ROCKLAND, Mass. – Senior Kristina Steffenhagen of the Ursinus College gymnastics team was named the East Region Specialist of the Week by the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association, the organization announced this afternoon.

Steffenhagen stood out during the Bears' first two meets of the 2016 season, first at home against West Chester and then at Brockport. In the season opener against the Golden Rams, she won the vault with a score of 9.650 and was runner-up on both the beam (9.450) and the floor exercise (9.625).

Steffenhagen shared the vault title with sophomore Monique Brooks on Saturday, both Bears registering a 9.500 to lead the field at Brockport. She again placed second with a 9.625 on the floor, and was fifth on the beam with a 9.350.

Steffenhagen, who holds program records in the vault (9.800) and floor exercise (9.875), was a two-time specialist of the week honoree a year ago en route to being selected the NCGA East Gymnast of the Year.

Ursinus continues its campaign on Sunday, January 24, when the Bears welcome Ithaca to Helfferich Hall.