West Chester University’s gymnastics team (6-5) had their home opener in Sturzebecker and dominated over visiting University of Pennsylvania 193.400-189.35 on Saturday, Jan. 28. UPenn is ranked first in the USAG Division.
The Golden Rams scored only .075 below their record-high team score. In addition, the outcome of this exciting and momentous competition was two broken records. West Chester set a new team floor record with a 49.025; this is the first time the team has scored 49.000 or higher on any event.
The record-breaking floor line-up consisted of junior Rose Wortman, sophomore Cassie Hageman, junior Madi Brent, sophomore Emily Loughery, senior Selena Swanger and senior Majesta Valentine.
Valentine also broke her personal best and school record on floor with a 9.925. The senior placed first in the all-around with a 39.15. She also won the balance beam with a 9.825, tied for first on vault with teammate Sam Engle (both scoring a 9.675) and placed second on bars with a 9.725.
Sophomore Myranda Marshall came in first place on bars with her stunning routine scoring a 9.75. On vault, seniors Kristin Torres and Swanger tied for third with a 9.6.
The Golden Rams placed third at the Ken Anderson Invitational hosted by Temple University on Saturday, Jan. 4.
Coming in first place was Temple University with a 193.9, followed by University of Pittsburgh with a 193.525, then West Chester with a 191.675, while Ursinus placed fourth with a score of 190.85.
Off to a great start on floor, the team scored a total 48.625. High marks on the event include Valentine posting a 9.85 and placing first in the event.
Also contributing to the event score were Swanger and Brent, both with a 9.725 and tied for sixth, and Loughery with a 9.675 and Hageman with 9.65.
Continuing the trend on vault, counting scores were contributed by Valentine, who placed third with a 9.75, Swanger tying for fifth with a 9.675, Meghan Chan scoring a 9.625 and Engle with a 9.6.
On the third and fourth event, the team suffered some highs and lows. On bars, Valentine came in first on the event scoring a 9.775, Marshall placed fifth with a 9.625 and Jordan Miranda scored a 9.525. On beam, Valentine tied for fifth with a 9.7 and Wortman scored a season high of 9.65, tying for sixth place.
To add to her awards, Valentine placed first in the all-around with a 39.075 and also received the ECAC Gymnast of the Week Award, her third award of the season.
On Saturday, Feb. 11, West Chester hosted Springfield College in a dual meet. Coming in first were the Golden Rams 194.4-189.3. After already breaking the team score and beam record this season, the team somehow managed to break the beam record and the team score once again and added the bar record.
On top of that, Valentine once again broke the All-Around record, and her personal All-Around best, with a 39.3.
The record-breaking beam line-up consisted of Chan with a 9.8, matching her personal best and placing third on the event, Wortman with a 9.75 placing fourth, Loughery and Swanger with 9.725 placing fifth, freshman Sarah Boyd coming in second with a 9.825, and Valentine in first with a 9.85. Overall score was a 48.95.
The bar line-up finished the event with a score of 48.575 and was comprised of Isabella D’Orazio, who scored a personal best of 9.725, Miranda with a 9.5, Lindsey Mathis with a 9.6, and Chan, Marshall, and Valentine all tied for first with a 9.75.
Other highlights of the competition on vault were Rachel Blair, who scored a personal best with a 9.7 and placed second. Valentine scored a 9.825 on the event, coming in first, while Swanger tied for third with a 9.6.
On floor, West Chester claimed the top places on the event. Valentine placed first once again with a score of 9.875, Swanger came in second with a 9.75, Brent and Loughery scored a 9.725, tying for third, and Wortman and Hageman scored a 9.675, tying for fifth.
Mark your calendars for the WCU gymnastic team’s next home competition against Ursinus College on Saturday, March 11, and come support the record-breaking Golden Rams.
Meghan Chan is a fourth-year student majoring in communication studies. She can be reached at MC827361@ wcupa.edu.