First place – Rachel Stypinski

Rachel Stypinski finished her Kent State career with her third consecutive Mid-American Conference gymnast of the year honor, as well as earning MAC gymnast of the week five times this season.

Stypinski saved her best for last, scoring career-highs in the all-around (39.575), bars (9.950 in back-to-back meets), beam (9.975), floor (9.975) and vault (9.825 — twice).

Stypinski also finished 24th on bars with a 9.800 at NCAA Regionals in Columbus despite basically competing on one leg. Stypinski suffered a serious ankle injury during the Kent State Tri-Meet, her final home competition, and hadn’t been able to compete in anything since, even missing the MAC Championships.

Second place – Kelsey Bittinger

Kelsey Bittinger completed her Kent State career as an All-MAC First Team selection for the third straight year. She was a four-year letterwinner and a captain for two of her years with the Flashes.

Bittinger finished her senior season second in the MAC in kills per set (3.88). She also finished her career with nine matches with 20 or more kills, 17 matches with 20 or more points, nine matches with 20 or more digs and 47 double-doubles.

Third place – Holly Speers

Senior shortstop Holly Speers is one of the most feared hitters in today’s MAC. Speers currently leads the league in batting average (.469, 45-for-96) and is fourth in home runs with 10. She has 39 RBI on the year and has been walked a staggering 45 times, by far the most in the league. For reference, Central Michigan’s whole team has only walked 61 times this season.

Before this season, Speers was an All-MAC Second Team selection each of the past two seasons. She hit .317 last season and was named to the All-MAC Tournament Team.

Cameron Hoover is the sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].