COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College gymnastics team kicked off the 2016 season with a hard-fought 188.800-187.400 loss against visiting West Chester this afternoon.

Senior Kristina Steffenhagen led the pack in the vault with a score of 9.650, and sophomore Monique Brooks took sixth with a 9.525. Sophomore Alexandra Puryear was ninth with a 9.350.

The Bears showed well in the uneven parallel bars, where junior Vanessa Scalora was first with a 9.70. Classmate Jillian Casarella was third with a 9.525, and sophomore Amanda Palladino placed fifth with a 9.425. Junior Lauren Chavis posted a 9.350 to land in seventh, and sophomore Kelsey Stewart was right behind in eighth with a 9.300. Ursinus outscored the Golden Rams 47.300-47.075 in the event.

Steffenhagen was the Bears' top performer in the balance beam, registering a second-place score of 9.450. Casarella was fifth at 9.325, while Brooks placed seventh with a 9.225. Sophomore Katherine Norris finished eighth at 9.200, and Puryear was ninth with a 9.125.

Steffenhagen polished off her impressive afternoon with another runner-up showing in the floor exercise (9.625), where Brooks and junior Kelsey Jewell tied for third at 9.600. Stewart was eighth with a score of 9.150.

The gymnastics season continues on Saturday with a trip to Brockport.