigan
A team that hasn’t been able to gain any momentum since its magical 2021 season in which it won the MAC title and qualified for regionals, Eastern Michigan should finally be able to make some positive movement in the rankings as it returns a trio of postseason qualifiers. Most notably, regionals all-arounder Raisa Boris opted in for a fifth-year and could be the veteran counterpart to incoming former three-star recruit Elise Ritzenthaler.
2024 Rewind
No. 50 overall | No. 6 at MACs | No. 50 in regular season
Unfortunately, the Eagles are no strangers to missing regionals, as they haven’t been in the postseason picture as a team since 2021. However, finishing ranked 50th is a slight improvement from the previous few years’ final standings.
Losses & Gains
| Returning | In |
| Fifth-Years Raisa Boris Seniors Gianna Antonio Cassie Bergin Ella Chemotti Alana Fisher Emma Lewis Juniors Priya KarleIyana King Kyrie Lowe Sophomores Abby Brushwood Gwendelyn Cantu Katin Childress Genae Daniel Brooke Maycroft Jacquelyn Patterson | Freshmen Sanai Evans Keeley Kohler Brianna Lucas Elise Ritzenthaler Analia Solorio Jaelyn Stetz |
| Out | |
| Graduated Katie Butler (BB) Jordan Jankowski (UB, BB) Anna Grace McCullough (UB, FX) Molly Parris (AA) Sophia Rios (VT) Mayleigh Vanderbeek Transferred Trinity Macy (UB) Retired Taylor Wetherbee | |
| Injury Update | |
| After undergoing Tommy John surgery last February, Gewndelyn Cantu should be healthy enough to return and contribute on at least vault—her lone event before her injury. | |
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2024 Event Ranking: No. 54 | NQS: 48.875 | Average: 48.802
Returning NQS: Alana Fisher (9.875 NQS), Raisa Boris (9.805), Genae Daniel (9.800), Abby Brushwood (9.775), Jacquelyn Patterson (9.720), Gwendelyn Cantu (9.670)
Other Contributors: Kyrie Lowe, Sanai Evans, Brianna Lucas, Elise Ritzenthaler, Analiah Solorio, Jaelyn Stetz
Bars
2024 Event Ranking: No. 46 | NQS: 48.955 | Average: 48.754
Returning NQS: Raisa Boris (9.850), Kyrie Lowe (9.825), Ella Chemotti (9.780),
Other Contributors: Sanai Evans, Keeley Kohler, Brianna Lucas, Analiah Solorio, Jaelyn Stetz
Beam
2024 Event Ranking: No. 44 | NQS: 48.945 | Average: 48.569
Returning NQS: Ella Chemotti (9.890), Raisa Brois (9.860), Cassie Bergin (9.775), Kyrie Lowe (9.755), Jacquelyn Patterson (9.745),
Other Contributors: Alana Fisher, Brooke Maycroft, Keeley Kohler, Brianna Lucas, Analiah Solorio, Jaelyn Stetz
Floor
2024 Event Ranking: No. 58 | NQS: 49.035 | Average: 48.888
Returning NQS: Raisa Boris (9.890), Abby Brushwood (9.855), Alana Fisher (9.790), Ella Chemotti (9.765), Kyrie Lowe (9.680)
Other Contributors: Priya Karle, Brooke Maycroft, Sanai Evans, Brianna Lucas, Elise Ritzenthaler, Jaelyn Stetz
Records Watch
Team: 196.600 | AA: 39.725 | VT: 49.350/10.000 | UB: 49.300/9.950 | BB: 49.350/10.000 | FX: 49.425/9.950
If any record of the Eagles’ is to be matched this season, the preseason favorite would be for Ella Chemotti to match the individual beam record of 10.0. Chemotti is a star there, qualifying for NCAA regionals on beam every season of her career with a career-high of 9.950. Now, as a senior, look for her to cap her career on the event in a historic way.
The Big Picture
Between former AAI Award nominee Boris, Chemotti, and regionals vaulter Alana Fisher, Eastern Michigan has the tools and leadership it needs to move into the top 50 and out of the MAC basement. While a team trip to a regional may be out of reach in 2025, a handful of individual qualifiers will be the expectation for the Eagles.
