The West Chester University gymnastics team (3-3) dominated the competition at their season opener with a victory over host team Ursinus College 191.05-186.875. This is the highest opening team score for the Golden Rams, which is also among the three records broken during the competition.
Senior Majesta Valentine (Wilmington, Del.) took first in all four events, including the all-around with a score of 39.1, and broke her personal floor record, as well as a school record, by scoring a solid 9.9 from both judges on the event. Sophomores Emily Loughery (Telford, Pa.) and Selena Swanger (Gettysburg, Pa.) both tied for second on floor with a 9.55.
Freshmen Isabella D’Orazio (Limerick, Pa.) and Jordan Miranda (Winchester, Mass.), sophomore Myranda Marshall (Lancaster, Pa.), and Valentine led the team on bars. D’Orazio and Miranda began the meet for the Golden Rams, scoring a 9.35 and 9.3, respectively. Marshall then went on to tie for second with a 9.475, and Valentine anchored the line-up with a 9.6.
On vault, West Chester claimed the top five spots. Valentine had a winning score of 9.75, followed by Swanger with a 9.575, Meghan Chan (Northvale, N.J.) with a 9.55, Samantha Engle (Pittsburgh, Pa.) with a 9.5 and Rose Wortman (Bellefonte, Pa.) with a 9.475.
Closing the competition, the Lady Rams had a spectacular showing on the balance beam, breaking yet another team record for the event with a 48.6. High scores were set by Valentine with a score of 9.85, Swanger in second with a 9.775, and Loughery in fourth with a 9.725.
On Sunday, Jan. 15, the Golden Rams traveled to Southern Connecticut State University for a tri-meet with SUNY-Cortland. West Chester claimed the top spot with a 190.65, followed by Southern Conn. State with a 188.55, and SUNY-Cortland with 179.050.
This competition was a high point for the team, as well as alumni, for the fact that the West Chester Lady Rams hit 24 for 24 routines for the first time ever. This means each athlete in the six person line-up for each of the four events hit their routines.
Starting off the meet on bars, D’Orazio performed a great routine, scoring a 9.375. Miranda also performed a wonderful routine, scoring a 9.425. Valentine anchored the event, placing first with a score of 9.65. Coming in second was Marshall with a 9.525.
Valentine placed third on the balance beam with a high score for the Golden Rams of a 9.675. Chan came in fourth on the event with a 9.6.
On floor, Valentine was runner-up with a score of 9.8, and Swanger was right behind her with a 9.7. In the last event, vault, the Lady Rams claimed the top three spots once again with Valentine in first with a 9.75, followed by Swanger with a 9.575 and Chan with a 9.55.
In the all-around, Valentine and Swanger went first and second with scores of 38.875 and 37.75, respectively. Valentine was also awarded the ECAC Gymnast of the Week Award.
On Saturday, Jan. 21, West Chester University placed fourth in a quad meet against DI schools Nebraska, Brown, and host Rutgers with a score of 190.475.
High points of the competition include season-high scores on vault with a 48.0 and on the floor exercise with a 48.3. Valentine had an all-around score of 38.175, placing sixth. She also placed fifth on floor with 9.825, sixth on beam with 9.75, and ninth on vault with 9.725.
Engle received a 9.65 on vault, a season high score for the senior. Marshall and D’Orazio led the team on bars with D’Orazio scoring a season best of 9.45. Her impressive showing on the uneven bars earned her ECAC Rookie of the Week.
Chan was the team’s top finisher on the balance beam placing fourth with a 9.8. One judge even gave Chan a score of 9.9 and she also earned the ECAC Coaches Choice Award. This marks the second and third time West Chester has earned ECAC Honors this season.
On Saturday, Jan. 28, the Golden Rams will host University of Pennsylvania in a dual meet in Sturzebecker Gym 6 at 1 p.m. The following week the team will be traveling to Temple University to participate in the Ken Anderson Invitational.
Meghan Chan is a fourth-year student majoring in communication studies. She can be reached at MC827361@wcupa.edu.