By David F. Pendrys

PROVIDENCE, RI- The Brown Bears set a new record score for a season opening meet Saturday afternoon as the Bears posted a 192.475. The University of Bridgeport scored a 194.475 in their second meet of the season, and the University of New Hampshire posted a 193.975 after having to adjust to lineup changes.

Caroline Morant anchored all four of Brown’s rotations and posted their top scores on three events as she acquired 9.85s on Beam and Floor. She also had a 9.65 on Vault. On Bars her 9.725 was second among her team as Anya Olson had a 9.75. Morant would win the day’s All Around title for her efforts an a 39.075 total score.

Brooke Williams ha a distinct choreography in her floor routine and posted a 9.725. Olson had the team’s third best score of 9.6. On Beam Cassidy Jung’s 9.8, Anne Christman’s 9.75, and Julia Green’s 9.7 helped Brown build a quality rotation which was their best event score of the afternoon.

On Bars, Erin Howell’s 9.7 and Claire Ryan’s 9.625 were the next two top scores after Olson’s and Morant’s as part of the team’s second best rotation. On Vault, Christman and Ally Rudd each had 9.5s.

Bridgeport won the meet, though their score was fare more important than placing. Brianna Comport was tops among Purple Knights on Floor and Beam due to a stellar 9.925 on FX an a 9.8 on the Beam. Randi Cutolo put up a 9.9 on Floor to help punctuate the team’s best rotation of the day with a total of 49.025. Maya Remiers contributed a 9.8, an Kimberly Stewart and Brianna Quinn each had 9.7s.

Carol Chiles held steady for a 9.775 on the Balance Beam for second among the team. Hope Tralli led off the rotation with her 9.675, and Kelsey Campbell and Reimers each had 9.65s. Over on the Uneven Bars, Christine Liautaud anchored the lineup flying to a 9.8 Campbell and Maritza Futch weren’t far behind as each swung to a 9.725.

On Vault, Stewart, Tralli, and Nina Whittaker all had 9.775s, and Whittaker’s stick led to an especially gigantic cheer from her teammates. Campbell’s 9.675 was fourth among UB, and Brieanna Zine an Julianna Drapkin each had 9.625s (though one had to be dropped.)

UNH went into the meet without Danielle Mulligan and they soon lost the services of Danielle Doolin after Floor. This led to a lineup shuffle. Erin Carroll subbed in for Doolin on Vault. Meghan Pflieger came in for her on Bars, and on Beam Courtney Bondanza moved up from fourth to first and Ava Watkins filled in the fourth slot.

On Floor Pflieger led the team with her 9.875, and fellow Wildcat Lexi Calandra flipped to a 9.8. Nicole O’Leary added a 9.75 and Casey Lauter a 9.7 though the team had to count a fall as well. On Beam, Riley Freehling paced the team’s best event with a 9.85. Plieger added a 9.825, and Ava Watkins scored a 9.8 in her surprise movement into the lineup. Breeden had a 9.8 too, but they did have to count a lower score.

On Bars Pflieger set the pace with a 9.75. Bondanza had a 9.725, and Watkins and Jennifer King put up 9.625. Lauter rounded things out with her 9.6. On Vault, O’Leary was the top Wildcat with a 9.75. Marissa Toci had 9.675 and the substitute Carroll tied with Lauter for a 9.625.

Brown is at Rutgers next week and UNH hosts Pitt and SCSU. UB has a week off and then is at Brown.

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