Northern Illinois
The Huskies parted ways with head coach Sam Morreale after accusations of athlete mistreatment bubbled to the surface after the 2024 season. Dawnita Teague has stepped in as interim.
Two new Yurchenko one and a halves will join Kiera O’Shea to comprise half a lineup of 10.0 start values, and Sami DiFabrizio is making her way back from an ACL tear last year. With stars Emmalise Nock and Alyssa Al-Ashari leaving, the pressure will be on returners and freshmen alike.
2024 Rewind
No. 55 overall | No. 5 at MACs | No. 55 in regular season
2024 was a down year for the Huskies, capping a four-year downward trend. Things have been rocky since the team’s 2019 MAC title. Consistency was a problem, especially on bars and beam, events where Al-Ashari led the way.
Losses & Gains
| Returning | In |
| Seniors Alana Anderson Natalia Kraus Isabella Sissi Ellery Werner Juniors Sami DiFabrizio Jocelyn Harbeck Samantha Nickle Kiera O’Shea Sophomores Mikayla Brown Jade Golembiewski Isabella Ross Dawsyn Salle Savannah West Haley Zambella Natalie Ziebell | Freshmen Audreyy Brenner Katie Ferguson Aliyah Kelly Maria King Drake White |
| Out | |
| Graduated Alyssa Al-Ashari (UB, BB) Kendall George (BB) Grace Humphrys Olivia Lynd (BB) Transferred Jenna Blair (FX) Emmalise Nock (VT, UB, FX) Retired Hannah Drielick (UB) Maddy Kees |
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2024 Event Ranking: No. 42 | NQS: 49.015 | Average: 48.888
Returning NQS: Kiera O’Shea (9.885 NQS), Dawsyn Sallee (9.830), Isabella Sissi (9.830), Samantha Nickle (9.740), Jocelyn Harbeck (9.730), Isabella Ross (9.670)
Other Contributors: Natalia Kraus, Audrey Brenner, Aliyah Kelly, Dana White
Bars
2024 Event Ranking: No. 55 | NQS: 48.815 | Average: 48.513
Returning NQS: Isabella Sissi (9.755), Natalia Kraus (9.735), Kiera O’Shea (9.630)
Other Contributors: Alana Anderson, Mikayla Brown, Katie Ferguson, Aliyah Kelly, Maria King
Beam
2024 Event Ranking: No. 58 | NQS: 48.735 | Average: 48.425
Returning NQS: Isabella Sissi (9.795), Isabella Ross (9.720), Samantha Nickle (9.705), Ellery Werner (9.690)
Other Contributors: Mikayla Brown, Aliyah Kelly, Maria King
Floor
2024 Event Ranking: No. 48 | NQS: 49.180 | Average: 48.952
Returning NQS: Alana Anderson (9.850), Isabella Ross (9.830), Dawsyn Sallee (9.830 NQS), Isabella Sissi (9.815), Mikayla Brown (9.790)
Other Contributors: Samantha Nickle, Audrey Brenner, Aliyah Kelly, Dana White
Records Watch
Team: 196.400 | AA: 39.550 | VT: 49.150/9.925 | UB: 49.325/9.950 | BB: 49.325/9.950 | FX: 49.475/10.000
The overall team program record was set thanks to the notorious Tennessee Collegiate Classic, so don’t expect this group to come too again for the time being. Still, O’Shea could best her own record-tying 9.925 on vault, and the floor squad, which is mostly returning, is within sight of the record there.
The Big Picture
If some of the Huskies’ struggles can be attributed to the coaching situation, it’s reasonable to assume 2025 will look brighter. Al-Ashari’s and Nock’s absences will sting, but O’Shea, Dawsyn Sallee, and Alana Anderson should help soften the blow and lead scoring while Isabella Sissi provides a reliable all-around bedrock. 2025 should look brighter.
