Women's Gymnastics | January 24, 2020

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Trailing after each of the first two rotations, the Western Michigan gymnastics team came back for a 195.175-194.650 victory at Eastern Michigan inside the Convocation Center on Friday evening. With the victory, the Broncos improve to 3-0 in dual meets and 2-0 in Mid-American Conference action.

It is the first time Western Michigan has started a season 3-0 in dual competition and 2-0 in the MAC since 2013. The team score marks the second-highest of the season for the Broncos as they finished with a 195.275 in the season opener against Michigan State.

WMU's powerful freshman class played a crucial role in the victory as rookies Charlotte Tishkoff (vault), Josephine Thomas (vault), Amanda Gruber (beam) and Ronni Binstock (floor) all claimed at least a tie for first with Gruber standing alone in the top spot on the beam. Tishkoff finished second in the all-around with a 39.050 performance, her highest of the season.

The Broncos began the night on bars and EMU held a slim 48.725-48.650 lead following the first rotation. WMU seniors Taylor Buis and Amelia Mohler tied the Eagles' Kara Roberts for third on the bars with 9.775 scores. Buis' score was her highest of the campaign.

The second rotation had Western Michigan trail 97.575-97.350 after its vault performance. Tishkoff and Thomas finished with 9.800 performances to tie the Eagles' Emili Dobronics for the individual crown. Tishkoff's score was a 0.1 improvement from her previous high, set against Michigan State in the season opener, while Thomas matched her high for the year. Binstock was just behind with a 9.750 to take fifth. It was Binstock's second vault of her career with the first scoring a 9.525 at Arizona on January 11.

Western Michigan's breakthrough came in the third rotation with a strong floor showing to go ahead 146.150-145.700. Binstock claimed a share of the top spot with the Eagles' Dobronics and Jada Rondeau as each tallied a 9.825. It is the third time this season Binstock has received a 9.825 on the floor.

Icing the win was another solid outing for the Broncos on the beam, led by Gruber's first-place finish with a career-best 9.850. Mohler tied for second with Rondeau at 9.825 while Thomas claimed fourth with a personal-high 9.800.

The Broncos continue MAC meets and return to University Arena at 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 2 to take on Bowling Green.

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