Women's Gymnastics | January 05, 2020

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan gymnastics team opened the 2020 season with a 195.275-191.850 victory against Michigan State on Sunday at University Arena. It was the first meeting between the in-state foes since February 21, 2014, also a Bronco victory. WMU has won its last three head-to-head meets with Michigan State.

"This was our highest starting score since I've been here," head coach Penny Jernigan said. "We talked about it as soon as the meet was over, that we know we're even better than what we scored today. This is the foundation and getting out there for that first meet. We'll continue to build on that."
 
The 195.275 is the highest season-opening score in program history and tied for the 19th-highest mark in WMU history. 

The Broncos jumped into the lead with a 48.775 on vault to outpace MSU's 45.500 on bars during the opening rotation. The second rotation had Western Michigan end with a 97.475-94.375 advantage following a 48.700 on bars. 
 
WMU's highest event total came on balance beam with a 49.075 in the third rotation. The 49.075 beam score is tied for the fourth-best mark in program history and the highest since a 49.175 at the 2017 Mid-American Conference Championships. 
 
The Broncos closed out the afternoon with a 48.725 on the floor exercise.

Western Michigan freshman Payton Murphy tied for the top score on the bars and earned the individual all-around title in her first collegiate competition. Murphy began with a 9.800 in vault, moved to a 9.800 on bars, turned in a 9.850 on beam and finished with a 9.725 on floor. The St. Charles, Ill., product edged Michigan State's Lea Mitchell for the all-around title, 39.175-39.100.

Fellow Bronco rookie Charlotte Tishkoff turned in an outstanding first appearance, claiming third in the all-around with a score of 38.825. A native of Scottsdale, Ariz., Tishkoff earned a 9.700 on vault, 9.650 on bars, 9.650 on beam and 9.825 on the floor.
 
"With our freshmen, we had some incredible performances tonight," Jernigan added. "In her first collegiate meet, Payton Murphy won the all-around. She is an outstanding performer. Charlotte was right behind in third while one of our seniors, Amelia Mohler, had a fantastic day."
 
Tishkoff and freshman Ronni Binstock turned in the top scores on the floor, matching MSU's Ashley Hofelich with 9.825 tallies. Murphy and Mohler tied for second on the beam with 9.850 while the Broncos swept the bars with Murphy, Mohler (9.800) and junior Stacie Harrison (9.775) knotted with the Spartans' Lea Mitchell for third.
 
"I was super excited to see how we performed on bars today," Jernigan said. "We have been a power team on bars in the MAC for the last few years. It was fun to see us go out there and do it again with such a young group. Beam was fantastic. It's great to start with a 49."
 
The vault crown of the day went to Michigan State's Nyah Smith (9.825) with freshman Josephine Thomas, Murphy and Hofelich tying for second at 9.800.

Western Michigan now heads to Tucson, Ariz., for the Arizona Quad Meet, featuring the host Wildcats, Iowa State and Rutgers. Action begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

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