Women's Gymnastics | January 17, 2020

DEKALB, Ill. – For the first time since 2012, the Western Michigan gymnastics team took down Northern Illinois in DeKalb, winning 193.900-192.775 on Friday evening inside the NIU Convocation Center. The Broncos had their best performance during the final rotation, scoring a 48.600 on the beam to seal the victory.

While the Huskies took at least a share of the individual title in all four events, it was WMU's depth that proved to be the difference. A trio of Broncos tied Northern Illinois' Tara Kofmehl for first in the vault while senior Amelia Mohler tied for the top spot on the beam and finished tied for second in the bars. Freshman Ronni Binstock claimed third on the floor with Western Michigan also taking places five through eight.

It is the second consecutive season WMU has started Mid-American Conference competition with a 1-0 ledger after downing NIU in last year's league opener. The victory also marks the first time since 2016 that the Broncos begin 2-0 in dual competition.

After the first rotation the Broncos held the slimmest of leads, taking a 48.500-48.150 advantage. Western Michigan started on the bars with Mohler (9.800) the Broncos' top finisher. Junior Alexis Olivier (9.725) took fifth with freshman Charlotte Tishkoff (9.700) in sixth.
 
The WMU advantage was even smaller, 96.975-96.750, following the second rotation. Juniors Stacie Harrison and Morgan Spence, along with freshman Amanda Gruber, all tied Kofmehl for first in the vault with 9.750 performances.
 
The Broncos opened the lead slightly after the third rotation, going up 145.300-144.800. Binstock led the way for WMU on the floor with a third-place finish at 9.825 while Tishkoff (9.750) checked in fifth.
 
The beam iced the victory for Western Michigan, which outscored Northern Illinois 48.600-47.975 in the final events. Mohler, who was the team's sixth and final competitor, nailed a 9.850 to tie for first with the Huskies' Mia Lord. Sophomore Emily Carless checked in fourth with a 9.750 while Gruber finished tied for fifth with a 9.725.
 
The Broncos return to action next Friday with a 6 p.m. meet at Eastern Michigan.

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