UTICA, NY - The Utica University gymnastics team is set to travel to Providence, RI and clash with Rhode Island College on Sunday, February 18 at noon.
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend can tune in for live video here.
 
Last Time Out: The Utica University gymnastics team finished sixth at the Empire State Collegiate Championship on Sunday afternoon with a 184.325. The other competing teams were Long Island University, SUNY Brockport, SUNY Cortland, Ithaca College, and Cornell University who hosted the event. Alexis Castellaneta (Watkins Glen, NY/Watkins Glen) and Grace Marra (St. James, NY/Smithtown East) continued their season-long dominance in the floor routine with the former earning a 9.900 and the latter a 9.800. Castellaneta's mark was the best in the event with Marra finishing tied for fifth. Olivia Rosen (Massapequa, NY/Plainedge) (9.325) and Ryli McGorry (Orefield, PA/Parkland) (9.150) also did well. The Pioneers turned in a solid performance on the balance beam with Castellaneta leading the way with a score of 9.725 which was one of the best in the event. The trio of Marra (9.650), Olivia Fragala (Cave Creek, AZ/ASU Digital Prep) (9.475), and Haley Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) (9.425) all turned in strong performances and scored over 9.425. Castellaneta (9.600) and Marra (9.425) were each fantastic in the vault with Miller and Madison Reed (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) each turning in a 9.250. Melissa Ainsley-Pinckard led Utica in the uneven bars with a score of 8.900. Ryli McGorry (Orefield, PA/Parkland) (8.850) and Castellaneta (8.750) were right behind Ainsley-Pinckard and also did well in the event. Castellaneta finished third in the all-around with a total of 37.795 and Marra finished fifth with a total of 37.325.
 
Gymnast of the Week: Alexis Castellaneta (Watkins Glen, NY/Watkins Glen) was named Gymnastics-Now.com Gymnast of the Week on Thursday after her record setting performance at the Empire State Championship as her unbelievable floor routine took home a mark of 9.900 which set a new Utica gymnastics record while being the first Pioneer to ever win an individual event title. Castellaneta has been phenomenal for Utica this season and has now set program records in the floor routine in back-to-back outings.
 
Top of the Mountain, Program Bests: Alexis Castellaneta (Watkins Glen, NY/Watkins Glen) turned in program history with an incredible 9.900 in the floor routine which was the highest mark in Utica program history while taking the top spot at the Empire State Collegiate Championship. Grace Marra (St. James, NY/Smithtown East) followed her up with the second-best mark in program history with a 9.800 which was tied for fifth best. The duo continues to be excellent for the Pioneers and looks to keep earning the team crucial points.
 
Another Dominant Outing: Marra (9.650), Olivia Fragala (Cave Creek, AZ/ASU Digital Prep) (9.475) and Haley Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) (9.425) all turned in great outings on the balance beam with each recording at least a 9.425. It was the second consecutive appearance for Marra earning a 9.650 and tied her score from Utica's home meet on Saturday, February 3. 
 
Raising the Bar: Olivia Rosen (Massapequa, NY/Plainedge) and Ryli McGorry (Orefield, PA/Parkland) turned in career best performances in the floor exercise at the Empire State Championship. Rosen earned a 9.325 which topped her previous best of 9.225 set at the Rutgers Quad Meet. McGorry's 9.150 was another top mark and set a new career-high in her young Pioneer career.
 
Scouting Rhode Island: The Anchormans are 2-0 this season and placed third at the Southern Connecticut Tri Meet on Saturday, February 10. Kelsey Gates is a superstar who is coming off a first place finish and program tying floor exercise and second week straight of earning a 9.900. Olivia Keyes is another superstar and is fresh off a NCGA East Region All-Around Gymnast of the Week Award after being first in the all-around (38.300) and top-two on the beam and floor to take home the top honors at the Southern Connecticut Tri Meet.
 
Up Next: The team will travel and face SUNY Brockport on Friday, March 1 at 6 p.m.