UTICA, NY - The Utica University gymnastics team is set to take on the Empire State Collegiate Championship hosted by Cornell University on Sunday, February 9 at 1pm. Other teams in attendance will include the Big Red, Brockport, Cortland, Ithaca, and Long Island University. 
 
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video can be found here and live stats can be found here. 
 
Last Time Out: The team placed fourth at the Rutgers February Quad last Sunday afternoon. University of Maryland took first place with a score of 194.625, Rutgers took second place with a score of 194.475, Fisk University took third with a score of 191.375, and the Pioneers took home fourth place with a score of 186.250. In the first rotation, the Pioneers put together a strong outing on the floor exercise with a combined team score of 47.000. In the second rotation, the Pioneers combined for a score of 46.600 on vault. On the uneven bars, Utica scored 45.200. In the final rotation, Utica combined for its best team event score of the afternoon with a score of 47.450 on beam. 
 
Freshman Standout: Freshman Emmy Graff (Boulder, CO/Connections) has absolutely dominated in the all-around this season. On every apparatus, Graff has averaged a score over 9.450 in every meet this season. In the all-around, Graff has averaged a score of 38.169 this season, placing in the top three in the event at each meet. 
 
Strong Showings: The Pioneers have found consistency in the lineup with several Pioneers putting together strong showings in each of the four meets so far this season. Jenna DiPalo (Port Jefferson Station, NY/Comsewogue) has been solid on vault and beam, averaging scores around 9.000 in each event. Alyssa Langston (Pearland, TX/Pearland) has averaged scores around 9.400 in both the bars and beam. Christina Troche (Manalapan, NJ/Saint John Vianney) has put together solid outings with scores averaging around 9.000 in both floor and bars. Kaitlyn Vaz (Salem, OR/Baker Early College) has been stellar on bars with scores averaging 9.075 while Madison Villani (Port Jefferson Station, NY/Comsewogue) has been averaging just under 9.400 on vault. Grace Marra (St. James, NY/Smithtown East) has also put together incredible performances in the all around, averaging a combined score of 37.363 per meet. 
 
The Field: Attending the Empire State Collegiate Championships are the hosts, the Cornell Big Red, the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles, the Cortland Red Dragons, the Ithaca College Bombers, and the Long Island University Sharks. The hosts, the Cornell Big Red have averaged team scores of 192.670 throughout its five meets this season. Leading the Big Red are Sydney Beers on vault, beam, and floor, and by Morgen Shambo on bars. The SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles are currently 4-1 on the season. The Golden Eagles are led by Kiara Hockman on vault and floor, Maren Eramo on bars, and Amelia York on beam. The Cortland Red Dragons are averaging combined team scores of 187.837 this season. The Red Dragons are led by Gianna Mirigliano on vault and floor, Kathryn McSweeny on bars and Samantha Meadows on beam. The Ithaca College Bombers have averaged a team score of 186.950 this season through only three meets. The Bombers are led by Natalie Steed on vault, Lauren Babineaux on bars, Emily Kobusky on beam, and Grace Murray on floor. The Long Island University Sharks are averaging team scores of 189.015 through five meets this season. The Sharks are led by Kaira Cartwright on vault and beam, Haleigh Welch on bars, and Ella Barrington on floor. 
 
Up Next: Utica travels to take on the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles in the team's first dual meet of the season. Start time in Brockport, NY on Friday, February 21 is set for 6pm.