CLEVELAND – Western Michigan junior gymnast Payton Murphy has earned a spot on the All-MAC Second Team, the league announced on Friday.
 
Murphy was an All-MAC selection for the second consecutive season, having earned a First Team spot in 2021. The junior has captured the all-round title three times for the Broncos this season, including tallying a program-record 39.375 in a victory over Bowling Green on Jan. 23, which helped Western Michigan break its program record with a 196.225 team score. For her performance against BGSU, Murphy was named the MAC Gymnast of the Week.
 
On March 5 at Michigan State, Murphy broke her own all-around record, tallying a 39.400 to lead WMU to a new program-best team score of 196.725.
 
The Carol Stream, Ill., native captured first-place in three of the four events throughout the course of the season, including three times on floor, twice on bars and once on vault.
 
The 2022 MAC Gymnastics specialty awards, including Coach, Freshman, Specialist and Senior Gymnast of the Year are scheduled to be announced after the conclusion of the 2022 Gymnastics Championship Meet, which is set for Saturday, March 19, on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. The meet is slated to begin at 2 pm.
 
All-MAC First Team
Hannah DeMers, Central Michigan 
Suki Pfister, Ball State
Natalie Hamp, Northern Illinois
Ella Chemotti, Eastern Michigan
Sierra Demarinis, Central Michigan 
Tara Kofmehl, Northern Illinois 
 
All-MAC Second Team
Payton Murphy, Western Michigan 
Rachel Decavitch, Kent State
Katie Kowalski, Central Michigan
Sarah Haxton, Kent State
Cami Klein, Kent State 
Karlie Franz, Kent State 
Alyssa Guns, Kent State