MEET NOTES
THE STORYLINE
   West Chester University has another shot t redemption this Saturday when Gymnastics East Conference (GEC) rival University of Bridgeport comes calling to Sturzebecker Health Science Center on South Campus at 1 p.m.
   The Golden Rams took to the road last weekend to exact its first case of revenge against Ursinus College inside Helfferich Hall. West Chester's 190.950-189.525 victory offset a loss to the Bears earlier in the month in a tri-meet that also included Towson University. The purple & gold will have another opportunity to avenge one of its losses this Saturday.
   This weekend's meet is one of just three remaining contests in the regular season as the 2026 campaign quickly winds down for head coach Barb Cordova and her charges. West Chester will compete at the Pink Invitational in Philadelphia next weekend before hosting Cornell on March 14 the weekend after. Then, it's off to the GEC Championships in Upstate New York and back home to host the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics National Invitational Championships in Hollinger Fieldhouse March 27-29. That leaves just three meets in which to improve upon its National Qualifying Score (NQS) and solidify its spot at nationals. As host of the WCGNIC, West Chester is automatically qualified for the national meet.
   A strong freshman class has blended well with a talented upplerclass, and the Golden Rams have shown the ability to compete with any of its opponents so far in 2026. They are hoping that continues in the final weeks of the regular season and on into the postseason.
   West Chester has consistently ranked 67th in the nation in the Road To Nationals NCAA Rankings while coming in right around 65th in both uneven bars and balance beam. The Golden Rams' NQS stands at 191.638 heading into Saturday's dual meet with Bridgeport.
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WEST CHESTER RECAP FROM LAST SUNDAY
   A pair of career-highs and first-place showings in all four events individually helped West Chester University's women's gymnastics squad earn a 190.950-189.525 victory over host Ursinus in a non-conference meet inside Helfferich Hall Sunday afternoon.
    With the win, West Chester (5-7) ended a five-match losing streak and avenged a loss to host Ursinus (3-4) from earlier in the season at Sturzebecker HSC. Senior
Sarah Eskew (Pittsburgh, Pa.) won the vault and the uneven bars while
Tatum McGuinn (Glen Mills, Pa.) and
Catherine Keener (Holly Springs, N.C.) each won the balance beam and floor exercise, respectively.
    The Golden Rams opened on the bars where junior
Lianna Schultz (Allentown, Pa.) posted a career-high 9.550 and tied for third overall as three Golden Rams swept the top three spots. Madeline McCullough (Covington Twp., Pa.) equaled her season-best with a 9.675 and finished second as the Golden Rams swept the top two spots. Eskew anchored the event with a team-best 9.725 that won the event.
    From there, West Chester rotated to the vault where the Golden Rams put up a team score of 48.000 while three gymnasts finished in the top four. Eskew led the way once again with a 9.725 that won the vault making it two event wins in the first two competitions.
Jaslyn McComeskey (Swarthmore, Pa.) scored a 9.675 and tied for second place.
Gianna Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.) posted a score of 9.575 as well which tied for fourth overall.
    Keener then hit for the Golden Rams' with a career high 9.825 on the floor exercise that placed her first overall. West Chester put up a 48.500 as a team on the floor. Junior
Corinne Gruber (Boyertown, Pa.) registered a 9.700 on the floor to place third overall as well.
Aly Sobczak (Pittsgrove, N.J.) and
Lydia Stoner (Hershey, Pa.) each posted a 9.675 to tie for fourth.
    West Chester closed out the dual meet on the balance beam where sophomore McGuinn scored a 9.725 from her anchor position and took first place overall.
Macarthy Keane (Trumbull, Conn.) placed third with a 9.575.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
BRIDGEPORT (6-8, 3-3 GEC)
    Fueled by one of their most complete and well-rounded efforts of the season, the University of Bridgeport's gymnastics squad recorded a 193.525 team score in Friday night's quad meet at LIU. The Purple Knights' third-place tally marked their second-highest team total of the year.
   UB's evening on Long Island was highlighted by 48-plus scores across all four events and a litany of top-five individual finishes. On vault, Nova Staruk paced the Purple Knights with a 9.825 to tie for third.
   Bridgeport found continued success on bars, where Abby Kenney led the way with a 9.725 to tie for third. Samantha Nokes followed closely behind, tying for fifth with a 9.700.
   The beam proved to be another strong event for UB, as Kenney delivered one of the team's top performances of the day with a 9.800 to tie for second overall. Xiomara Jennings added a career-best 9.750 to tie for fifth.
   On floor, Kenney continued her impressive outing by tying for eighth with a 9.775. Samantha Krenzel also notched a 9.775 to signify a new career-best score.
CHASING HISTORY
   West Chester University head coach
Barbara Cordova entered the 2026 campaign just seven wins shy of her mentor while at West Chester and former legendary head coach Sandy Thielz. Cordova now has 175-157 (.527) record in her 17+ years at her alma mater. Thielz authored an all-time record of 177-88-1 (.670) during her 21-year career at the helm of the Golden Rams from 1974 through 1995. Cordova is two wins away from tying Thielz as the all-time winningest women's gymnastics coach at West Chester.
WEST CHESTER SECURES VIRTIUS TO BROADCAST HOME MEETS
West Chester University signed on with Virtius to broadcast and web stream all five of its home gymnastics meets, including the 2026 WCGNIC Women's national championships in late March for the second time in the last three years.
