UTICA, NY - The Utica University gymnastics team was defeated by the Ursinus College Bears by a score of 189.800 to 187.275 on Sunday afternoon at Valley Gymnastics.
The Pioneers combined for a total score of 187.275, paced by team scores of 47.525 both on vault and the floor exercise, while the team combined for a 46.350 on the uneven bars and a 45.875 on the balance beam.
Utica opened the afternoon on vault, where the Pioneers would be paced by Alisya Dorman (Killingworth, CT/Haddam Killingworth) with a 9.675, followed by Grace Marra (St. James, NY/Smithtown East) with a 9.550. Madison Villani (Port Jefferson Station, NY/Comsewogue) put together a 9.500 effort in the event, while Jenna DiPalo (Port Jefferson Station, NY/Comsewogue) continued her dominance with a 9.450. Rounding out the scorecard for the Pioneers was Haley Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) with a 9.350.
In the second rotation, Alyssa Langston (Pearland, TX/Pearland) managed a 9.750 on the uneven bars to take first place in the event. Camille Lindley (Herndon, VA/Bishop O'Connell) managed a 9.575 in her routine and Claire Rieder (Cincinnati, OH/Mount Notre Dame) managed a 9.300. Rounding out the scorecard for Utica in the uneven bars was Christina Troche (Manalapan, NJ/Saint John Vianney) who scored an 8.850 and Marra who managed a 8.850.
Beam was the third rotation for the Pioneers, led by Marra who paced the Pioneers with a 9.450 in the event, while Miller managed a 9.400. Villani and Dorman both scored a 9.025, while Langston finished with an 8.975.
The Pioneers pulled together in the floor exercise, matching the team's highest total of the day, with a combined 47.525. Marra and Dorman ended their days on a high note, each registering a 9.750 in the event to tie for second place. Emily Plone (Hudson, OH/Hudson) got in on the action with a 9.525, while Addison Ferri managed a 9.325. Troche rounded out the scores for the Pioneers with a 9.175.
Marra and Dorman were two of the three athletes that competed in the all-around, with Marra's total for the afternoon coming in at 37.600, and Dorman's total at 36.975.
Utica is back in action on Saturday, February 14 as the team travels to take on the Empire State Collegiate Championship. Start time from Cortland, NY is set for 1pm.
