A perennial bubble team, missing regionals for the fourth-straight year wasn’t how the Chippewas wanted to end the season, especially after having the talent to snag a bid. The status quo will remain the same for Central Michigan, as a key freshman class enters to keep the program relevant and in postseason contention.
2025 Rewind
No. 40 overall | No. 1 at MAC | No. 40 in regular season
After a slow start to the season, the Chippewas gradually got better. Eventually, they topped the league in NQS at the end of the regular season before claiming the conference championship meet title for a MAC sweep. And while Central Michigan finished on the wrong side of the regionals bubble due to the growing pains to open 2025, it was represented at regionals by Luciano Alvarado-Reid in the all-around.
Losses & Gains
| RETURNING |
| Fifth Years: Avah Bootz, Lia Kmieciak |
| Seniors: Luciana Alvarado-Reid |
| Juniors: Jenna Germond, Gabrielle Johnson, Zoie Pelfrey, Samantha Shannon |
| Sophomores: Olivia Dittmer, Abby Izaks, Alisia Murray, Heather Parker (redshirt), Kaitlyn Schwab, Ava Wellmeier, Maylee Wendle, Zoe Zimmerman |
| IN |
| Freshmen: Paige Hasling, Alexandra Reddick, Ashlyn Richards, Maeve Ruble |
| OUT |
| Graduated: Hannah Appleget (AA), Alexis Garcia, Ariana Light (BB), Quinn Skrupa (BB/FX) |
| Retired: Sophia Reddy |
| INJURY UPDATE |
| Former Georgia transfer Parker underwent shoulder surgery over the summer, putting her status for the 2026 season into question. |
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2025 Event Ranking: No. 48 | NQS: 48.865 | Average: 48.713 | High: 48.950
| Event Overview: While consistent, vault was one of the Chippewas’ lowest-scoring events a season ago, primarily because of a lack of difficulty. Improving on that isn’t expected in 2026, but with plenty of returning options and usable Yurchenko fulls from freshmen, improvement overall is possible. | ||
| Locks: Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Ava Bootz, Lia Kmieciak, Ava Wellmeier | ||
| Contenders: Jenna Germond, Paige Hasling, Zoie Pelfrey, Alexandra Reddick, Samantha Shannon |
Bars
2025 Event Ranking: No. 30 | NQS: 49.135 | Average: 48.873 | High: 49.225
| Event Overview: Bars was a strong event for Central Michigan a season ago, and it’s looking to be the same in 2026 as it retains all but one NQS. Depth may be an issue beyond a top seven, but should everyone remain healthy and up to their standard, bars should help keep the Chippewas on the regionals bubble. It will likely come down to a pair of freshmen vying for that final lineup spot. | ||
| Locks: Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Gabrielle Johnson, Lia Kmieciak, Kaitlyn Schwab, Samantha Shannon | ||
| Contenders: Alexandra Reddick, Ashlyn Richards |
Beam
2025 Event Ranking: No. 50 | NQS: 48.825 | Average: 48.427 | High: 49.100
| Event Overview: After a year with too many sub-48 totals on beam, this is the event where the Chippewas project to have enough depth to make some significant improvements. Returning three of its top four NQSs, the experience is there, and the rookie class provides more than enough options to fill out the lineup easily. Former four-star recruit Reddick is a favorite to be a freshman frontrunner here, but keep an eye out for Richards and her eye-catching side aerial BHS acro series to crack the lineup at some point. | ||
| Locks: Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Samantha Shannon | ||
| Contenders: Paige Hasling, Zoie Pelfrey, Alexandra Reddick, Ashlyn Richards, Zoe Zimmerman | ||
| Wildcards: Jenna Germond, Zoie Pelfrey, Maeve Rubin |
Floor
2025 Event Ranking: No. 39 | NQS: 49.125 | Average: 49.015 | High: 49.425
| Event Overview: Floor was a consistent and high-scoring event for Central Michigan in 2025 and is expected to continue this trend in 2026. Alvarado-Reid leads a trio of 9.8-plus returning NQSs, and the newcomers’ best event is floor, with Reddick bringing a lineup-worthy set from the get-go and Hasling flaunting a full-in capable of breaking into the Chippewas’ top six. Depth will be a strength on floor. | ||
| Locks: Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Ava Wellmeier, Zoe Zimmerman | ||
| Contenders: Avah Bootz, Paige Hasling (full-in), Alisia Murray, Heather Parker, Alexandra Reddick | ||
| Wildcards: Ashlyn Richards |
Records Watch
Team: 197.525 | AA: 39.625 (Kara Reighard) | VT: 49.450/10.0 (Laura Chow) | UB: 49.550/10.0 (Katie Teft) | BB: 49.475/9.975 (Sara Burtinsky) | FX: 49.625/10.0 (Kara Reighard)
Costa Rican Olympian Alvarado-Reid came close to tying the bars individual record a season ago, and should threaten for the perfect score every week in 2026.
The Big Picture
As is often the case, regionals will be the goal for a Central Michigan squad also expected to contend for back-to-back MAC titles. The impact of freshman Reddick will go a long way in directing the Chippewas’ potential, as they return enough key pieces to remain on the postseason bubble.
Likely 2026 finish: Regionals Bubble
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Article by Brandis Heffner
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