DeMers, Pitchell Cap Career at NCAA Regional

Author: Greg Hotchkiss

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.– Central Michigan Senior Gymnasts Hannah DeMers (all sides) and Taylor Pitchell (floor exercise) competed Thursday night at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Gymnastics Regionals in Los Angeles, California at the famed Pauley Pavilion. The final results can also be found at this link.

DeMers started the night on vault. She recorded a score of 9.825, placing her among the 21st session competitors. Next up for DeMers was bars, where she turned in a stunning 9.900 performance that placed her fourth among session competitors. After scoring a 9.125 on beam, she capped off the night with a stellar floor routine where she scored a 9.875 in the final routine of her collegiate career. He scored 38.725 overall.

Pitchell earned a 9.900 on her floor routine, which put her in third place in Session II.

“Hannah and Taylor were great tonight,” Central Michigan head coach Christine MacDonald said. “We couldn’t have asked for a better way for them to end their storied careers. We are so proud of them and the way they represented CMU Gymnastics and Central Michigan University.”

Gallery: (3/31/2023) NCAA Gymnastics Regional Photo Gallery

The duo competed in the NCAA Regional’s Session II and were paired with a rival team. DeMers made the rounds with Boise State, while Pitchell appeared with Stanford.

Both CMU gymnasts had outstanding careers at Chippewa.

For the second consecutive year, DeMers qualified for the NCAA Regional. She becomes the third gymnast in school history to win a second NCAA regional as an individual, joining Danielle Espinoza (2006 and 2008) and Katie Simon (2007 and 2008). She also competed as an individual at the 2021 NCAA Nationals on bars.

A native of Wethersfield, Conn., Pitchell turned 19^th gymnast in school history to qualify for an NCAA regional as an individual. Pitchell, who served as Central Michigan’s floor exercise closer, had a career and season high of 9.950. She scored a 9.900 at Saturday’s MAC Championships and finished the season with a national qualifying score of 9.800.

Central Michigan, the 2023 Mid-American Conference champion, was ranked 38th^th team nationally. The top 36 teams advanced to the NCAA Regionals.

-CMU-