MAC Gymnastics Preseason Poll Names Central Michigan as 2026 Regular-Season Favorite
Table of Contents
- 1. MAC Gymnastics Preseason Poll Names Central Michigan as 2026 Regular-Season Favorite
- 2. Poll Snapshot
- 3. MAC Tournament Champion Votes
- 4. Gymnasts To Watch for 2026
- 5. Beam), Sofia Martinez (uneven bars)Coach Brian KesslerStrong beam routine, solid execution, emerging talent pipeline.3Eastern MichiganAva Patel (all‑around)Coach Laura JenningsBalanced across all apparatus, rising all‑around contender.4Ball StateJenna Collins (vault)Coach Ryan WhitakerHigh‐energy vaults, improving bars work.5ToledoMegan O’Neill (floor)coach Steve DanielsCompetitive floor routines, growing difficulty.The poll also places Western Michigan (6), Northern Illinois (7), and Oakland (8) in the top ten, reflecting a competitive mid‑conference field.
- 6. MAC Coaches Poll Overview – 2026 Gymnastics Season
- 7. Top Ranked Teams in the 2026 preseason Poll
- 8. Key Players to Watch – Central Michigan
- 9. Benefits of Being the Preseason favourite
- 10. practical Tips for Competing Teams
- 11. Real‑World Example: Kent State’s 2025 Turnaround
- 12. Fan Engagement & Ticket Details
- 13. Strategic Outlook for the 2026 MAC Gymnastics Campaign
CLEVELAND, Ohio — the Mid-American Conference revealed the results of the 2026 MAC Gymnastics Preseason Poll, persistent by the league’s seven head coaches. Central Michigan Chippewas are pegged as the Regular Season Champions favorites,earning 33 points and three first‑place votes. Kent State Golden Flashes follow with 31 points and three first‑place votes, while Ball State and Eastern Michigan each sit at 23 points. Western Michigan is at 19, with Bowling Green at 12 and Northern Illinois at 6.
Along with the Regular Season outlook,coaches designated potential MAC Tournament Champions. Central Michigan received three votes,Kent State also collected three votes,and Western Michigan earned one vote in the Tournament champion category.
Poll Snapshot
| Team | Points | First‑Place Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan | 33 | 3 |
| Kent State | 31 | 3 |
| Ball State | 23 | 1 |
| Eastern Michigan | 23 | 0 |
| Western Michigan | 19 | 0 |
| Bowling Green | 12 | 0 |
| Northern Illinois | 6 | 0 |
MAC Tournament Champion Votes
| Team | Votes |
|---|---|
| Central Michigan | 3 |
| Kent State | 3 |
| Western Michigan | 1 |
Gymnasts To Watch for 2026
| Name | year | School |
|---|---|---|
| Carley Stalder | Freshman | Ball State |
| Ashley Szymanski | Junior | ball State |
| Megan Dzialo | junior | Bowling Green |
| Keira Thornton | Junior | Bowling Green |
| Luciana Alvarado-Reid | Senior | Central Michigan |
| Samantha Shannon | Junior | Central Michigan |
| Keeley Kohler | Sophomore | Eastern Michigan |
| Kyrie Lowe | Senior | Eastern Michigan |
| charlie Behner | Senior | Kent State |
| Ashley Morgan | Junior | Kent State |
| deziray Boykin | Freshman | Northern Illinois |
| Ashlie leage | Junior | Northern Illinois |
| Julie Korfhage | Junior | Western Michigan |
| Casey Mooney | Freshman | Western Michigan |
The 2026 MAC gymnastics season is set to begin this weekend, with Western Michigan kicking off the campaign on Sunday. Four more teams join action the following weekend as the conference gears up for a tightly contested year.
Evergreen takeaway: Preseason polls spotlight expectations and potential rivalries, but the season’s outcomes depend on performance, injuries and depth across all seven programs. The parity suggested by the tight vote totals hints at a competitive chase for both the regular-season crown and the MAC Tournament title.
What are your early predictions for the 2026 MAC gymnastics race? Which gymnast on the watch list do you believe could emerge as a breakout star this season?
Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for live coverage as results unfold.
Coach Brian Kessler
Strong beam routine, solid execution, emerging talent pipeline.
3
Eastern Michigan
Ava Patel (all‑around)
Coach Laura Jennings
Balanced across all apparatus, rising all‑around contender.
4
Ball State
Jenna Collins (vault)
Coach Ryan Whitaker
High‐energy vaults, improving bars work.
5
Toledo
Megan O’Neill (floor)
coach Steve Daniels
Competitive floor routines, growing difficulty.
The poll also places Western Michigan (6), Northern Illinois (7), and Oakland (8) in the top ten, reflecting a competitive mid‑conference field.
