Women's Gymnastics | January 29, 2017
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan gymnastics team turned in its best performance of the 2017 season on Sunday, scoring a 194.900. It is among the top-20 meet scores in program history.
"This week we had a good week of practice where we focused on the details," head coach
Penny Jernigan said. "Hitting the cast hand stands on bars, sticking the dismounts and working on the artistry on balance beam and floor. They had a lot of good numbers this week and their confidence was higher coming into this meet.
Rachel Binkley got injured in the first event and that really showed the character of this team the way the alternates stepped in for her.
The Broncos set the tone early, scoring a 48.875 on bars, the highest score on any event this season. It would later be equaled in the final event of the day, the floor exercise.
Jessie Peszek had the high score of the day for the Broncos on bars with a 9.850. It was just shy of her career-high of 9.875. Freshman
Taylor Buis was competing for just the second time in her career on bars, and made an impact with a 9.775, one of three gymnasts to score a 9.775 on the event.
Peszek would keep her strong performance going into the next event on balance beam where she totaled a 9.825 to place second. She was one of two Broncos to score a 9.800 or higher on beam, joining
Jessica Juncaj who scored a 9.800.
The team's final event of the day was on floor where every gymnast scored a 9.700 or higher. Three Broncos had a 9.800 or higher, led by
Rachael Underwood's 9.825, winning her first floor title of the season. It added to an already impressive day for Underwood who won her second straight vault title with a 9.775 to open the meet. She finished the day with a 38.925 all-around, for her first all-around title and giving her three titles on the day.
Audry Merritt, who was returning to the lineup, scored a 9.800 on floor, her best of the season.
"This gives the team a lot of confidence," Jernigan said. "We know that our scoring potential is even higher when we get our full lineup healthy, but the kids being counted on right now aren't missing a beat."
Western Michigan will go back on the road next week, traveling to Bowling Green on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m.
