ITHACA, NY – West Chester University's women's gymnastics squad set a new season high score on the uneven bars at the 2026 Gymnastics East Conference (GEC) Championships Saturday afternoon inside Newman Arena at Bartels Hall on the campus of Cornell University.
West Chester posted a team score of 192.250 competing in Session 1 in the afternoon and finished eighth overall. William & Mary finished first in Session 1 with a 193.800. University of Bridgeport was second with a 192.475, and Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) was third with a score of 192.350.
The Golden Rams opened the championships on the uneven bars where the team scored a season-high composite of 48.350.
Lianna Schultz (Allentown, Pa.) tied her career high with a score of 9.625 – hitting that mark for the second straight week and third time this year, including exhibitions.
Grace McNamara (Baltimore, Md.) set a new career high on the bars with a 9.725. Senior
Melina Ringas (Glen Allen, Va.) hit a season-best on the bars with a 9.675.
Gianna Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored a 9.675 while
Sarah Eskew (Pittsburgh, Pa.) posted a 9.650.
From there, West Chester moved to the balance beam where
EmmaGrace Kelly (Tampa, Fla.) tied her season-high of 9.775 to lead the way.
Lydia Stoner (Palmyra, Pa.) posted a 9.625 on the beam while
Madelyn McCullough (Covington Twp., Pa.) scored a 9.550.
Senior
Karah Vargo (Fort Myers, Fla.) put up a career-high 9.675 on the floor exercise while freshman
Aly Sobczak (Pittsgrove, N.J.) tied her career high with a 9.725.
Catherine Keener (Holly Springs, N.C.) was the Golden Rams' top scorer with a 9.750. Smith scored a 9.650.
Sobczak set a career-high on the vault with a 9.625 in West Chester's final event of the session. Eskew's 9.675 was a team-best for the Golden Rams while
Jaslyn McComeseky (Swarthmore, Pa.) posted a 9.625 as well.
Ava Griffith (Palm Desert, Calif.) and Smith each scored a 9.475 on the vault.
Smith posted a 37.975 in the all-around competition. She was one of two gymnasts who competed in the all-around. Abigail Kenney from Bridgeport scored a 38.975.
University of Pennsylvania successfully defended its GEC team title winning the event for the fifth straight year. The Quakers, who are the only school to win the GEC Championships in its five-year history, posted a team score of 195.025 to outdistance Yale, who was runner-up for the fourth straight year with a score of 194.625. Brown was third with a 194.525 and Cornell was fourth with a 194.150. William & Mary finished fifth, Bridgeport sixth and SCSU seventh.
West Chester will be back in action next weekend when the Golden Rams host the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics National Invitational Championships inside Hollinger Fieldhouse on North Campus. Session 1 will get underway at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 27 with session 2 set for a 7 p.m. start that evening. The team finals will be held Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m. with individual finals set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
Tickets to the WCGNIC are on
sale now. An All-Session Pass is $54.00. Seniors (65+) and children (5-12) are $38.50. Single session tickets are $33.25 while seniors (65+) and children (5-12) are $28.00. WCU students and employees are free with a current and valid school ID.
All sales are cashless. Visit
www.wcupatix.com to purchase tickets. All prices reflect ticket price and any applicable fees.
