KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Members of the 2020 regular season Mid-American Conference gymnastics champion Western Michigan squad are back home after the COVID-19 pandemic halted the remainder of the campaign. WMUBroncos.com caught up with team members to see how they're adjusting to online classes and life away from campus.
 
Freshman Payton Murphy, of St. Charles, Ill., has been spending time with family. During the season, Murphy competed in one meet before suffering a season-ending injury. Against Michigan State (1/5) in the season opener, she finished with a 9.800 on vault and bars, a 9.850 on the beam and 9.725 on the floor to finish with a 39.175 in the all-around. Her all-around score is tied for the 12th-highest performance in program history.

WMUBroncos.com: Where are you now?
Payton Murphy: I am at home in Illinois with my family.

WMU: What are you doing to stay active?
PM: Taking walks with my family and doing the most that I can do in order to recover from my neck injury.

WMU: How has your adjustment been to Western Michigan's online classes?
PM: For me specifically, it hasn't been too difficult because a lot of my classes were online, or online based. The most difficult part has been finding a schedule that fits both my academics and activity. Once I found a schedule that fit, everything else fit in smoothly.

WMU: What was your favorite memory from this season?
PM: Either the home opener against Michigan State, or our last home meet against Kent State. The home opener shocked us all and showed us that we could be great this season. The meet against Kent State is where we were guaranteed to be regular season champions, making everything we put in worth it. 

WMU: With a few weeks having passed since the MAC Championship was canceled, how are you processing your season ending so abruptly?
PM: As a freshman, I was upset there was no MAC Championship, mainly because of the great things I've heard about it. We also had a great shot to win it all. With a few weeks to comprehend the news, I actually feel grateful that we got to complete a majority of our season, unlike some of the other athletes at Western Michigan.

WMU: What is an accomplishment you're most proud of from this season's team?
PM: Other than being regular season champions, I was most proud of the team chemistry and the way we kept pushing through the many ups and downs of the season.

WMU: What is one lesson this year's seniors taught you?
PM: For me specifically, since both of our seniors have been through some pretty challenging injuries, they've taught me to continue to push through and support my team no matter what. They have been my motivation after I had a serious injury at the beginning of the season. I am going to miss them so much in the following years.

WMU: What do you miss most about being at Western Michigan?
PM: Without a doubt, I miss my team the most. They have taught me a lot this season, both in and out of the gym. I can't wait to come back to Western Michigan to see them again. 

WMU: What is the best show you've streamed or watched during your time away?
PM: I started watching "Little Fires Everywhere" on Hulu.

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