Meet Results
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Two school records fell Saturday afternoon inside the Sturzebecker HSC as host West Chester University’s women’s gymnastics squad defeated both SUNY Brockport and Rhode Island College in a non-league tri-meet.
West Chester University set a new school mark with an overall score of 185.875 to narrowly outdistance SUNY Brockport, which scored a 183.750. Rhode Island College followed up with a 146.825. The Golden Rams’ new school mark was bolstered by a school record on the uneven bars where WCU notched a 45.875.
“This was definitely our best meet of the season,” third-year head coach Barbara Cordova commented. “We hit on all four events. It was just a great day all around. We knew Brockport would be tough. But, our girls were ready today.”
With WCU president Dr. Greg Weisenstein and his wife in attendance, along with many former West Chester gymnasts on Alumni Day, the Golden Rams showed their faithful fans what the next generation of tumblers is all about. West Chester posted its highest score on the uneven bars (45.875) in school history – an event in which the Golden Rams have struggled in recent years.
“The bars have really been a weakness of ours,” Cordova admitted. “That is where the focus of our recruiting has been over the last couple of years, and I think that finally showed through today.”
West Chester’s Amber Miller won the balance beam competition with a score of 9.65. It was the only event in which SUNY Brockport’s Kaitlin Dewey was not the individual winner. Dewey also claimed the all-around title as a result.
Kaley LaFleur was second on the beam with a 9.625. She finished runner-up in the all-around with a composite score of 37.375. She was over 9.000 in all four events. LaFleur posted a 9.425 in the floor exercise and a 9.275 on the vault. Her bars score was a 9.05.
Both Alli Aquilla and Paige Griffin scored above a 37.000 in the all-around competition. Aquilla placed third with a 37.250, and Griffin scored a 37.025.
“There is still room for improvement,” Cordova cautioned. “We had a fall on the bars and a fall on the beam. So, we can still move up. But this was a great day.”
West Chester’s gymnasts return to action next Saturday at the Ken Anderson Invitational hosted by Temple University.
