Division I

Gymnast of the Week
Alina Liao, Yale University
Junior, Saratoga, Calif.

SCORES FROM THE WEEK:
VT: 9.70 UB: 9.50 BB: 9.675 FX: 9.80 AA: 38.675

Liao had the meet of her life over the weekend, winning three Ivy League Titles while tying career highs on vault and in the all-around.  She was outstanding in her performances in a very competitive and emotional competition. She was the true leader on the team and helped her team mates persevere to a second place finish.

Co-Rookie of the Week
Maddie Pearsall, Cornell University
Freshman, LaGrange, Ill.

SCORES FROM THE WEEK:
VT: 9.65 UB: 9.60 BB: 8.675 FX: 9.80 AA: 37.725

Pearsall led the Big Red to a first place finish and season high score of 191.8 at the 32nd annual Ivy Classic Championship held at Cornell University. She claimed a share of the Ivy League title on floor, and placed sixth on both vault and bars helping the Red to team victories on all three events.

Co-Rookie of the Week
Dani Riportella, University of Rhode Island
Freshman, Great River, NY

SCORES FROM THE WEEK:
VT: 9.475 UB: 9.825 BB: 9.70 FX: 9.65 AA: 38.65

In URI's meet at Rutgers with West Virginia, Bridgeport, and Ursinus, Riportella showed why she's an elite gymnast not only in the ECAC, but also in the country. She tied for second with teammate Erica Heaney on bars, and finished third behind WVU's two all-arounders with her 38.65. In going 4 for 4, she helped URI to a second place tie in the team competition while setting career highs on Bars, Beam and All-Around. Although just a freshman, she can match up with any gymnast in the conference regardless of seniority.

Specialist of the Week
Erica Heaney, University of Rhode Island
Senior, North Plainfield, NJ

SCORES FROM THE WEEK:
VT: 9.525 UB: 9.825

Heaney's bar routine score of 9.825 tied her career high, and was good enough to tie teammate Dani Riportella for second place at the Rams meet vs. Rutgers, West Virginia, Ursinus, and Bridgeport on Saturday night. She helped lead her bar team to a season high team score of 48.3. Also, on vault Erica provides a twisting yurchenko that is solid to say the very least.

Coach's Choice
Jennifer Sobuta, Brown University
Junior, Maynard, MA

SCORES FROM THE WEEK:
VT: 9.575 UB: 9.775 BB: 9.15 FX: 9.45 AA 37.95

Sobuta became the Ivy League uneven bar champion with the best routine of her entire career. She outscored her previous personal best on that event by more than half a point! This was Brown's fourth highest bar score in the history of the program. In addition, she finished second in the all-around and was Brown's top performer of the meet.  It was unlikely Sobuta would be able to compete anything at this year's Ivy League Classic. Just a few days before the meet, she badly sprained her ankle and was unable to train. She was willing to do whatever it took to help her team at the meet, so she pushed through and had an incredible performance.

Division III

Gymnast of the Week
Bree Morrissey, Ursinus College
Senior, Quakertown, Pa.

Morrissey has been very consistent with her gymnastics this season and it has been showing in her All Around scores.  This past weekend at Rutgers University, she scored her second highest all-around to date with a total of 37.875, with a 9.725 of floor.  The competition was tough, with University of West Virginia, URI, as well a Rutgers there, but she competed with the best and still was able to hold her own ground, not to mention competing with the flu!

Co-Rookies of the Week
Samantha Bowman, Wilson College
Freshman, Joppatowne, Md.

Bowman scored a 9.35 on vault and won the event at Rhode Island College on February 23 in a dual meet.  This is her highest score of the season on vault.  She also placed third all around with a 34.7.

Jeanna Bradle, Springfield College
Sophomore, New Milford, Conn.

Bradle had three big event scores in Springfield's win over MIT on February 24th.  She placed third on vault with a 9.475, second on bars with a 9.30, and tied for fourth on floor with a personal best 9.525.  While usually consistent on vault, this season has seen Bradle steadily improve on bars and floor. 

Specialist of the Week
Jennifer Najuch, Cortland
Sophomore, North Tonawanda, NY

Najuch is putting together a solid sophomore season.  She helped Cortland to a home victory against visiting Brockport on February 24th.  The sophomore delivered three outstanding performances on vault, balance beam, and floor exercise. Each score exceeded 9.5 and she placed third, second and fifth respectively. Her freshmen season ended prematurely with an injury that limited her to three meets as a freshman.