BOSTON, Mass. – West Chester University posted its best opening-night score in head coach Barb Cordova's 12-year tenure with a 193.25 that placed the Golden Rams third behind Maryland and George Washington inside the John B. Hynes Veterans' Memorial Convention Center at the Little Boston Invitational Saturday night.
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Maryland won the event with a 196.15 while GW University was runner up with a 193.775.
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The Golden Rams' 193.25 was the best opening night effort under Cordova, topping the 191.05 that the team opened with in 2017. It marked the third time in the last four years that West Chester has posted a score over 190 on opening night and ranked as the 10th-best score during Cordova's time on campus.
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Junior
Jessica Meakim (Downingtown, Pa.) tied for first on the floor exercise with a 9.825 while freshman
Kiah Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa.) and
McKenna Kissinger (Chambersburg, Pa.) each posted a 9.75 in support of Meakim. Kissinger logged a career-high 9.65 on the vault as well.
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Meakim put up a 9.75 on the vault. But, Johnson led the way for the Golden Rams with a 9.8. Meakim finished second in the all-around with a 38.725 over the four events.
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Melanie Wojewoda (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored a 9.775 on the uneven bars to pace the Rams in that event. Senior
Sarah Boyd (St. Petersburg, Fla.) scored a 9.8 on the balance beam while
Rose Fanara (Fredericksburg, Va.) posted a 9.725 and
Jordan Miranda (Winchester, Mass.), competing at the event which was hosted by her hometown gym, scored a 9.65 on the beam.
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All of the NCAA women's gymnastics teams across the country dedicated this opening weekend's meet to Southern Connecticut State University former gymnast, Melanie Coleman, who passed away in the preseason. The Golden Rams and all the college gymnasts were "ALL IN" for Coleman and Southern Connecticut State.
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West Chester travels to Towson University next Friday night for a quad meet with the host Tigers and William & Mary and Cornell. That meet gets under way at 7 p.m.
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