WEST CHESTER, Pa. - West Chester University’s women’s gymnastics squad opens it’s home debut with an exciting win over SUNY Cortland, 180.275 – 179.125, inside Sturzebecker HSC Saturday afternoon.
West Chester (2-0), watched three different gymnasts take top score out of the four events. SUNY Cortland (1-2), kept pace throughout the entire meet, but the Golden Rams swept the top three spots in the floor exercise to capture the meet in the final event of the day.
“We had a strong meet today,” West Chester second-year head coach Barbara Cordova said. “We nailed the floor (exercise). Going one, two, three really made a big difference.
“I am really excited for these girls. I knew we could win, but I knew it would be close. SUNY Cortland is a really good team.”
West Chester captured the balance beam competition with a 45.375 while also claiming the floor exercise with a 46.325. Cortland won the vault (46.925-46-525) and the uneven bars (42.450-42.050).
Rachel Pearson won the floor exercise with a 9.55 for West Chester. Alli Aquila took first place on vault with a 9.475, and for the second straight week in a row, freshman Kaley LaFleur took top honors on the balance beam (9.500). LaFleur (37.025) and Aquila (36.925) placed first and second in the all-around competition as well.
“There is still room to improve,” Cordova added. “But, we cracked the 180 mark today and that’s exciting. I told the girls that I want to be in the low 180s consistently, and they were able to hit that benchmark today.”
West Chester returns to action next weekend when the Golden Rams travel to SUNY Brockport for another key meet. The meet is slated to being at 12 p.m.
