The West Chester University gymnastics team (15-7) traveled to Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) on March 24 for the ECAC Division II Championships. The ECAC DII Championships is comprised of three DII gymnastics teams: host SCSU, University of Bridgeport and West Chester University. Coming in to the competition the Rams were in the running to go to Nationals in Denton, Texas as a team.
WCU started the competition on the beam where high scores were contributed by Jordan Miranda (9.7), Rose Wortman (9.675), Cassie Hageman (9.725), Yoli Nodarse (9.65) and Sarah Boyd (9.775). Boyd placed fourth on the event and Hageman tied for sixth. The total score for the balance beam was 48.525.
On the floor exercise, all six gymnasts performed beautiful routines. Scores were as follows: Paige Parsnik (9.475), Miranda (9.65), Boyd (9.675), Hageman (9.75), Madi Brent (9.8) and Jessica Meakim (9.825). The total team score on the event was a 48.7 with Meakim tied for sixth place and Brent tied for eighth.
For vault, the team scored a 47.8. Natalie Onderko scored a 9.4 and Parsnik a 9.35. Rachel Blair and Lindsey Mathis tied for eighth with 9.575 and Meakim and Meghan Chan tied for sixth with 9.625.
The Golden Rams’ last event was bars, where the team ended with a 47.6 on the event. WCU struggled on this event, counting one fall. Although there were some mishaps on the uneven bars, the Rams finished the competition strong. High scores on the bars were scored by Meakim (9.45), Onderko (9.575) and Melanie Wojewoda and Myranda Marshall (9.775) tied for second.
Final standings landed the University of Bridgeport in first with a total of 195.1, WCU in second scoring a 192.625 and SCSU in third with 191.9. Honorary ECAC awards were awarded to Stephanie Plaugher for Assistant Coach of the year. This is the second year in a row WCU has received this award. Meakim was awarded with ECAC Rookie of the Year and Chan went home with ECAC Scholar Athlete of the Year, along with SCSU gymnast Kate Aberger.
Following a strong finish to their season, the Golden Rams were not able to maintain their position in the USAG Division for Nationals and unfortunately will not be heading to Texas as a team.
However, the following 12 individuals will be traveling to host Texas Women’s University (TWU) in Denton, Texas to compete for WCU on their individual events: Blair (Vault), Mathis (Vault), Meakim (Vault, Floor), Chan (Vaults, Bars, Beam), Marshall (Bars), Wojewoda (Bars), Onderko (Bars), Boyd (Beam, Floor), Nodarse (Beam), Miranda (Beam), Brent (Floor) and Hageman (Floor). The four-day event will take place April 12-15 in TWU’s Pioneer Hall.
Now, athletics is not everything, and West Chester University has 12 athletes that need to be recognized on the ECAC All-Academic Team comprised of athletes who are a sophomore, junior or senior with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. These athletes include Blair, Boyd, Chan, Bella D’Orazio, Marshall, Mathis, Miranda, Onderko, Wortman, Emily Loughery, Sydne Powers and Hageman.
The 12 individuals will leave for Nationals on April 11. We wish them the best of luck as they head into their last competition to finish off a winning season.
Meghan Chan is a fifth-year student majoring in business management with minors in IT and finance. ✉ MC827361@wcupa.edu.