The West Chester University Gymnastics Team (2-0) started their season Tuesday, Jan. 12, with an exciting win over Ursinus College 188.8-187.4.
In their season opener, junior Majesta Valentine, from Wilmington, Del. started off the season strong. Valentine won the balance beam with a 9.675, placed second on the bars with a 9.625, as well as tying teammate Selena Swanger, a junior from Gettysburg, Pa., for fifth on the floor exercise with 9.525. Valentine’s hard work paid off in the all-around competition where she placed first with a 37.975. Swanger came in second with an all-around score of 37.525 who also had a great meet earning her fourth on bars with a 9.45 and a score of 9.6 on vault tying for the third place spot with sophomore teammate Rachel Blair from Telford, Pa.
Freshman Lindsey Mathis from Waldorf, Md., had an amazing first collegiate gymnastics debut. Mathis placed fourth on vault with a 9.575, and tied teammate Emily Harrison, a junior from Cedar Park, Texas, for eighth on bars.
Junior Samantha Engle placed second on vault with an awesome 9.625. Sophomore Madison Brent placed seventh on vault and eighth on floor both with a score of 9.475. Sophomore Rose Wortman earned a 9.425 on beam, placing third.
Senior Cecelia Lorenzen also had a great beam routine tying, for fifth with a 9.325. Meghan Brannon, a senior from Seminole, Fla., placed sixth on bars with a 9.4.
Lindsay Knapp, senior from Collegeville, Pa., placed fourth on beam with a score of 9.375 and scored an astounding 9.675 on floor, earning her first place.
After an outstanding win over Ursinus, the Golden Rams continued their season at their home opener, Jan. 16, against Rhode Island College and SUNY Cortland. With a tremendous team effort, the Lady Rams beat their team beam score, as well as bringing home the win with a 191.45.
Swanger had an amazing competition scoring a 9.625, tying for second on vault with teammate Valentine, and finishing in second all-around with a 38.025. Coming in first all around, tying her own personal record with a 38.9 was Valentine.
With a rough start to the beam rotation, freshman from Carlisle, Pa., Cassie Hageman was able to pick up the pace with a dazzling routine scoring her a 9.675, tying teammate Swanger for third place. Knapp scored a 9.775, earning her second place, and in first was Valentine with a 9.825. A huge effort from the team helped the Golden Rams to beat their team beam score with a 48.025.
On bars Brannon had an awesome routine, earning her a 9.675, as well as first on bars. Valentine came in second with a 9.65. Brent and Mathis both scored a 9.45 tying for fourth place. Brent also tied teammate Engle on vault for sixth place with a 9.525. Mathis also tied teammate Blair for ninth on vault with a 9.425.
On the last event, the Golden Rams brought the roof down on floor, reminding the competing teams whose house they are in. Placing fifth was Mathis with a 9.6, fourth was Knapp with a 9.65, third was Brent with a 9.7, second was Swanger with a 9.775, and first was Valentine with a 9.8.
On Sunday, Jan. 24, the West Chester University Gymnastics Team was supposed to be heading to Towson University for a quad meet against Towson, University of North Carolina, and Southern Connecticut State University. However, due to the winterstorm Jonas, the meet has been cancelled and will not be made up in the future due to scheduling complications between the four teams.
Meghan Chan can be reached at M.chan96@aol.com.