MAC Championship

Recap

Recap

The Big Storyline: Central Michigan once again proved why it is considered the team to beat in the MAC by walking away with its 17th championship title. Western Michigan was on a tear during the first half, setting a 197 pace, but some uncharacteristic mistakes ended up costing the Broncos too many tenths to maintain their lead. Northern Illinois had itself quite a day, falling just shy of catching the Chippewas but still finishing in an impressive second place. 

Postseason Implications: Western Michigan was the only team in the MAC to qualify to regionals. The conference will likely see quite a few individual qualifiers, though, so there will be more to come from these teams.

Conference Awards

• Gymnast of the Year: Hannah DeMers, Central Michigan
• Event Specialist of the Year: Suki Pfister, Ball State
• Newcomer of the Year: Ella Chemotti, Eastern Michigan
• Coach of the Year: Christine MacDonald, Central Michigan

Preview

• No. 36 Western Michigan | 196.150 NQS | 196.725 season high
• No. 38 Kent State | 196.055 NQS | 196.850 season high
• No. 40 Central Michigan | 195.915 NQS | 196.650 season high
• No. 47 Northern Illinois | 195.475 NQS | 196.350 season high
• No. 48 Ball State | 195.410 NQS | 196.325 season high
• No. 52 Eastern Michigan | 194.695 NQS | 195.375 season high
• No. 56 Bowling Green | 194.245 NQS | 195.700 season high

If you can only watch one meet, here’s why it should be this one…

Realistically any of Western Michigan, Kent State or Central Michigan could walk away with this one, but any of the seven teams has an outside shot; the MAC has more parity than maybe any other conference in college gymnastics, which always makes this marathon three-bye meet a real treat. While Central Michigan is the longstanding team to beat and can absolutely walk away with this one, the Broncos and Golden Flashes have each been on a tear of mid- to high-196s in March. Every event and every tenth will matter, so don’t step away from this one.

If this is one of many meets you’ll be watching, don’t miss this…

Ball State shines on vault and shouldn’t be missed there. This is a strong floor conference, where Kent State and Central Michigan in particular are fantastic. Northern Illinois shouldn’t be missed on beam.

What’s the bigger picture to keep an eye on?

Western Michigan, Kent State and Central Michigan are all still in the regionals hunt. The Chippewas stand to gain the most ground with a solid number since they have a 195.150 still to drop. The bubble cutoff is brutal this year, and there are scenarios where all or none of the three teams qualify depending on the days had by the other eight teams still neither mathematically in nor out. The situation is going to be fluid throughout championship Saturday. 

By the Numbers

Past Champions

• Central Michigan: 16 titles, last won in 2018
• Kent State: 12 titles, last won in 2015
• Eastern Michigan: 4 titles, last won in 2021
• Western Michigan: 4 titles, last won in 2013*
• Bowling Green: 3 titles, last won in 1985
• Northern Illinois: 1 title, last won in 2019
• Ball State: 1 title, last won in 2002

*Co-champion with Central Michigan

Records Watch

Team: 197.525 (Central Michigan, 2004) | Vault: 49.450 (Central Michigan, 2004) | Bars: 49.550 (Central Michigan, 2003) | Beam: 49.475 (Central Michigan, 2018) | Floor: 49.575 (Central Michigan, 2003)

Last Time Out

Eastern Michigan stole the show in 2021, topping 2019 champ Northern Illinois by almost half a point. Perennial favorite Central Michigan fell to fourth behind Kent State. All seven teams were within 1.300 of each other. The Broncos’ Payton Murphy took home gymnast of the year honors, and teammate Sarah Moravansky was named newcomer of the year. Ball State’s Joanna Saleem won the coaching honors while specialist was shared between Eastern Michigan’s Caitlin Satler and Northern Illinois’ Natalie Hamp.