KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Sarah Moravansky captured the all-around title as the Western Michigan gymnastics team placed sixth at the 2021 Mid-American Gymnastics Championships on Saturday afternoon at University Arena.

Morvansky recorded an all-around score of 39.250, the best mark of her rookie campaign. She scored a 9.875 on bars, 9.850 on floor, 9.800 on vault and 9.725 on beam. The Broncos posted the second-best team score on floor in program history to cap the afternoon, with a 49.325 just shy of the program record of 49.375.

The Broncos saved their best event for last, with a pair of WMU competitors finishing in a six-way tie for second on floor exercise. Dani Petrousek and Ronni Binstock each scored 9.900 on the floor, just shy of Abby Fletcher from Kent State who won floor with a score of 9.925. Moravansky earned a third-place finish on uneven bars (9.875), which was won by Central Michigan's Hannah DeMers at 9.900. 

Moravansky, Petrousek and Binstock were all named to the All-Tournament Team.



Eastern Michigan captured the MAC title with a team score of 195.900, followed by Northern Illinois at 195.525 and Kent State at 194.900. 

| Penny's Thoughts

Head coach Penny Jernigan shared her thoughts after the meet.

On Murphy and Morvansky winning specialty awards...
"It was amazing to know the respect we have (from the other coaches in the league). To know those two and how hard they work every day. They're warriors. Payton's story (returning from injury a year ago) is just amazing. To overcome what she did to accomplish what she did this year is great. I'm super proud of both of them."

On Moravansky winning the all-around competition...
"I'm so proud of that kid. It's just amazing to me. To win Freshman of the Year and then have her best meet of the season today, at MAC Championships, is just a dream come true."

On the journey through the season and hosting the MAC Championships one year after the event was canceled...
"Every day was about gratitude. So much gratitude just to be able to practice. We were testing for COVID three-to-six times per week just to be able to practice. To have the opportunity to complete our season this year, we have so much gratitude for (athletics director) Kathy Beauregard and her staff for making this year possible for us."

| Specialty Awards
 
Payton Murphy was voted Gymnast of the Year by the league's coaches. This season, Murphy posted WMU's top score on vault (9.875), beam (9.950) and all-around (39.375), while tying a pair of teammates for the top score on floor exercise (9.925). She had a record-setting meet against Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 21, posting an all-around score of 39.375 to break a 2018 record previously held by Rachel Underwood. Murphy used a mark of 9.950 on beam to get there, tying a program record from 2004 held by Julia Haines-LaPenta and Christy Sassic. Her all-around score against the Eagles helped WMU break 196 as a team for the second-straight meet.

Moravansky was picked as Freshman of the Year by the MAC coaches. She was the only freshman to regularly compete in every event this season. She owned the top all-around National Qualifying Score by a freshman in the MAC this season and the MAC Championship marked her second all-around victory on the year after she won at Kent State.