KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan gymnastics team capped its two-match home stand with its fifth consecutive dual match victory and fourth straight in Mid-American Conference competition by downing Ball State 195.750-193.775 inside University Arena on Sunday. 
 
The Broncos are 4-0 in MAC action for the first time since 2006, when they recorded victories against Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois and Bowling Green. WMU now owns its most MAC victories since capturing four in 2012. The 5-0 start in dual meets is the program's best since a 5-0 beginning in 2012. 
 
"It was a team effort all the way around, from every event," head coach Penny Jernigan said. "On every event we had mistakes, but whoever the athlete was who was next hit her routine and got us back on track. That was huge. The entire team fought all the way through. Today was a real confidence booster for our team. They work so hard and have for so many months. I think it just reinforces that their hard work is paying off."
 
Senior Amelia Mohler highlighted the day for Western Michigan with a career-high 9.900 score on the beam, tied for the fourth-highest mark in program history and the Broncos' best score in the event since Rachel Underwood's 9.900 at Eastern Michigan on February 8, 2019. 
 
"Amelia is a senior and one of the hardest workers I have ever coached," Jernigan said. "That was so well deserved. It was so exciting to watch her fulfill that dream. She trains for that every single day. We see that perfect routine all the time. To get to see her do it today, as a senior, was amazing. She and I were both tearing up."
 
Overall, the Broncos took at least a share of the individual title in all four events. The 195.750 overall score for WMU was the fifth highest in program history and the team's best since a 196.075 against Ball State on March 10, 2018.

Western Michigan blasted out of the gate on the vault to take a commanding 48.775-47.850 advantage against the Cardinals. The score for Western Michigan matched its best vault score of the campaign, set versus Michigan State in the season opener. Freshman Josephine Thomas set a career high with a 9.850 to win the individual title. WMU junior Stacie Harrison (9.775) tied her season high and finished sixth overall. 

The second rotation had Western Michigan hold the lead at 97.625-96.775 after its bars performance. For the second consecutive week, the Broncos swept the top three bars places, led by junior Alexis Olivier's 9.850 score. Olivier, who set her season high Sunday, has turned in her two best bars scores of the campaign in the last two weeks. Mohler was just behind with a 9.825 to take second while senior Taylor Buis tied for third with Ball State's Marissa Nychyk with 9.750 performances. WMU's 48.850 score on the bars was its best of the season and highest total since a 48.975 at last year's MAC Championship. 
 
"Taylor led us off with a really great routine," Jernigan added. "Hitting those handstands is what really makes a difference. She was really aggressive about that. I was super proud of how she led us off there. Alexis' routine was stunning. She stuck the dismount. We had a great rotation there."
 
Western Michigan kept the pressure on during the third rotation with a 48.925 on the beam take three of the top four places and lead 146.550-145.350. Mohler's record-setting performance put her in a tie for first with the Cardinals' Arden Hudson. Sophomore Emily Carless turned in a year-high 9.850 to claim third while freshman Amanda Gruber nailed a 9.775 to finish fourth. 
 
A second consecutive week with a strong floor session allowed the Broncos to ice the win with a 49.200. Freshman Ronni Binstock and sophomore Carissa Ludwig paced the team and tied for first at 9.875. For Binstock and Ludwig, the scores were personal bests and a 0.025 improvement from last Sunday's then career-high performances of 9.850. Freshman Charlotte Tishkoff hit a 9.850 to take third with Harrison's 9.825 good for fourth. 
 
In the all-around, Tishkoff won with a 39.025, her second-best all-around score of the season, to outpace WMU junior Morgan Spence (38.175) and Ball State's Nychyk (37.350).

The Broncos return to action Friday with an 8 p.m. contest at Illinois. 

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