PROVIDENCE, RI - The Utica University gymnastics team finished in sixth place, out of seven teams, at the 2026 NCGA East Regional, hosted by Rhode Island College on Saturday afternoon.
SUNY Brockport took home the regional championship with a team score of 193.675, earning an automatic team qualification to the 2026 NCGA Championship. SUNY Cortland also earned an automatic qualification after a second place finish and a score of 193.000. The hosts, RIC finished third with a score of 192.200, followed by Ursinus College with a score of 191.700. Rounding out the team scores was Ithaca with a score of 191.300, followed by the Pioneers with a score of 189.100, followed by Springfield College, who posted a score of 189.050.
Utica began the meet on the uneven bars, earning a team score of 46.575. Alyssa Langston (Pearland, TX/Pearland) led the Pioneers with the top score of the event, recording a 9.625. Camille Lindley (Herndon, VA/Bishop O'Connell) followed with a 9.525, while Claire Rieder (Cincinnati, OH/Mount Notre Dame) added a 9.225. Christina Troche (Manalapan, NJ/Saint John Vianney) contributed a 9.175, and Grace Marra (St. James, NY/Smithtown East) rounded out the scoring with a 9.025.
Following a bye rotation, the Pioneers moved to the balance beam, where Utica delivered its strongest event of the meet with a 47.875. Alisya Dorman (Killingworth, CT/Haddam Killingworth) posted the team's highest score of the day with a 9.775, while Marra opened the rotation with a 9.600. Alyssa Langston (Pearland, TX/Pearland) added a 9.550, Jenna DiPalo (Port Jefferson Station, NY/Comsewogue) recorded a 9.500, and Madison Villani (Port Jefferson Station, NY/Comsewogue) posted a 9.450.
Utica continued its momentum on the floor exercise, totaling 47.550 as three Pioneers shared the top score of the rotation. Emily Plone (Hudson, OH/Hudson), Dorman, and Marra each recorded a 9.700, while Troche followed with a 9.550. Emmy Graff (Boulder, CO/Connections) contributed an 8.900 to complete the lineup.
The Pioneers closed the meet on vault, scoring 47.100. Villani and Dorman led the event with matching scores of 9.500, while Marra added a 9.475. DiPalo posted a 9.350, and Olivia Rosen (Massapequa, NY/Plainedge) rounded out the scoring with a 9.275.
Qualified athletes will now move on to the NCGA National Championship, hosted by SUNY Cortland on March 22. Start time is set for 2pm from Cortland, NY.
