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.
 
Sophomore Carissa Ludwig, of Clarkston, Mich., has been transitioning to online classes and completing conditioning circuits while at home. During the season, Ludwig competed in nine meets, seven on the vault and seven on the floor. She became a fixture with the floor group in late January and helped it set the program record with a 49.375 against Kent State (3/8) and a 49.275 against Bowling Green (2/2), the fourth-highest score in program history. Within the Mid-American Conference, she tied for 10th on the floor in national qualifying score with a 9.825. On the vault, she scored a 9.800 or higher in three of her final four performances with a year-best 9.825 versus Kent State.

WMUBroncos.com: Where are you now?
Carissa Ludwig: I am back home in Clarkston, Mich.

WMU: What are you doing to stay active?
CL: Lots of conditioning circuits and going on walks or bike rides with my family. 

WMU: How has your adjustment been to Western Michigan's online classes?
CL: It has been a pretty easy transition for me. I was already in three classes that were online, which helped make the transition easier.

WMU: What was your favorite memory from this season?
CL: Beating Kent State and becoming MAC regular season champs.  

WMU: With a few weeks having passed since the MAC Championship was canceled, how are you processing your season ending so abruptly?
CL: It was really upsetting when I heard our season had been cut short because we were coming off a great meet against Kent State, and we were ready to finish the season off and win the MAC Championship. But, we broke records and I think we proved we shouldn't be underestimated.

WMU: What is an accomplishment you're most proud of from this season's team?
CL: I am most proud of our team's determination and drive. We never lost focus of the goals we set for ourselves this season. That played a huge part in all of our success this year.

WMU: What is one lesson this year's seniors taught you?
CL: I learned the importance of a team mindset. Club gymnastics is all based on you as an individual, but college gymnastics is all about the team. Every decision we made and every effort we put forth in the gym was for the team. We had high expectations as a team. I believe we were able to achieve a lot of our goals because we also had the mindset of doing whatever we could to make the team better.

WMU: What do you miss most about being at Western Michigan?
CL: The thing I miss most about Western Michigan is hanging out with all of my friends.

WMU: What is the best show you've streamed or watched during your time away?
CL: The best show I've watched while being in quarantine is "All American."

#WeWillReign