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 March 12.
Division I
Gymnast of the Week
Caroline Moore – University of Pennsylvania, So., St. Louis, Missouri
Moore took first place in two events and finished in third in another as the Quakers finished second in a quad-meet with Temple University, Southern Connecticut State University and Ithaca College last weekend. The sophomore took top spot in vault with a career-high 9.85, the second-best mark in program history, then finished first on beam with a career-best 9.875. Both of those scores were the highest in the respective events among ECAC competitors for the week.
Specialist of the Week
Emma Cullen – University of Pennsylvania, Fr., Aurora, Illinois
Cullen anchored Penn's uneven bars line up and scored her career high, winning the event with a score of 9.925. This ranks as the second-best mark in program history and also contributed to the record-breaking event team score of 49.2. The former bars record had been standing since 2004.
Rookie of the Week
Jade Buford – Yale University, Fr., Coppell, Texas
Buford scored career-highs in multiple events en route to a top-five finish in the all-around in Yale’s meet with George Washington University, Stanford University, and North Carolina State. The freshman totaled 39.0 in the all-around, scoring a career-best 9.775 on bars before posting an identical mark on beam and in the floor exercise. Her scores helped Yale post a team mark of 194.575, its highest team total of the season.
Coaches Choice
Megan Ryan – Yale University, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colorado
Despite being limited to two events, Ryan continued her strong performances in Yale’s quad-meet last weekend. The junior scored a 9.8 on bars to finish in the top five and also scored 9.625 on vault to help Yale post a season-high team score of 194.575, the third-highest team mark in program history.
Division II
Gymnast of the Week
Majesta Valentine – West Chester University, Sr., Wilmington, Delaware
Valentine closed the regular season with another first-place showing in the all-around in West Chester’s meet against Ursinus College. The senior posted a score of 39.175 points the all-around, boosted by wins in the vault (9.725), bars (9.75) and floor exercise (9.875). Valentine also finished third on the balance beam (9.825).
Specialist of the Week
Brianna Comport – University of Bridgeport, Sr., Boyertown, Pennsylvania
Comport posted three first-place finishes in four events across two meets for the Purple Knights last week. The senior began the week by winning the beam (9.950) and tying for first in the floor exercise with teammate Maya Reimers with a mark of 9.9. She then took top spot on beam against Arizona State University and Sacramento State University, scoring 9.925 on the apparatus.
Rookie of the Week
Alexandra Lesperance – Southern Connecticut State University, Fr., Valrico, Florida
Lesperance posted a team-best 9.65 on the vault in SCSU’s meet against Brown University, Rhode Island College and Bridgeport. The freshman bettered that mark later in the week, scoring 9.675 to finish fifth in the Owls’ meet with UPenn, Temple and Ithaca.
Coaches Choice
Selena Swanger – West Chester University, Sr., Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Swanger finished second in the all-around last weekend, totaling 38.6 to set a new career best. The senior finished second on vault with a 9.625, and also tied for third in the floor exercise with a mark of 9.675.
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