Providence, R.I. – March 10, 2018 – The Ithaca College women’s gymnastics team claimed the 2018 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) East Regional Championship after breaking it’s team scoring record with a mark of 191.475 on Saturday afternoon. The meet was hosted at Rhode Island College.
In addition to Ithaca winning the team championship, head coach Rick Suddaby was named the NCGA East Coach of the Year. Springfield College’s Jess Clemens was the NCGA East Gymnast of the Year, while Rhode Island College’s Kaela Skerl and Cortland’s Emma Schulz garnered NCGA East Co-Rookie of the Year honors.
Brockport’s Candis Kowalik won the all-around competition with a score of 38.425, while Alexandra Puryear of Ursinus was second with a 38.325. Next up was Ali Rushlow of Springfield College, who finished third with a career-best 38.000, while Ursinus’ Heather Brubaker was fourth with a 37.325.
Following Ithaca’s 191.475 was Cortland, which was second overall with a 190.300. Brockport rounded out the top three with a team score of 190.225, while Springfield College was fourth with a 189.525. Rounding out the top six was Ursinus with a 188.400 and Rhode Island College with a 182.400.
On vault, Brockport’s Stephanie Mager claimed the title with a score of 9.825, while teammate Candis Kowalik was second with a 9.775. Cortland’s Rachel Filipski and Ithaca’s Carolyn Nichols tied for third with a 9.750, while Springfield College’s Taylor Jackson and Ali Rushlow took fifth and sixth, scoring a 9.725 and 9.675, respectively. Tying Rushlow for sixth was Shelby Schumaker of Brockport and Bailey Gildemeyer from Cortland.
Moving on to the uneven bars, Sidney McConnell of Cortland was first overall with a 9.825, while Elyse Ryden of Ithaca was second with a 9.700. Also from Ithaca, Baylie Trammell was third with a 9.675, while Courtney Christoforo was fourth with a 9.575. Rounding out the top six was Cortland’s Ashley Scarantino, who posted a 9.550 and Brockport’s Miranda Shaine, who produced a 9.525.
Ithaca’s Emily Szembrot was first on the balance beam with a 9.675, while Springfield College’s Lauren White and Sarah Murphy, Brockport’s Candis Kowalik and Cortland’s McKenna Passalacqua tied for second with a 9.650. There was also a two-way tie for sixth, as Nina Bustamente-Nadeau of Ithaca and Amanda Palladino of Ursinus both scored a 9.625.
Lastly, on the floor exercise, Victoria Gery won a regional championship with a score of 9.825, while Cortland’s Rachel Filipski and Ursinus’ Eleanor LaFountain were second with a 9.800. Brockport’s Brittany Vasile was fourth with a 9.775, while Kowalik took fifth with a 9.750. Rounding out the top six was a three-way tie between Cortland’s Lily Szafranski, and Carolyn Nichols and Alexis Griffin of Ithaca, who all totaled a 9.725.