WEST CHESTER, PA – The 2025 gymnastics campaign was not how head coach Barb Cordova drew it up as the challenges due to key injuries mounted. However, the Golden Rams finished on a high note by qualifying for nationals and then reaching the team finals. It is that perseverance and taste of success that the 18-year mentor of the Golden Rams hopes to capitalize on as 2026 opens.
"It certainly was challenging," Cordova reminisced about last winter. "But, I did learn a lot. One important lesson was that 'What the situation is today, is not what it will necessarily be tomorrow. So, don't hold onto that.
"I was really proud of the team last year. We had a rough season, but we peaked at the right time and made nationals and made the finals again, which we were not expecting to do."
Along the way, Cordova had some gymnasts competing in events they were not expected to compete in while the coaching staff tried to put together a lineup in all four events that would keep the Golden Rams competitive.
"The team learned a lot and grew together throughout the season," Cordova explained. "Our biggest challenge last year was on bars where some of the gymnasts were in the lineup because we were short on the bars. I think some of the girls probably looked at me as if to ask, 'Do I have to do this again?' But, it made them individually stronger."
A total of 14 gymnasts return with a stronger foundation on which to build. With that in mind, Cordova decided to reinvent how this new group would approach 2026 and came up with a mission that focused more on the big picture rather than end goals. She decided to put that focus on the steps needed to achieve team goals, rather than just stating what goals they would like to achieve.
"We came up with core values of what we believe," Cordova revealed. "If we believe these things, then what will our actions be, and what will be the expected outcomes?"
The four areas of concentration created by the ladies included: (1)Together, Golden; (2) Everyone has a role; (3) Being here is a privilege, not a right; and (4) Committed to growth. The first area "Together, Golden" relates to putting team interests above their own. That will help the squad accomplish their team goals. The second area will help each team member be 100 percent vested in your event and will make those events strong. The third area involved upholding the standards of WCU gymnastics and being respected on campus, while the fourth area emphasized buying into the process. That would show itself at competitions.
Her five seniors will be instrumental in carrying out the team's mission. However, Cordova has plenty of leaders throughout each class that will assist in the process as well.
"I do have a very strong senior class," Cordova admitted. "
Sarah Eskew (Pittsburgh, Pa.) has been a really strong gymnast for us in her career. She missed most of last year with an injury. She is back on vault and bars, which are her best events.
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Anna Lacey (Bethlehem, Pa.) is also back from injury. She had a really good freshman campaign. She lost her entire sophomore season and exhibitioned on beam a couple of times last year. She looks strong on the floor, and we are hoping to see her on the beam again. So, we are excited to have her back."
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Macarthy Keane (Trumbull, Conn.). She is strong on beam. She tied for second on the beam at the Gymnastics East Conference meet last year. She will also be vaulting for us as well. She is a very strong leader.
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Melina Ringas (Glen Allen, Va.) is really strong on bars. She is coming off an excellent season. She also trains on the beam."
Karah Vargo (Fort Myers, Fla.) is another senior who trains all events, and she will have a chance to make the lineup in all four as well. She has a different vault this year, and we feel like she will be a strong competitor with this new vault."
Graduation has left spots open in all four events, and Cordova will have some strong competition to fill those lineups. Bars are much like the beam in that the end of the lineup is strong. Cordova likes the newcomers on the vault if they can adjust to college gymnastics. All four events will see freshmen playing significant roles for the Golden Rams.
"I think we have depth," Cordova stated. "But, it is young depth. So, we will see what happens."
EVENTS …
BALANCE BEAM
Typically a strength of the Golden Rams, Cordova revealed that this year's lineup looks like it may be brand new. Some returners may slide down to the four, five and six slots while newcomers fill in the front end.
"We lost three of our starters on the beam from last year," Cordova said. "They were four, five and six in the lineup for the last two years. So, replacing them is going to be challenging. We need to find people who can compete at the end of the lineup. There is a lot of pressure in that."
