By David F.P. [Gymnastike Video Coverage] [Modest Image Gallery]
2-21-10

(Note: Coverage was filmed prior to terrible FloSports management decisions that started in 2014. All coverage filmed for FloGymnastics is their property by law. Linkage is not an endorsement of current FloSports management or management decisions. The reporting staff of FloGymnastics remains an excellent group however despite upper management failures.)

SPRINGFIELD, MA- After wrapping up a meet Saturday at Yale, the Southern Connecticut Owls were headed to their second meet in as many days, when mechanical difficulties struck delaying their arrival at Blake Arena. Nonetheless they arrived in time for the evening meet and the result of their travails was a win and their highest score of the season, a 188.050. Springfield also picked up a 182.975 but after some struggles on Bars and Beam, really scored well on the Floor to close out the meet led by Ericca Castagna’s meet leading 9.8 and Christina Pagella’s 9.725 which tied for third.

Southern Connecticut’s Justine Basely picked the win in the All Around with a 37.55, and on Bars with a 9.55. SCSU Freshman Rebecca Brady scored a season high 9.625 to win the Vault, and teammate Arianna Mallardi picked up a win on Beam with her season high 9.5. It was one of those days where neither team had a fantastic scoring day on Beam or Bars, but Vault and Floor were both good days for each and in fact Springfield and SCSU were actually close in their scoring on those events. SCSU posted a 47.425 on the VT, and a 47.775 on the FX, while Springfield had a 47 and 47.6 respectively.

SC’s Pagella placed 2nd on Vault with a 9.6, her teammates Carly Flynn and Castagna both added 9.475s good enough for 6th. On the Floor, Brittany Baglow placed 5th with a 9.525, and Kayleigh Davis tied for 6th with a 9.5. In addition to SCSU’s Brady winning Vault, Briana DiPinto and Basley both tied for fourth with 9.5s, and Stephanie Kuska had a season high of 9.450. Samantha Laraway led her team on Floor with her season high 9.775, Brady tied for third with another season high of 9.725, and Basley tied for sixth with a 9.5. Laraway was anchoring the rotation after a good performance the day before and it really turned out to be a success this night.

For Springfield the Floor rotation just kept building as Davis had a good routine, and Baglow followed her also during well and building momentum, Pagella then flipped to her 9.725 which really upped things and served as a lead in to Castagna’s high energy routine and the 9.8 that followed.

For SCSU they’ve had success even with some of their perennial high scorers not high scoring at certain meets, as others stepped it up and filled the scoring void. This also gives the potential that SCSU’s scores could jump even more.

The MIT Club Team was also present at the meet. The team currently consists of six gymnasts who do routines of varying difficulty based on what they are comfortable with. It is a mix of former varsity gymnasts Karis Stevenson, Gina Policelli, and Marie Heglund and newcomers Stephanie Schmit, Mary Linelli, and Zara Karuman. The club teams will tell you they are not out there to compete against the varsity teams, it’s a different scenario and a different role, but all the same MIT did post a 163.75 which is not too shabby considering they have only 6 gymnasts in total. This included Karuman who placed third on Vault with a 9.55, fifth on Bars with a 9.2, and 2nd in the All Around with a 37.025.