SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Ursinus Gymnastics team finished in fourth at the NCGA East Regionals on Saturday afternoon at Springfield College.
The Bears posted a team score of 187.775 to finish fourth of the six teams at the meet, falling just short of finishing in one of the top-three qualifying spots for nationals. Despite that, Ursinus turned in one of their best performances this season on Saturday afternoon. Brockport won the regionals with a score of 192.800 and Springfield (190.300) along with Ithaca (189.800) earned the qualifying spots for the NCGA Championships in two weeks.
Ursinus was terrific on the vault as they posted a new season-high score of 47.700 for the event. Senior Taylor Cusick registered a new career-best of 9.625 on the vault to lead the Bears and tied for seventh overall. Cusick has recorded at least a 9.5 for the vault in seven of the eight meets she has competed in this season. First-year Madison Zimmerman followed Cusick with a 9.575 in the vault as she set a new season-high for the event. Junior Alex Panetta and sophomore Carly Troilo also posted a new career-high scores for the vault by recording a 9.550 and 9.500, respectively. Sophomore Ashley Cromer was the fifth Bear to set a new career-best on the vault by posting a 9.450 while junior Alyssa DeLorme rounded out the Ursinus scores with a 9.400.
The Bears posted a 47.375 on the floor, their first event of the day, and senior Kaylin Knapsack led the team with a 9.575. Cusick recorded a season-high for the event by earning a 9.550 and DeLorme came in third on the team with a 9.500. Junior Kasey Ricci registered a career-best on the floor with a 9.450 and first-year Daria Gregory tallied a 9.300. First-year Isabella Scarpetti rounded out the Bears on the floor with a 9.075.
Ursinus had two top-10s on the balance beam behind their team score of 46.775. DeLorme led the Bears with a seventh-place finish after recording a 9.650. Knapsack finished ninth overall with a 9.600 and Zimmerman followed with a 9.575. Senior Abigail Schwerdt posted a 9.050 on the beam in her final regionals.
Panetta paced the Bears on the uneven bars by matching her season-high of 9.500 for the event and the Bears posted a 45.925 as a team for the event. First-year Megan Matteucci finished second among the Bears with a 9.225 and classmate Adison Tanguay recorded a 9.175. DeLorme posted a 9.125 on the bars and finished third in the all-around with a total score of 37.675.
DeLorme will now represent Ursinus at the NCGA Championships at Ithaca on Saturday, March 26th in the all-around.