WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Ursinus College gymnastics team wrapped up the regular season in record-breaking fashion on Saturday, as junior Kaelin Ruoss received a historic score to break the school mark on the beam to help the Bears establish their own new record for the event in Saturday's dual at West Chester.
Ruoss matched the school record on beam with a 9.850 at last week's dual with Brockport and did herself one better against the Golden Rams, earning a staggering 9.900 - the first such score in Ursinus Gymnastics history - to take over sole possession of the mark she shared for less than a week with Kristin Aichele (2014). The latest in Ruoss' string of incredible routines was part of a record-setting performance for the Bears, who garnered a 48.575 on the beam to surpass the previous benchmark of 48.550 set at the 2015 NCGA East Regional Championship.
Ursinus, which broke the program record on the bars in its last meet, scored a season-best 191.500, with West Chester garnering a 193.675.
Ruoss' beam performance was good for first place, just ahead of West Chester's Sarah Boyd (9.850). Freshmen Skylar Haas (9.725) and Autumn Snape (9.700) were also exceptional, with Snape registering a new personal best to place seventh, one spot behind Haas. Junior Amanda Palladino was awarded a 9.650, and junior Kelly McLaughlin earned a new career high with a 9.600.
Freshman Courtney Pearson paced Ursinus with a 9.575 on the vault, enough to tie for third with a host of Golden Rams. Junior Hather Brubaker continued her history of impressive efforts with a 9.525 and freshman Breanna Couts secured a personal best at 9.500. Junior Alexandra Puryear collected a 9.400, and freshman Eleanor LaFountain added her own collegiate record with a 9.375.
Senior Vanessa Scalora got a 9.650 on the bars, her third-best total of the year, to take third place in the event. Senior Lauren Chavis scored a 9.625, her fourth consecutive meet with at least that mark, to land in a tie for fourth, and Ruoss nabbed a 9.600 to finish sixth. Palladino earned a 9.500, Puryear a 9.400, and Rush a 9.375.
Brubaker turned in a strong floor exercise, garnering a 9.650 to finish fifth overall, and LaFountain accrued a 9.625. Puryear finished with a 9.600, with freshman Sabrina Tusavitz putting up her second-best score of the season at 9.425. Couts rounded out the Bears' contingent at 9.375.
The gymnastics team now prepares for the NCGA East Regional championship, set for Sunday, March 19 at Brockport.