CLEVELAND – Western Michigan gymnastics fifth-year seniors
Amanda Gruber and
Payton Murphy have been named as 2024 Mid-American Conference Gymnasts to Watch by the league's coaches as the preseason poll and watch list were released on Friday morning.
The Broncos were picked to finish third with 26 points and received one vote to win the MAC Tournament. Ball State and Central Michigan tied for first place with 32 points, but the Cardinals had four first place votes to the Chippewa's two.
Gruber is one of the top performers on beam in the conference, having tied for second place at last season's MAC Tournament after posting a score of 9.875 and earning MAC All-Tournament Team honors. Gruber sits tied for first in program history for the highest-ever score in the event with a 9.950.
Murphy is the two-time reigning MAC Gymnast of the Year. She shared the MAC title on floor after a 9.950 and also finished third in the all-around. In addition to being named to the MAC All-Tournament Team, Murphy was also given First Team All-MAC honors.
Western Michigan opens the 2024 regular season on Sunday, hosting Eastern Michigan for a non-conference meet at 1 p.m. at University Arena. Tickets can be purchased at
www.wmubroncos.com/tickets. The meet will also be streamed live at
www.wmubroncos.com/watch.
2024 MAC Gymnastics Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First Place Votes)
T1. Ball State – 32 points (4)
T1. Central Michigan – 32 points (2)
3. Western Michigan – 26 points
4. Kent State – 24 points (1)
T5. Bowling Green – 12 points
T5. Eastern Michigan – 12 points
7. Northern Illinois – 9 points
MAC Tournament Champion: Ball State (5), Central Michigan (1), Western Michigan (1)
2024 MAC Gymnasts to Watch
Zoe Middleton, Sophomore, Ball State
Grace Sumner, Junior, Ball State
Isabella Rivelli, Sophomore, Bowling Green
Kathryn Weilbacher, Junior, Bowling Green
Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Sophomore, Central Michigan
Lia Kmieciak, Junior, Central Michigan
Raisa Boris, Senior, Eastern Michigan
Jacquelyn Patterson, Freshman, Eastern Michigan
Alyssa Guns, Junior, Kent State
Heidi Schultz, Sophomore, Kent State
Alyssa Al-Ashari, Senior, Northern Illinois
Isabella Sissi, Junior, Northern Illinois
Amanda Gruber, Graduate Student, Western Michigan
Payton Murphy, Graduate Student, Western Michigan
