KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Several records fell, including the program meet score record, as the Western Michigan gymnastics team broke 197 for the first time in school history with a 197.000 in its victory over Northern Illinois at University Arena on Saturday evening.
The Broncos (10-4, 4-1 MAC) also broke team meet records on vault with a 49.250 and on beam with a 49.375. Individually, sophomore Cassie St. Clair tied the program vault record with a 9.925. Payton Murphy broke her own all-around record for the third time this season after finishing with a 39.550.
WMU got off to a hot start with its performance on vault. St. Clair won the event and was followed by Murphy, who finished with a 9.850. Abby Singh, Halle Faulkner and Sarah Moravansky all tied for third with 9.825's.
Western Michigan carried that momentum on bars, where it posted a score of 49.175, the fourth-straight meet with a score of at least 49 in the event. NIU's Alyssa Al-Ashari topped the bars with a 9.900, but Murphy and Sarah Moravansky were right behind her and tied for second place with scores of 9.875.
The Broncos claimed the top three spots in their record-setting performance on beam. Amanda Gruber won with a 9.925, with Moravansky and Murphy tying for second place with 9.900's. Ronni Binstock and Gigi Singh each had 9.825's to tie for sixth.
Binstock shined in her final performance at University Arena on floor, tying Murphy for the top spot with a career-high 9.925. Donnakathryn Roy finished tied for third with 9.900, while Dani Petrousek was right behind her with a 9.875. The Broncos finished with a team score of 49.300 in the event.
Western Michigan wraps up the regular season next Sunday at Ball State, with the meet beginning at 1 p.m.