Bowling Green
Bowling Green is in a new era, as former head coach Kerrie Turner transitioned into an administrative role at the university and former William & Mary assistant Brittney Emmons was named head coach. In addition to the new-look coaching staff, the Falcons also lost several top scores to graduation and transfers. They will have to rely heavily on the freshmen and remaining returners to fill the void in 2025.
2024 Rewind
No. 57 overall | No. 7 at MACs | No. 57 in regular season
Bowling Green has been in the bottom half of the MAC for the last few seasons, but its No. 57 ranking is its lowest finish since 2011. As a new coach takes over, the Falcons will look to make gains in the rankings.
Losses & Gains
| Returning | In |
| Seniors Kaylie Bokey Lexi Bornhorn Emily Castiglia Kennady Kreinbrink Baylie Lawrence Katrina Mendez Abolnik Juniors Megan Bingham Charniya Brown Elise Brzoska Madison Coburn Brooke McNamara Starr Ogilvie Sophomores Love Akpan Faye Dubin Megan Dzialo Teegan Milligan Nadia Parente Keira Thornton | Freshmen Emily Gianfrancesco Kayla Shaw Lanie Stone |
| Out | |
| Graduated Lauren Bannister (VT, FX) Sydney Bennett Megan Decious (FX) Courtney Morrison Sarina Ross (BB) Transferred Isabella Rivelli (UB) Kathryn Weilbacher (AA) | |
| Injury Update | |
| A hip injury caused Katrina Mendez Abolnik to miss 2024, and Starr Ogilvie was seen in a sling earlier in the preseason. Mendez Abolnik is back training vault and floor and could be ready by January while Oglivie’s status is unknown headed into 2025. | |
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2024 Event Ranking: No. 55 | NQS: 48.860 | Average: 48.752
Returning NQS: Love Akpan (9.815), Madison Coburn (9.790), Megan Bingham (9.745), Charniya Brown (9.725), Keira Thornton (9.710)
Other Contributors: Emily Gianfrancesco, Katrina Mendez Albonik, Kayla Shaw, Lanie Stone
Bars
2024 Event Ranking: No. 56 | NQS: 48.805 | Average: 48.258
Returning NQS: Keira Thornton (9.720), Megan Bingham (9.715), Love Akpan (9.685), Charniya Brown (9.620), Megan Dzialo (9.320)
Other Contributors: Kaylie Bokey, Elise Brzoska, Megan Dzialo, Emily Gianfrancesco, Kennady Kreinbrink, Kayla Shaw, Lanie Stone
Beam
2024 Event Ranking: No. 57 | NQS: 48.770 | Average: 48.406
Returning NQS: Megan Bingham (9.840), Elise Brzoska (9.805), Nadia Parente (9.795), Emily Castiglia (9.780), Love Akpan (9.745)
Other Contributors: Emily Gianfrancesco, Kayla Shaw, Lanie Stone, Keira Thornton
Floor
2024 Event Ranking: No. 59 | NQS: 48.985 | Average: 48.688
Returning NQS: Keira Thornton (9.855), Love Akpan (9.805), Elise Brzoska (9.735), Madison Coburn (9.660)
Other Contributors: Emily Castiglia, Emily Gianfrancesco, Katrina Mendez Albonik, Kayla Shaw, Lanie Stone
Records Watch
Team: 196.500 | AA: 39.600 | VT: 49.250/9.950 | UB: 49.175/9.950 | BB: 49.300/9.950 | FX: 49.475/9.975
Bowling Green came close to matching or tying several records last season and even set a new team vault high. Megan Bingham is one to watch for 2025; her 9.925 on beam was a quarter-tenth away from matching the individual record on the event. As the highest returning NQS there, she very likely could be the next record-setter for the Falcons.
The Big Picture
Losing Rivelli and Weilbacher to the transfer portal is a big blow to this team. However, Emmons has lots of experienced gymnasts to work with. The Falcons will have to heavily rely on returners like Akpan and freshmen like Shaw to replace those scores and get Bowling Green on the right track in 2025. Qualifying to regionals would be an immediate improvement on 2024 for this team, whether it’s with an individual or as a team.
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Article by Emily Minehart, Brandis Heffner, Savanna Wellman, and Rebecca Scally
