West Chester Gymnasts Finish Third at GEC Championships

MEET RESULTS

WILLIAMSBURG, VA – West Chester University's women's gymnastics squad placed third at the 2023 Gymnastics East Conference (GEC) Championships Saturday night held inside Kaplan Arena on the campus of William & Mary University.
 
Junior Lily McFarland (Baltimore, Md.) and freshman Sarah Eskew (Pittsburgh, Pa.) highlighted eight gymnasts, who finished in the Top 10 individually in the four events. Both McFarland and Eskew were runners-up in their respective events – McFarland on the balance beam and Eskew on the vault. McKenna Kissinger (Chambersburg, Pa.) was third in the floor exercise.
 
All three gymnasts mentioned above tied their career highs as a result of their efforts Saturday. McFarland was second with a 9.85 while Eskew tied for second with a 9.775, and Kissinger posted a 9.875. Kiah Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa.) tied for seventh on the vault in support of Eskew in that event.
 
"(Eskew) hit her best vault of the year, sticking the landing," West Chester head coach Barb Cordova said. "(McFarland) put together a flawless routine and also stuck the landing. One judge gave her a 9.9."
 
Caitlyn Allen (Forest Hill, Md.) and Natalie Marshall (Bolton, Mass.) tied for 10th on the balance beam, making it three gymnasts in the Top 10 in that event. Cordova said the beam was West Chester's strongest event, and that is exactly how things played out Saturday night. Allen and Marshall each scored a 9.75. Marshall stepped into the lineup for the first time since Feb. 5 at Ursinus and rose to the occasion.
 
Sophomore Jordan Coleman (Bowie, Md.) placed in a tie for seventh on the uneven bars with a 9.775. She was the Golden Rams' top performer in that event.
 
Sophomore Kristina Rodriguez (Cincinnati, Ohio) placed fifth in the all-around competition and equaled her career-high in the process with a 38.625.
 
West Chester will now head back to the gym to train for U.S. Women's Gymnastics Collegiate Championships in Denton, Texas next month. The Golden Rams have already clinched one of eight team berths at nationals.