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We decided to add in all the D2 teams this week because D2 needs love too! So often the focus of NCAA gymnastics seems to be on the top D1 teams, while the D2/D3 girls don’t always get the recognition they deserve.

So what happened this week? Stout’s Kaylee Jondahl scored a 9.8 on vault (um, holy crap) while the rest of the Blue Devils vaulted their way to a new D3 season high (48.0), Ursinus’ beam queens outscored two D1 teams and two D2 teams on beam, Whitewater posted a new D3 season high on bars (48.1), and Brockport’s Lily Jagodzinski scored a 9.85 on floor.

UNH 195.55, Towson 194.575, Bridgeport 194.525, Brown 192.15

Full video coverage available here thanks to David F. Pendrys!

Bridgeport continues to dominate in Division 2, coming up huge at UNH (I actually had the opportunity to see this meet in person, and it was awesome). Kim Stewart continues to lead the Purple Knights on vault, tying for second with a 9.7. Kelsey Campbell and Christine Liautaud tied for third place on bars with a pair of huge 9.85s. Brielle Wilchuck also contributed a 9.8 on bars, contributing to the impressive 48.875 team total. Bridgeport could not catch UNH’s beam queens, but were still able to count 5 hit routines, including Brianna Comport’s HUGE 9.9, tying for second place on that event, not an easy feat when you’re tackling the second-best beam team in the country on their turf. Campbell, Carol Chiles, and Brittany Capozzi all contributed scores of 9.7 or better on beam. Bridgeport actually outscored UNH on floor (48.925-48.875), an event where they have historically always been very strong. Comport won floor with a 9.875, followed by Ajiea Hargrave, who tied for second with a 9.85. Capozzi earned a 9.775, followed closely by a 9.75 from Randi Cutolo.

Hamline 185.775, Stout 182.975

Both teams made great improvements in this meet, particularly Hamline which has had some yo-yoing scoring all season. Sela Fadness led the Pipers on all 3 events she competed: vault (9.575), beam (9.475), and floor (9.65). Hamline counted all scores of 9.45 or better on vault, leading to a 47.55 team total. Morgan Bradford led the team on bars (9.25), while Andrea Gross contributed a 9.35 on beam. Danielle Dudley scored a 9.55 on vault and 9.425 on floor (to tie with teammate Sidney Tribbet on that event).

Stout had some bars struggles but boy did they bring it on vault. Kaylee Jondahl scored an absolutely enormous 9.8, the highest score in D3 so far on vault, leading the team to a D3 season high 48.0 on the apparatus! Jondahl also led the Blue Devils on floor (9.625), tied with teammate Kelly Huseman for the meet-winning bars score (9.275), and won the all-around with a 37.625. Huseman won beam with a 9.55 and took second in the all-around (36.025).

LaCrosse 187.7, Winona State 185.625, Eau Claire 183.75

LaCrosse pulled out an easy win over their fellow WIAC teams. Vault was their weakest event (they were outscored by Winona State), but they were very strong on bars and beam. UW-L’s Samantha Wiekamp won beam (9.675), and the all-around with a 36.95, while she and teammate Dani Barmore (second all-around with a 36.625) led the team on vault with a pair of 9.275s. LaCrosse posted 3 of the four top bar scores of the day with a 9.625 from Lauren Wilson, a 9.6 from Emy Enright, and a 9.5 from Barmore. Elsa Spitzmueller won floor with a 9.575.

Winona State’s Jade Donaldson won vault (9.35) and took third in the all-around with a 36.075. Bar specialist Katie Pipp placed third overall with a 9.575, while Eboni Jackson took second on beam with a 9.625. Brooke Hiestand led Winona on floor with a 9.525. This was definitely not Eau Claire’s best meet, but not their worst either. Julia Stedman placed second on vault with a 9.325, while Lauren Zurowski led the team on bars with a 9.475. The BluGolds had 3 solid routines on beam from Liz Stubbs (9.525), Erin Olson (9.575), and Claire Mascia (9.625).  Stubbs also led the team on floor with a 9.45.

