Brockport, N.Y. – March 19, 2017 – Posting an overall team score of 191.850, SUNY Brockport claimed the 2017 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) East Regional Championship, hosted in the Tuttle North Gymnastics Center on the campus of The College at Brockport.
Brockport took the top spot, while Ursinus College finished second with a 189.450. Springfield College took third overall with a 188.825, while Cortland finished fourth with a 186.975, Ithaca fifth with a 185.525 and Rhode Island College wrapped up the top six with a 179.100. The top three teams will represent the NCGA East at the NCGA National Championships, to be held at the University of Wisconsin – Stout, on March 31 and April 1, 2017.
For her efforts all season long, Ursinus College’s Jillian Casarella was named the NCGA East Gymnast of the Year, while Rhode Island College’s Grace Davis was named the NCGA East Rookie of the Year. In just her second season as a head coach, Springfield College’s Jenn Najuch was recognized as the NCGA East Coach of the Year.
Jen Sklenar of Brockport won the all-around competition with a score of 38.575, while Springfield College’s Marissa DeAngelo took second with a 38.275. Representing the Pride as well was Jessica Clemens, as the sophomore took third with a 38.075. Alexandra Puryear of Ursinus finished fourth with a 37.500, while Allie DiBiase and Miranda Murphy of Rhode Island College scored 36.600 and 34.600, respectively.
Starting on vault, Brockport took the top three spots, as Stephanie Mager scored a 9.850, while Candis Kowalik notched a 9.800 to finish second and Sklenar posted a 9.775 to take third. From there SUNY Cortland’s Rachel Filipski finished fourth with a 9.775, while Brockport’s Bridgette Schaal and Ursinus’ Heather Brubaker finished in a tie for fifth with a 9.700.
On the uneven bars, it was Cortland’s Sidney McConnell posted the meets top score with a 9.750, while Ithaca’s Baylie Trammell and Clemens posted matching scores of 9.625 to place in a tie for second. Ursinus’ Vanessa Scalora registered a 9.575 to take fourth, while Meghan Cash and Maddie O’Braitis from Brockport rounded out the top six, posting matching 9.550’s.
On the balance beam, Kaelin Ruoss from Ursinus College continued her consistency, as she won the event with a 9.700, while Kowalik and DeAngelo tied for second with a 9.650. Sklenar took fourth with a 9.550, while Amanda Palladino of Ursinus took fifth with a 9.525 and Autumn Snape sixth with a 9.500.
Lastly on the floor exercise, Brockport had the top three finishers, as Brittany Vasile scored a 9.900, Kowalik a 9.875 and Sklenar a 9.825. From there, Puryear of Ursinus notched a 9.800 to take fourth, while Springfield College’s Nicole Silva took fifth with a 9.775, tying Bailey Gildemeyer of Cortland.