On Sunday March 6, the West Chester University gymnastics team (15-10) traveled to Rutgers University to participate in a quad meet with host Rutgers, Towson University, and Southern Connecticut State University. Rutgers finished with a 195.05, followed by Towson with a 192.775, then Southern Connecticut State University with a 190.725, and then the Golden Rams with a 188.475.
A rough start to the meet, led to a surprising finish for the Golden Rams. Keeping spirits high, the Rams finished the meet with a learning experience that can only benefit this talented group of ladies.
On vault, high scores for the teams consisted of Sam Engle scoring a 9.6, and Lindsey Mathis and Maia Curry both scoring a 9.475. On bars, Lindsay Knapp pulled off a great routine, scoring a 9.45. Emily Loughery and Selena Swanger both scored a 9.55 on beam. Mathis and Swanger both received a score of 9.625, really helping the team score, and Loughery scored an impressive 9.525.
The seniors had the chance to enjoy their senior meet Saturday March 12 at home against Cornell University. The Rams finished with a final score of 192, and Cornell with a 192.35, a very close competition.
Valentine once again scored a 39.0 all-around placing first, scoring a 9.75 on vault placing first, 9.65 on bars tying for fourth, 9.775 on beam placing second, and a 9.825 on floor placing first.
Swanger came in third for the all-around, scoring a 38.575. Swanger tied for sixth with teammates Mathis and Engle with a score of 9.625, placed seventh on bars with a 9.6, scored a 9.675 on beam tying for fifth, and placed fourth on floor with a 9.675.
Curry had an amazing stick on vault scoring a 9.7. Meghan Brannon tied for second on bars scoring a 9.7. The Golden Rams also captured the eighth, ninth, and 10th places on bars: Mathis with a 9.55, Alyssa Hult with a 9.525, and Knapp with a 9.35, respectively.
The Golden Rams also beat the team beam score yet again this season with a 48.375. Loughery performed a spectacular routine on beam scoring her a 9.7 and placing fourth on the event. Cecelia Lorenzen started the Rams off strong on beam scoring a 9.625 and placing seventh. Placing eighth on beam was Rose Wortman with a score of 9.6. On floor, junior Kristin Torres performed an amazing routine scoring a 9.625 and placing sixth.
On Saturday, March 19 the Golden Rams competed in their last competition of the season at the ECAC Championships held at Bridgeport University, also against Southern Connecticut State University. The WCU gymnastics team received their second highest team score of the season with a 192.325, behind Bridgeport who finished with a 195.125. SCSU finished in third with a final score of 191.3
Valentine finished first in the all-around with a 38.675, tied for eighth on vault with a 9.625, tied for fifth on bars with a 9.725, tied for seventh on beam with a 9.65, and tied for 10th on floor with a 9.675.
Swanger came in second in the all-around with a score of 38.325, tied for fourth on vault with teammate Curry with a 9.65, tied for 10th on bars with a 9.575, tied for 11th on beam with teammate Lorenzen, both scoring a 9.575, and placed 16th on floor with a 9.525.
Wortman tied for 12th on vault 9.575, and Engle and Mathis tied for 14th scoring a 9.55. Brannon tied for third on bars scoring a remarkable 9.8. Myranda Marshall also had a great bar routine scoring a 9.55, as well as Mathis who scored a 9.3.
Loughery had a beautiful beam routine, placing third on the event and scoring a 9.75, the high score on beam for the Rams, and Knapp followed with a 9.7, tying for fourth place. Loughery also had the high score for the Golden Rams on the floor exercise with a 9.725, placing ninth. After being injured in the beginning of the season, Torres finished strong with an amazing floor routine and came in 13th with a score of 9.6.
The Golden Rams finished the season strong and on a high note. Now, be on the lookout to see if any members of the West Chester University Gymnastics team will be will be continuing their season and traveling to St. Charles, Mo. for the USAG Nationals.
Meghan Chan is a second-year student. MC827361@wcupa.edu