Typically, a description of “bodies flying everywhere” for a sporting event means chaos.

However, for NIU women’s gymnastics, it meant MAC championship time.

The Huskies played host to the 2012 MAC championship meet Saturday at the NIU Convocation Center. NIU welcomed in Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Ball State, Kent State and Bowling Green.

NIU was at home literally and figuratively right from the get go, as coach Sam Morreale said it drew a favorable rotation slot.

“It was awesome that we got the draw we got,” Morreale said. “We got to start on vault and end on our best event in floor.”

The Huskies were able to capitalize on both of those events, as they would end up posting season highs on both vault and floor, with 48.775 and 49.175 respectively.

Leading the way for both events was NIU senior Tanya Rachan, who posted 9.850 and 9.900 on vault and floor.

“It feels amazing,” Rachan said. “I just went out there and tried my best and had my team behind me. My goal was to get up there on the podium, and I got my medal, so I’m really happy.”

Rachan would take second place on floor and tie for fourth on vault for individual results in the meet.

Encompassing seven teams and seven sets of rotations, the MAC championship title was taken home by Central Michigan with a score of 195.675

“It was really a nice venue; NIU did a great job hosting this,” said Chippewas coach Jerry Reighard. “This was by no means an easy competition for us. I would have never predicted this at the beginning of the year. This is the culmination of a lot of work on their part.”

Kent State took second with 195.225, and Western Michigan took third with 195.000. Trailing the top three was NIU with its third highest score of the season in 194.525 This score registered second all-time in the history of NIU in the MAC championship event, second only to the 2004 squad by .75. Finishing fourth was also tied for second best finish in school history.

NIU could have put themselves into an even more prime position if it wasn’t for a few miscues on bars and beam.

Morreale said that it was still an amazing event for his team either way.

“I told them they have two choices,” Morreale said. “They could be stressed and pressured, or they could just come out and have fun. With the pressure and all of the stuff going on today, I thought they did an amazing job.”

Morreale said the event was also accomplished sending his seniors off in fashion, giving them something positive to remember.

“Maybe the day didn’t go personally how they wanted it to,” Morreale said. “With the team aspect, though, they can jump onto that 194.525. I told them to give themselves something to remember in a good way, not the teary ‘Oh, it didn’t go my way.’, and I think we did that.”