UTICA, NY - The Utica University gymnastics team is set for its final regular season meet this weekend as the team travels to take on the Cortland Red Dragons in a dual meet matchup. Start time on Sunday, March 2 is set for 1pm.
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video can be found here, and live scoring can be found here.
Last Time Out: The Utica University gymnastics team fell on the road to the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles in the team's first dual meet of the season. The Pioneers fell 193.100-185.025. The Pioneers strongest event of the evening was the balance beam, where the team combined for 46.600 points. In the vault, Utica combined for a total of 46.525 points. Utica continued to shine on the floor exercise, combining for a total team score of 46.325. On the uneven bars, the Pioneers landed a combined team score of 45.575.
Vault Vision: The Pioneers have been dominant on vault this season, with each Pioneer that has competed in the event scoring over a 9.175. Utica has found solace in
Emmy Graff (Boulder, CO/Connections) and
Grace Marra (St. James, NY/Smithtown East) who own the top vault scores this season.
Jenna DiPalo (Port Jefferson Station, NY/Comsewogue) and
Madison Villani (Port Jefferson Station, NY/Comsewogue) have each contributed on average over 9.350 each time out.
Frequent Flyers: Pioneer newcomers
Alyssa Langston (Pearland, TX/Pearland) and
Kaitlyn Vaz (Salem, OR/Baker Early College) have been mainstays in the bars lineup for Utica, each averaging over 9.045 in the event this season. Graff, the all-arounder, currently owns the top score for the Pioneers with a 9.675 that she garnered back on February 2.
Well Balanced: Marra, another all-arounder, has been dominant on beam this season, recording the highest average scores in the event on the team this season at 9.470. Langston and
Ainsley Pinckard (Pflugerville, TX/St. Dominic Savio Catholic) are not too far behind Marra, each averaging over 9.375 this season. Langston currently owns the top individual score on beam for the Pioneers with a 9.750 that she nailed on February 9.
Taking the Floor: Utica has been most dominant on the floor exercise, with the team posting a new program high in the event on February 9 with a 48.050 combined team score. Marra and Graff have led the way for the Pioneers, each averaging over 9.550 in the event this season.
Julia Pecora (Drums, PA/Hazleton Area) and
Emily Plone (Hudson, OH/Hudson) have each been mainstays in the floor lineup, averaging over 9.200 in the event this season.
A Look at Cortland: The Pioneers are set to meet with the Cortland Red Dragons for the fourth time this season, yet this is the first time this season that the two will meet for a dual. Last time out for the Red Dragons, the team posted the second-best floor exercise score in school history and recorded its third team score higher than 191 points on the season in a close 191.30-191.025 dual-meet loss to visiting Ithaca. Cortland finished with a 48.775 team score on floor - the second-highest score in program history and just shy of the school record of 48.85 set in 2019. Samantha Meadows earned at least a share of the top honors in two events along with another top-three finish. She won balance beam with a 9.65, tied for first on floor exercise with a career-best 9.80, and tied for third on vault with a 9.675. Autumn Adkins tied for first on uneven bars with a 9.675 and placed fourth on floor with a 9.75.
Up Next: The team prepares for the NCGA East Regional on Saturday, March 8. Start time in Brockport, NY is set for 1pm.
