PHILADELPHIA – The Ursinus Gymnastics team had everything working on Sunday, blowing away its previous team season bests on three of four exercises in a dual meet with Penn at the Palestra.
The Bears registered new season standards on the vault (47.375), beam (46.975), and the bars (46.925), on the way to a cumulative tally of 188.450, nearly three points clear of its high-water mark coming into the meet. Ursinus also scored a 47.175 on the floor to cap off their breakout day during their second meet in two days. It was the highest total score for Ursinus since posting a 188.950 at Springfield back on February 9th, 2020. The Bears picked up the meet yesterday after Penn's previously scheduled opponent was forced to drop out due to COVID-19 issues.
Ursinus set the tone for the meet on the bars as they recorded a new season-high score for the second time this weekend. Junior Alyssa DeLorme topped her career-best on the bars for the second time in two days as well with a 9.650 to pace the Bears in the event. Junior Alexa Panetta and senior Abigail Schwerdt both registered season-bests on the bars at 9.375 and 9.350, respectively. Sophomore Carly Troilo and first-year Adison Tanguay each posted a 9.275, which are career-bests for both gymnasts.
The Bears followed with a strong performance on the vault, recording their highest overall score in the event since posting a 47.7 at Temple back in March 2020. Senior Taylor Cusick matched her career-best of 9.6 to finish first among the Bears while Panetta tallied a 9.5, also matching her career-best score. DeLorme kept her strong all-around day going with a 9.475 and Troilo plus first-year Madison Zimmerman each earned a 9.4 for the event. Sophomore Ashley Cromer rounded out the Bears with a 9.325.
Senior Kaylin Knapsack guided the Bears once again on the floor and tied for fifth overall between the two teams with a 9.750. Knapsack has now posted at least a 9.7 in four meets this season on the floor. DeLorme matched her career-best on the floor with a 9.550 and first-year Daria Gregory impressed in her collegiate debut with a 9.425. First-year Isabella Scarpetti completed a successful collegiate debut on the floor with a 9.325 and junior Kasey Ricci posted a 9.1 in the event.
Knapsack then had a standout performance on the beam to close out the meet for the Bears as she matched her career-best of 9.750 and placed second overall between the two teams. DeLorme capped her day with a 9.6 and established a new career-best all-around score of 38.275 that was .75 higher than Penn's lone all-around competitor, Sydney Kraez. Zimmerman recorded a 9.525 and Scarpetti matched her career-best of 9.150.
Ursinus will return to action on Sunday, February 27th as they will host West Chester for Senior day at 1 p.m.