ECAC Announces Women's Gymnastics Weekly Honors
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its weekly awards for women’s gymnastics for the week of competition ending Jan. 15.
Division I
Gymnast of the Week
Caroline Morant – Brown University, Sr., Chicago, Illinois
Morant was rock solid on all four events for the Bears, hitting the second-highest all-around score in her career with a mark of 39.075. She also posted a career-high score of 9.85 on beam, helping Brown break the team scoring record for an opening meet (192.475).
Specialist of the Week
Nicole Swirbalus – University of Pennsylvania, So., Westwood, Massachusetts
Swirbalus scored a 9.85 on beam over the weekend, which currently ranks tops on the event among ECAC competitors. Her scores helped Penn achieve a 193.275 to finish second as a team against George Washington University, the University of North Carolina and Cornell University.
Rookie of the Week
Jade Buford – Yale University, Fr., Coppell, Texas
Buford scored 38.325 in the all-around to place her fourth in a competitive field featuring Stanford University, Boise State University and UC Davis. Her floor score was the third-highest score in the meet, helping Yale to a 48.525 team floor score.
Coaches Choice
Olivia O’Connor – College of William & Mary, Sr., Brightwaters, New York
O’Connor competed in all four events for the Tribe last weekend after picking up an injury earlier in the week. The senior tied for first on vault (9.75), took third on bars (9.75) and placed second in the all-around with a score of 38.550, helping William & Mary register the win over Alaska Anchorage.
Division II
Gymnast of the Week
Majestia Valentine – West Chester University, Sr., Wilmington, Delaware
Valentine finished first in the all-around for the Golden Rams last weekend, scoring 38.875 to help WCU sweep its tri-meet with Southern Connecticut State University and SUNY Cortland. The senior also took top honors in the vault (9.750) and bars (9.650) in the meet, while finishing second in the floor exercise (9.8) and third on beam (9.675).
Specialist of the Week
Rotem Porat – Southern Connecticut State University, Sr., Plantation, Florida
Porat scored 9.825 on the balance beam in SCSU’s tri-meet with West Chester and SUNY Cortland, matching the school record and finishing first in the event.
Rookie of the Week
Nina Whittaker – University of Bridgeport, Fr., Salem, New Hampshire
Whittaker turned in solid scores of 9.775 on the vault and 9.75 on floor exercise for the Purple Knights in their tri-meet with Brown and New Hampshire. The freshman was a late addition to the Bridgeport meet roster after a last-minute injury to a teammate.
Coaches Choice
Julianna Drapkin – University of Bridgeport, Fr., Holmdel, New Jersey
Filling in for an injured teammate, Drapkin scored a 9.625 on the vault and 9.450 on the bars to help Bridgeport finish in first against New Hampshire and Brown.
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