Michigan
Central Michigan, Western Michigan (ex)
U-M to Host Free Exhibition Tri-Meet on Thursday vs. CMU, WMU
12/7/2021 1:00:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
THE MEET
Thursday, Dec. 9 -- vs. Central Michigan, Western Michigan (Crisler Center), 7 p.m.
TV: B1G+ | Live Results | Live Video
PROMOTIONS
• Dec. 9: Free Admission -- All fans will receive free admission to the meet.
• Full Promotions Schedule
• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
• U-M Women's Gymnastics Ticket Information
The reigning NCAA champion University of Michigan women's gymnastics team will give fans a first look at the 2022 squad Thursday evening (Dec. 9) when it hosts Central Michigan and Western Michigan for a tri-meet inside Crisler Center starting at 7 p.m. that will be streamed live on B1G+.
Tri-Meet Rundown
• Thursday's exhibition meet will mark the first time since 2019 that the Wolverines have hosted an exhibition meet prior to the season. The 2020 exhibition was canceled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
• Michigan will host Central Michigan and Western Michigan for the third straight time, as it played host to the two squads in 2018 and 2019.
• Each team will be allowed six competitors on each event and two exhibition routines.
• U-M will start on the vault, Central Michigan will start on the uneven bars and Western Michigan will start on floor exercise.
Wolverine Bites
• The reigning national champions return all but one routine from 2021 season to its 2022 roster, losing three seniors -- including beam specialist Lauren Farley.
• Among the returners are 14 All-America performances, with junior Sierra Brooks leading the way with four first-team honors, while senior Abby Heiskell picked up three, and junior Gabby Wilson had two first-team honors among her four total awards. Senior Natalie Wojcik and sophomore Naomi Morrison each earned second-team honors with two citations for Wojcik and Morrison earning a nod on the vault.
• Michigan also adds three freshmen to its roster for the 2022 campaign: Ashley Lane, Abigael Vides and Jacey Vore.
• Seniors Abby Brenner and Abby Heiskell, along with Sierra Brooks have been named 2022 captains. Brenner was named a captain for the second straight season, while it is the first time for Heiskell and Brooks.
• Sophomore Carly Bauman will not be available for the 2022 season after tearing her Achilles' tendon prior to the season.
• Michigan broke the 198 barrier on four occasions in the 2021 season, which included a program-best 198.250 in the NCAA Final that -- a score that also is the third-highest in NCAA history. The Wolverines also broke the program record on the uneven bars (49.725), and balance beam (49.600) while earning the second-highest score in program history on vault (49.800) and floor exercise (49.650).
Event Breakdown
• Vault: The Wolverines finished the season as the top team on the vault and return the entire 2021 lineup that posted the second-best score in program history (49.800) at Maryland. Sierra Brooks, Abby Heiskell and Natalie Wojcik all averaged matching 9.891s in 2021, with Wojcik earning a perfect 10 at the Big Ten Championships. Gabby Wilson, Naomi Morrison and Reyna Guggino were steady scorers for the Maize and Blue last season.
• Uneven Bars: Finishing the season ranked third nationally behind the coaching expertise of Scott Sherman, U-M also will return its entire uneven bars lineup from a season ago and have some competition for the top spots. Michigan set a program-record at the 2021 NCAA Regional Finals, scoring a 49.725. Natalie Wojcik anchored the lineup, averaging a 9.925, and Brenner will look to make her full return this season after suffering an injury. Brenner averaged a 9.875 on bars last season and made an electrifying return in the NCAA Championship, scoring a 9.9250.
• Balance Beam: Michigan also finished the season ranked in the top five on the balance beam, coming in at No. 4 nationally. Last year, U-M broke the program record on the beam, scoring a 49.600 at Maryland, topping the previous program best of 49.525 set in 2005. The Wolverines lose just one routine in Lauren Farley for the 2022 season but will have Natalie Wojcik, who averaged a 9.925 and had one perfect 10, and Sierra Brooks, who averaged a 9.856, in the lineup this season.
• Floor Exercise: The Wolverines finished the 2021 campaign as the No. 12-ranked team on floor exercise with Gabby Wilson as the anchor. U-M earned the second-highest score in program history last season with a 49.650 at the NCAA Semifinals and once again will return its entire lineup as well as see Brenner back in after her injury in 2021.
Up Next
Thursday, Jan. 6 – vs. Georgia (Crisler Center), 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
