Sam Morreale, NIU women’s gymnastics coach, said he sees similarities between his team and top MAC opponents.

Following the award ceremony of the MAC championship, Morreale gave credit to his fellow conference programs in Central Michigan and Kent State.

“Kent’s going to regionals; they’re ranked higher than Central,” Morreale said. “Western is a good team, too. Those are the guys I’m trying to chase down and not necessarily shadow my program off of, but I want that consistency also. I want my team to believe they can accomplish what they have.”

Central Michigan took home its third straight MAC title, its 13th in school history. They also celebrated as regular season champions going undefeated. In addition to those honors, the Chippewas’ coach, Jerry Reighard, earned MAC Coach of the Year honors, and their senior all-arounder Kristin Teubner took MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year.

“We knew we had great athletes,” Reighard said. “Without them actually stepping up, we wouldn’t end up where we are now. We have a great roster top to bottom. I think having a freshman win our balance beam speaks to that.”

Central Michigan accomplished the feat while featuring a roster largely composed of underclassmen, meaning this level of competition within the MAC isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Morreale said he has confidence in the gymnasts he will have returning, however, including an award winner in her own right, sophomore Megan Melendez.

Melendez took home, not literally, however, as she let her co-recipient walk away with the trophy. The Co-MAC specialist of the year winner, splitting the honor with Rachel Goldenberg of Kent State.

“It was really exciting, I didn’t even know it was an award that was out there,” Melendez said. “It was so awkward because it was already in her hands, and I obviously wanted it, but I just let her have it. They said they would mail me one later.”

Morreale said Melendez, as well as other sophomores and freshman, will benefit hugely from this experience going forward.

“We counted on underclassmen a lot this season,” Morreale said. “The fact that I had freshman leading off events will help us a ton next year. With the amount of routines we’re graduating, it was hugely encouraging to see the attitude of my team today and not carrying the success or failure of one routine into the next.”