West Chester Tops Cornell, 192.475-191.900, in GEC Match Sunday

Meet Results

ITHACA, NY – Jessica Meakim (Downingtown, Pa.) won two events and Natalie Marshall (Bolton, Mass.) was victorious on the balance beam as visiting West Chester topped host Cornell, 192.475-191.9 in a Gymnastics East Conference (GEC) dual meet Sunday afternoon.
 
West Chester won three of the four events en route to the team's second-highest score of the season. However, perhaps the most impressive effort of the day from the Golden Rams came on the floor where the Golden Rams scored a season-best 49.075 with three gymnasts tying for first place.
 
Meakim was joined by McKenna Kissinger (Chambersburg, Pa.), Rose Fanara (Fredericksburg, Va.) and a Cornell gymnast on the top spot of the podium as all four notched a 9.85. For Kissinger, it was a career-high score. Sophomore Caroline Cascadden (Ashburn, Va) scored a career-best 9.8 making four of the five scores West Chester registered higher than 9.8. Kiley Fred (Highland Mills, NY) recorded a 9.725 and Lily McFarland (Baltimore, Md.) posted a 9.7, meaning every floor score for the Golden Rams was 9.7 or better.
 
"I am super proud of their performance today," WCU head coach Barb Cordova said. "And I am excited for our home opener next week."
 
Freshman Kristina Rodriguez (Cincinnati, Ohio) got things off to a magnificent start on the uneven bars with a career-high 9.7 that tied her for second overall in that event. Hyla Betts (Shannock, R.I.) placed fourth with a 9.65 and Meakim was fifth with a 9.6.
 
From there, Meakim turned in a winning performance on the vault with a 9.725. McFarland tied for third with a 9.575 while Fred and Kiah Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa.) tied for fifth with a 9.55.
 
Finishing on the beam, West Chester did not count any falls. Marshall picked up her first win in college with a 9.75 while Cascadden was third with a 9.7.
 
West Chester opens its home slate Saturday at 1 p.m. inside Sturzebecker HSC with a non-conference dual meet against Ursinus.