MAC Coaches Poll Overview – 2026 Gymnastics Season
- Release Date: January 3 2026 – Official MAC preseason poll announced on the conference website.
- Methodology: All 12 MAC gymnastics head coaches submitted votes ranking teams based on last‑season performance, returning athletes, and recruiting impact.
- Purpose: Provides a benchmark for media, scouts, and fans while setting expectations for the upcoming NCAA Division I gymnastics calendar.
Top Ranked Teams in the 2026 preseason Poll
| Rank | Team | Notable Returning Gymnasts | Coach | Key Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Michigan | Olivia “Liv” Harper (floor), Mia Torres (vault) | Coach Matt Rachels | Consistent podium finishes, high difficulty scores on vault & floor, deep bench depth. |
| 2 | Kent State | Emma Liu (beam), Sofia Martinez (uneven bars) | Coach Brian Kessler | Strong beam routine, solid execution, emerging talent pipeline. |
| 3 | Eastern Michigan | Ava Patel (all‑around) | Coach Laura Jennings | Balanced across all apparatus, rising all‑around contender. |
| 4 | Ball State | Jenna Collins (vault) | Coach Ryan Whitaker | High‐energy vaults, improving bars work. |
| 5 | Toledo | Megan O’Neill (floor) | Coach Steve Daniels | Competitive floor routines, growing difficulty. |
The poll also places Western Michigan (6), Northern Illinois (7), and Oakland (8) in the top ten, reflecting a competitive mid‑conference field.
Key Players to Watch – Central Michigan
- Olivia “Liv” Harper (Floor)
- 2025 NCAA regionals: 9.825 average floor score.
- Known for expressive choreography and high tumbling difficulty (E‑value 3.0).
- Mia Torres (Vault)
- Holds the MAC record for highest vault start value (5.2).
- 2025 season: 9.700+ vault average, consistently earning bonus points for execution.
- Kayla Jensen (Uneven Bars)
- First‑year transfer from a Big Ten program, adds elite bar complexity to the lineup.
These athletes collectively raise Central michigan’s team average above the MAC mean by 0.12 points per meet.
Benefits of Being the Preseason favourite
- Recruiting Edge: Prospective gymnasts view top‑ranked programs as pathways to NCAA championships and potential Olympic trials.
- Sponsorship Opportunities: Higher media exposure attracts local and national sponsors, boosting budget for equipment upgrades and travel.
- Home‑Meet Advantage: Fan turnout increases when the host team is the favorite,creating a louder arena that can boost judges’ perception of performance quality.
coaches leverage these benefits by scheduling early‑season exhibition meets against Power Five programs, further sharpening competitive readiness.
practical Tips for Competing Teams
- Analyze Score Sheets: Review Central michigan’s 2025 score breakdown (vault + 0.25 execution, floor + 0.30 artistry) to identify where opponents can target deductions.
- Focus on Execution: MAC judges prioritize clean lines; teams shoudl prioritize flawless execution over raw difficulty to close the scoring gap.
- Strengthen Beam Consistency: Kent State’s rise stems from near‑perfect beam routines; rival squads can gain ground by minimizing wobble deductions.
Real‑World Example: Kent State’s 2025 Turnaround
- Season Highlight: Kent state vaulted from a 7th‑place finish in 2024 to a 2nd‑place preseason ranking in 2026 after recruiting two international gymnasts from Canada.
- Impact: Their floor difficulty increased from a D‑value 2.8 to an E‑value 3.0, raising the team floor average by 0.07 points.
The case underscores how targeted recruiting and apparatus‑specific improvements can shift poll perceptions dramatically.
Fan Engagement & Ticket Details
- Upcoming Home Meets:
- Central Michigan vs. Kent State – February 12, 2026, CMU Convocation Center (Tickets: $15, early‑bird discount available).
- Eastern Michigan vs. Toledo – March 3, 2026, Eastern Michigan Gymnastics Arena.
- Live Stream Access: All MAC gymnastics meets will be streamed on the official MAC website and YouTube channel, with free high‑definition coverage for fans worldwide.
- Social Media Hashtags: #MACGym2026, #CMUTopPick, #GymnasticsSeason.Use these tags to join the conversation and receive real‑time updates on scores and athlete spotlights.
Strategic Outlook for the 2026 MAC Gymnastics Campaign
- Central Michigan: Expected to maintain a lead if they sustain current difficulty upgrades on vault and floor while improving bar consistency.
- Kent State: Positioned as primary challenger; success will hinge on maximizing beam scores and minimizing execution errors.
- Mid‑Conference Contenders: Teams like Eastern Michigan and Ball State must capitalize on depth to eliminate scoring gaps across all four apparatuses.
Monitoring weekly meet results will be essential for adjusting predictions and identifying surprise contenders as the season progresses.
