PHILADELPHIA - Eight West Chester University gymnasts have qualified for the 2015 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships that will be held in The Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania from April 10-12.
The eight competing ladies consist
of Majesta Valentine, Selena Swanger, Rachel Blair, Meghan Brannon, Alyssa Hult, Lindsay Knapp, Cassandra Ringer and
Madi Brent. This year marks the most number of individuals ever to qualify from Barb Cordova's squad.
The preliminary rounds begin on Friday, April 10 at 2 p.m. A second prelim round will commence at 7 p.m. that evening. Team finals action will kick off on Saturday, April 11 at 7 p.m., and the individual event finals will be held on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Majesta Valentine, who will compete in the NCAA Division I Morgantown Regional the weekend prior, returns to the USAG nationals for the second time as an all-around competitor. Valentine has been racking up the milestones this season, as she just set an all-around record against Southern Connecticut State University with an incredible score of 38.900. She also tied a school record in the floor exercise with a score of 9.875.
Selena Swanger will make her first appearance as an all-around competitor and returns to the vault for her second year in a row. The sophomore averaged a 9.5 on the vault, and recorded a season high 38.275 all-around.
Rachel Blair heads to nationals to compete on the vault as a freshman where she averaged a score of 9.5625.
Meghan Brannon returns to the national stage for a third time, averaging a 9.525 on the bars. Brannon was named ECAC Specialist of the Year for her performance on the uneven bars.
Alyssa Hult will compete in her initial appearance at nationals, after qualifying with her performance on the bars and floor exercise.
Lindsay Knapp returns to the championships for the second time. The junior will return for her second appearance on the beam, but will make her debut on the floor exercise.
Cassandra Ringer is a fifth-year senior, who will make her first appearance as she competes on the balance beam.
Madi Brent will head to compete in the Palestra as a freshman.