Keane and sophomore
Tatum McGuinn (Glen Mills, Pa.) are strengths on the beam. Sophomore
EmmaGrace Kelly (Tampa, Fla.) is coming off a solid freshman campaign as well.
VAULT
An event that has always been a challenge for the Golden Rams is shaping up to be just that once again. However, Cordova feels like she has some fresh faces to blend with a trio of returning veterans to compensate for preseason injuries.
"Vault and bars have always been tricky for us," Cordova admitted. "But, we do have some strong vaulters going into this season. A couple injuries have hurt us. But, we do have some good freshmen who can vault. They just have to get used to landing on that hard surface every week.
"We definitely have three or four freshmen who can make a difference. I think with both Eskew and Vargo, we have potential on vault. It will just depend on the freshmen, and you don't know how they will step into that role."
Junior
Corinne Gruber (Boyertown, Pa.) competed on the vault in every meet last year. She is an excellent leader. The coaching staff expects Gruber to take that next step in her development and help the young vaulters in the process.
BARS
With Eskew and Ringas at the end of the lineup, West Chester has its anchor on the uneven bars. It is the rest of the group that could see some adjustments throughout the campaign.
One freshman to watch will be
Grace McNamara (Baltimore, Md.). An upper classman expected to compete will be junior
Lianna Schultz (Allentown, Pa.).
"(McNamara) has a really difficult routine," Cordova explained. "Hopefully, she will be consistent. Schultz has been injured for two years. We hope to get her into the lineup this season. She is really beautiful on the bars.
"Freshman
Madelyn McCullough (Covington Township, Pa.) is somebody that we hope to use on bars and beam. Junior
Hannah Shelton (Nokesville, Va.) is strong on bars and has potential on beam."
FLOOR
Sophomore
Catherine Keener (Holly Springs, N.C.) is coming off an injury. She is strong on the floor and look forward to seeing her in the lineup. Freshmen
Gianna Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and
Aly Sobczak (Pottsgrove, N.J.) are newcomers that should also be in the lineup on the floor. Freshman
Ziyan Williams (Forsyth County, Ga.) is also strong on both bars and floor.
"Smith trains in the all-around and really shined in the intersquad meet," Cordova said. "I don't know if she will compete in the all-around, but she has the potential. She has stepped up nicely."
Junior
Lydia Stoner (Palmyra, Pa.) is strong on both the beam and the floor. She has a nice floor routine and will be a strong competitor in the lineup.
OVERVIEW
"It's true I have 14 returners," Cordova said. "But, I also have 10 freshmen. So, that is a young team. It is still early to see how the freshmen will compete.
"We have a lot of people competing in all four events who have not competed before – whether that be because they are freshmen, or they have been injured. That is going to be a challenge for us. This is definitely going to be a building year for us."
With such a young and inexperienced squad, Cordova mentioned that there will need to be patience as this team goes through some growing pains. However, the talent is there to put together another run at nationals with a strong foundation on which to build.
"Entering college gymnastics is totally different (than the club gymnastics scene)," Cordova explained. "That learning curve is something that I am definitely going to prepare myself for.
"In club gymnastics, you warm up on an event and then compete right away. In college, you go around and warm up on all four events. Then, compete on the four events. That is a big difference. First-year students have to learn to be consistent in practice to be consistent every weekend in the meets. That's a tough transition."
Freshman
Jaslyn McComeskey (Swarthmore, Pa.) has potential on three events. She is a strong gymnast.
Coming off the intersquad meet in December, Cordova learned a lot about her team. But, also felt like the team learned a lot about themselves.
"I learned that the gymnasts are more capable than what they think they are sometimes," Cordova lamented. "Or, even more than I think sometimes. They stepped up nicely. They learned how capable they are and how much potential they have."
Freshman
Ava Griffith (Palm Desert, Calif.) has a ton of potential. She has the potential to score. Freshman
Katelynne Tatum (Gainesville, Ga.) is looking strong on the vault, beam and floor.
West Chester opens the 2026 campaign on Friday, January 9 at Towson University.