Missouri 196.625, Lindenwood 194.0, SEMO 192.3

There are three things I love about this. First, I love when we have states that have so many NCAA programs, they host “best of” meets, like this one (Minnesota is another one who does it). Second, I love seeing Lindenwood, still a relatively “new” team, absolutely killing it after only existing for a few years, especially when they come in and win over a longtime D1 program (hey other colleges who need to add women’s sports teams, take notes!). Third, Lions and Tigers, oh my (if only SEMO’s mascot was a bear)! The Lindenwood Lions counted 3 scores of 9.7 or better on vault from Aubree Horn, Valeri Ingui, and Rachel Zabawa. Horn also contributed a 9.8 on bars, just behind teammate Trystien Charles who scored a 9.85 on that event. Lauren Cartmell led the Lions on beam with a 9.85, followed by a 9.75 from Ingui and 9.725 from Alicia Floyd. Zabawa scored a team high 9.8 on floor, followed by a 9.725 from Katey Oswalt and a 9.7 from Hannah Rector. Lindenwood standout Kiersten Sokolowski did not compete at this meet.

Oklahoma 197.925, Auburn 196.775, Illinois State 191.975, Texas Women’s 191.55 

TWU competed with the big dogs this weekend, and was less than half a point away from tying D1 Illinois State. Schyler Jones was a rockstar for the Pioneers, leading the team on vault (9.85) and floor (9.775), while placing fourth in the all-around with a 38.925. Jenna Cashmore led the team on bars (9.675), while beam specialist Taylor Vincent scored the highest beam score (9.775). Other scores above a 9.7 were contributed by Megan Gentry on vault (9.75), Jones on beam (9.725), and Erin Alderman on floor (9.75). TWU also outscored Illinois State on vault and bars.

Ithaca 183.425, Springfield 182.025

A low-scoring meet for both teams, but Ithaca was able to pull out a win at home over Springfield. Ithaca’s young team has flashes of brilliance but struggles with consistency. Once they put it all together, look out! Redshirt senior Valerie Cohen led the Bombers on vault with a 9.475, followed by a 9.45 from freshman standout Carolyn Nicols. Harrington also scored a 9.45 to lead the team on bars, and tied Nichols for team high scores of 9.625 on floor. Eleanor Almeida had Ithaca’s best beam score of 9.2.

Marissa DeAngelo continues to be the rock for Springfield, winning vault (9.525) and beam (9.525), and leading the Pride on bars (9.35). Springfield’s vault queens outscored Ithaca by over a full point, but it was struggle city on bars, as they only posted a 43.625. Springfield only put up 5 floor competitors on floor, and two of them went out of bounds, but Nicole Silva (Springfield’s other rock) scored a team high 9.6 on the event.

William & Mary 191.375, Temple 191.175, West Chester 190.975, Southern Connecticut 188.85, Ursinus 187.7

Another big meet (5 teams!) with all three divisions represented, and many of these teams have faced each other on multiple occasions this season. Only four tenths separated the top three teams. West Chester was narrowly defeated by D1 teams W&M and Temple as they continue to post big scores. Majesta Valentine is the queen of consistency, winning vault (9.775), and the all-around (38.875), and posting WCU’s highest score on beam (9.625) and floor (9.725). Meghan Brannon posted WCU’s best bars score (9.775).

SCSU had some hiccups here and there but managed a team score that is pretty on par with what they’ve been scoring all season. Alexandra Avendano scored team highs on vault (9.625), and floor (9.775). Kathleen Aberger anchored bars with a strong set for a 9.675, while SCSU’s beam team recorded 3 scores of 9.5 or better from Kylyn Dawkins (9.5), Aberger (9.525), and Rotem Porat (9.525).

Ursinus held their own and delivered strong performances despite only having 5 competitors on vault and floor. Monique Brooks led the team on vault (9.4) and floor (9.725). Ursinus actually beat SCSU on bars by a whole point, counting all scores of 9.425 or better, with particularly strong performances from Vanessa Scalora (9.65), and Jillian Casarella (9.675). Kristina Steffenhagen anchored the Bears’ beam lineup with a solid 9.625 as they outscored every single other team on that event.

