COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus Gymnastics team built off momentum from a Sunday ago to put forth another strong performance against West Chester on Sunday afternoon at Helfferich Hall in dual meet action.
The Bears scored over 188 for the second-straight meet as they posted an overall score of 188.250 behind season-high event scores of 47.300 on the bars and 47.050 on the beam along with scores of 46.750 and 47.150 on the floor. West Chester recorded a 192.825 on scores of 48.050 on the beam, 47.875 on the vault, 48.500 on the floor, and 48.400 on the beam. Ursinus celebrated its four graduating seniors: Kaylin Knapsack, Gabrielle Pitt, Abigail Schwerdt and team manager Emma Brown after the meet as a part of senior day ceremonies.
Junior Alyssa DeLorme highlighted the Bears day by setting a new school record on the bars with a 9.8. DeLorme shattered the previous mark of 9.775 set by Vanessa Scalora at the 2015 NCGA Championships. It was also her third-straight meet of improving her career-best score on the bars after posting a 9.650 against Penn last Sunday.
Starting on the vault, senior Taylor Cusick led the Bears with a team-high score of 9.425 and was followed by sophomore Carly Troilo with a 9.4. Pitt tallied a 9.325 while junior Alex Panetta and DeLorme each posted a 9.350. Sophomore Ashley Cromer rounded out the Bears on the vault with a 9.150.
Ursinus continued its strong run on the bars by topping the previous season-best score for the third-straight meet. Along with DeLorme's record-setting day and first place overall finish in the event, Schwerdt recorded a season-high of 9.550 on the bars and Troilo registered a career-best 9.425. Panetta posted a 9.275 and first-year Adison Tanguay followed with a 9.250.
Schwerdt paced the Bears on the beam with a career-best 9.625 as she edged out Knapsack who posted a 9.6. DeLorme powered through with a 9.575 and first-year Madison Zimmerman tallied a 9.225. Cromer matched her season and career best on the beam with a 9.025.
Ursinus wrapped up its day on the floor as DeLorme capped her career day with a personal-best of 9.750 to finish second overall among the two teams. DeLorme's standout performance on the floor brought her all-around score total to a career-best 38.425 as she topped her previous all-around score best of 38.275 set last week at Penn. Knapsack continued her consistency in the event with a 9.7250 and has now scored at least a 9.7 on the floor in five of the seven Ursinus meets this season. Cusick added a 9.5 and was followed by first-year Daria Gregory with a 9.225.
The Bears will compete in its final meet before NCGA Regionals on Sunday, March 6th as they will head to Philadelphia to compete against Temple, New Hampshire, and West Chester at 4:30 p.m.