Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: BGSU Strategic Communications
15 Moments in 15 Years of the Stroh: Stroh Center Takes Center Stage Hosting the Gymnastics MAC Championships
July 22, 2026 | Gymnastics
This summer, join BGSU Athletics in a look back at the first 15 years inside the Stroh Center. Our series continues with a retrospective of Bowling Green Hosting the Gymnastics Mid-American Conference Championships at Stroh Center in 2017 and 2026.
Previously in the series...
1 – Opening the Doors
2 – Volleyball Opens the Building with a BG Win
3 – Hoops Hit the Hardwood
4 – The NCAA Tournament Comes to BG
5 – Stars Step into the Stroh
6 – Falcons Upset Undefeated and No. 14 Ranked Dayton Flyers
7 – BGSU Volleyball Shocks the Stroh, Upsetting No.13 BYU
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Stroh Center took center stage in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Gymnastics world as it became the location for the 2016-17 and 2025-26 MAC Championships. Since the Stroh Center opened, Bowling Green State University has only hosted the Gymnastics MAC Championships twice.
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2017
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For the first time in program history, BGSU became the home for the Gymnastics MAC Championships in 2017. The last time Bowling Green hosted the MAC Championships was in 2010 at Anderson Arena.
​
2017 was the 6th time BGSU has been the host for the MAC Championships in school history.
​
During the Championships, Eastern Michigan became the overall champion as they edged the Falcons by a narrow score of 196.500 - 196.400.
​
The Orange and Brown took him the second-place award, but individually Kayla Rose walked away a MAC Champion as she scored 9.95 on the Floor Exercise to become a MAC Champion.
​
At the end of the event, the Falcons featured four athletes on the All-Touranament team, and Jovannah East walked away earning the Freshman of the Year Award. East, Rose, Lauren Feely and India McPeak were all named to the All-Tournament team.
​
2026
​
In 2026, BGSU's Stroh Center was named the host of the Gymnastics MAC Championships for a second time.
​
The Stroh Center featured all seven Mid-American Conference gymnastics teams in what was one of the most memorable events hosted at Bowling Green. BGSU welcomed Central Michigan, Ball State, Kent State, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois all competing for the MAC title.
​
Entering the final meet of the year, the Falcons have achieved the first winning season for the program since 2002, earning a 10-7 overall record in the 2025-26 season. The Falcons were led by head coach Brittney Emmons in her second season as a Falcon.
​
While the event itself was a masterpiece, the most memorable moment came from Keira Thornton. During the Falcons' final event of the day, Thornton performed her floor routine, scoring a 9.925, which was good enough to win the Floor Exercise MAC Championship, securing the crown in her home arena of the Stroh Center. Thornton's score of 9.925 was the highest score of any competitor in the Championships.
​
Thornton captured the 37th Individual MAC Championship and became the 7th gymnast to win the Floor Exercise MAC Championship in program history. Thornton became one of the 20 BGSU gymnasts to win an Individual MAC Championship.
​
In both times hosting the MAC Championships at the Stroh, BGSU saw one of its own capture a crown and become a MAC Champion. Winning on the biggest stage inside the Stroh Center.
1 – Opening the Doors
2 – Volleyball Opens the Building with a BG Win
3 – Hoops Hit the Hardwood
4 – The NCAA Tournament Comes to BG
5 – Stars Step into the Stroh
6 – Falcons Upset Undefeated and No. 14 Ranked Dayton Flyers
7 – BGSU Volleyball Shocks the Stroh, Upsetting No.13 BYU
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Stroh Center took center stage in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Gymnastics world as it became the location for the 2016-17 and 2025-26 MAC Championships. Since the Stroh Center opened, Bowling Green State University has only hosted the Gymnastics MAC Championships twice.
​
2017
​
For the first time in program history, BGSU became the home for the Gymnastics MAC Championships in 2017. The last time Bowling Green hosted the MAC Championships was in 2010 at Anderson Arena.
​
2017 was the 6th time BGSU has been the host for the MAC Championships in school history.
​
During the Championships, Eastern Michigan became the overall champion as they edged the Falcons by a narrow score of 196.500 - 196.400.
​
The Orange and Brown took him the second-place award, but individually Kayla Rose walked away a MAC Champion as she scored 9.95 on the Floor Exercise to become a MAC Champion.
​
At the end of the event, the Falcons featured four athletes on the All-Touranament team, and Jovannah East walked away earning the Freshman of the Year Award. East, Rose, Lauren Feely and India McPeak were all named to the All-Tournament team.
​
2026
​
In 2026, BGSU's Stroh Center was named the host of the Gymnastics MAC Championships for a second time.
​
The Stroh Center featured all seven Mid-American Conference gymnastics teams in what was one of the most memorable events hosted at Bowling Green. BGSU welcomed Central Michigan, Ball State, Kent State, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois all competing for the MAC title.
​
Entering the final meet of the year, the Falcons have achieved the first winning season for the program since 2002, earning a 10-7 overall record in the 2025-26 season. The Falcons were led by head coach Brittney Emmons in her second season as a Falcon.
​
While the event itself was a masterpiece, the most memorable moment came from Keira Thornton. During the Falcons' final event of the day, Thornton performed her floor routine, scoring a 9.925, which was good enough to win the Floor Exercise MAC Championship, securing the crown in her home arena of the Stroh Center. Thornton's score of 9.925 was the highest score of any competitor in the Championships.
​
Thornton captured the 37th Individual MAC Championship and became the 7th gymnast to win the Floor Exercise MAC Championship in program history. Thornton became one of the 20 BGSU gymnasts to win an Individual MAC Championship.
​
In both times hosting the MAC Championships at the Stroh, BGSU saw one of its own capture a crown and become a MAC Champion. Winning on the biggest stage inside the Stroh Center.
Players Mentioned
/ Gymnastics
Tuesday, July 14
Saturday, July 11
Wednesday, July 01
Wednesday, May 06