West Chester Hits Season High Team Score In Dual Win Over William & Mary

Meet Results

WEST CHESTER, PA – West Chester's women's gymnasts scored a season-best 193.575 in a victory over visiting William & Mary inside Sturzebecker Health Science Center Saturday afternoon. That marks ranks as the sixth-best overall team score in head coach Barbara Cordova's tenure.
 
West Chester scored a season-best 48.575 on the balance beam while Jessica Meakim (Downingtown, Pa.) and McKenna Kissinger (Chambersburg, Pa.) anchored the floor exercise once again with outstanding performances.
 
"They all did such a great job," Cordova said afterwards. "It's the first meet that we hit beam. We had been struggling with a fall here and there. But, I think our beam team put it all together today, and that was the key factor in our win."
 
Lily McFarland (Baltimore, Md.) won the beam with a new personal best score of 9.85 while teammate Caroline Cascadden (Ashburn, Va.) also hit a career high with a 9.8.
 
West Chester finished out the home meet with another strong showing on the floor exercise as well. Meakim posted a 9.9 on the floor for the second straight week while Kissinger put up a 9.825 right before her. They finished first and second, respectively, in the individual standings on the floor.
 
"It's so special to watch them compete," Cordova said. "They are great anchors for the floor. I know they will hit every weekend.
 
"Losing their postseason two years ago and all of last season, this senior class has taken it to heart. There has been just great leadership from the entire senior class."
 
Returning to the lineup for the first time in three weeks, Kiah Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa.) won the vault with a score of 9.775. It was a purple podium in that event with Meakim and Kiley Fred (Highland Mills, N.Y.) taking second and third, respectively, with scores of 9.75 and 9.675. West Chester's score of 48.45 on the vault tied the team's season high set two weeks ago at home against Ursinus.
 
Samantha Kelly (Mullica Hill, N.J.) tied William & Mary's Sarah Wozniak for first place on the uneven bars with each receiving a 9.775, which was a new personal best for Kelly. Hyla Betts (Shannock, R.I.) tied for fourth with a 9.625.
 
West Chester has a quick turnaround with its annual Pink Meet at the Philadelphia Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia Friday night at 6 p.m.

Saturday's meet against William & Mary was also Mental Health Awareness Day inside Sturzebecker. The Golden Rams' gymnasts wore teal shirts to show their support for the importance of mental health and to encourage others to start the conversation and to let them know that it's okay to not be okay.