Penn 190.8, Cornell 190.45, Cortland 184.725

Penn was victorious over Ivy rival Cornell while Cortland held steady at a 184; certainly not their best meet of the season. Rachel Filipski continues to be the leader of the Red Dragon vault team, posting a 9.525 for a fourth place finish. Bars was Cortland’s best event of the day, with Emily Nagy scoring a team high 9.525, followed by a pair of 9.375s from Maddy Scozzie and Meghan Cobb. Nagy also came up huge on beam with a 9.65, followed by a 9.525 from Amanda Turso. Turso, along with teammate Lindsey Riggs, also posted team high scores of 9.4 on floor.

Air Force 191.875, Centenary 187.9

Air Force totally brought it for this meet, posting their highest score of the season. Centenary’s Noel Stubbs won vault with a 9.7, and led the team on bars with a 9.45. Ashley White took second in the all-around (37.875), second on vault (9.675), and second on floor (9.725). Navia Jordan tied for second on beam with a 9.675; one of three scores of 9.6 or better counted by Centenary on beam, their best event. Kellie Slater also had strong performances in her three events: 9.625 on vault, 9.45 on beam, and 9.575 on floor.

Whitewater 189.1, Gustavus 178.75

Both of these teams remain very consistent in their scores so far this season, with Whitewater fighting to be at the top of Division 3. Whitewater’s Courtney Pickett won beam (9.6), floor (9.575), and the all-around with a 38.1. Whitewater swept the top 3 vault scores, top 6 bars scores, and top 4 floor scores.  Katie Fiorilli won vault (9.6), and Mackenzie Smith posted a huge 9.725 on bars, followed by Fiorilli’s 9.675, and a pair of 9.625s from Megan Love and Lisa O’Donnell. Whitewater’s 48.1 on bars is the new season high in all of Divison 3. Gustavus’ Alex Kopp had another great week, leading her team on every single event (9.4 on vault, 9.125 on bars, 9.525 on beam for second place, and 9.375 on floor), taking second in the all-around with a 37.425.

Brockport 189.4, Rhode Island 175.575

Brockport had a strong showing in their senior meet, while RIC continues to struggle on bars and beam. Brockport counted all scores of 9.4 or better on vault, led by a pair of 9.55s from Stephanie  Mager and Bridgette Schaal. Maddie O’Braitis won bars with a 9.65, while freshman Candis Kowalik came up big for the Eagles on beam (9.7), and floor (9.75). Senior Lily Jagodzinksi scored a HUGE 9.85 on floor, while Brittany Vasile tallied a 9.775. Brockport’s 48.3 floor total is impressive enough, but it still wasn’t their highest of the season, which is pretty incredible.

RIC did well on vault, with Erin Shea posting a new career high 9.525, and freshman Kyndell Yett scoring a 9.425 in her first time competing vault this season. Senior Emma Hartan scored a 9.225 on vault, a team high 9.2 on beam, and 8.95 on floor. Cailee Mallory scored the second highest beam score for RIC (9.0) in her first beam outing this season, while Courtney Osborne led the Anchorwomen on bars (8.925) and contributed a 9.0 on floor. Freshman Allie DiBiase led the team on floor (9.025) and won the all-around by default (34.725).

Winona State 183.125, Oshkosh 182.425

This was a pretty close meet, but strong showings on vault and floor helped Winona State come out on top. Winona’s Jade Donaldson won vault with a 9.575, followed by teammate Taylor Lewis (9.55). Winona only put up 5 competitors on bars, and as a result, had to count a 6.9 (making them actually score lower than Oshkosh on bars, despite taking the top 3 scores of the meet). Katie Pipp won bars with a 9.4, followed by Olivia Cattelino (9.375), and Katie Carling (9.2). Winona had struggled on beam, with only one score in the 9s (and it was a big one! Natalie Koehler won beam with a 9.55). Winona State rallied to recover on floor, delivering some big routines from Katie Carling (9.6), Brooke Hiestand (9.55), and Veronica Peterson (9.5).

Oshkosh was led by Krystal Walker, who led the team on beam (9.475), and won the all-around (37.0). Kimberly Robertson led the Titans on vault (9.5) and Kylie Fischer scored a team high 9.125 on bars. Oshkosh outscored Whitewater by nearly a point on beam, with strong routines from Walker and Kasandra Stamopoulos (9.2). Danielle Turner had the team’s best floor score (9.475), followed by a 9.35 from Walker.

Article by Sarah Chrane
Photo thanks to Bridgeport Gymnastics