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Zimmerman returned to the all-around in fine fashion, tying the school record in the floor exercise and setting a new standard on the vault.
  
 
Zimmerman Shines as MIT Places Fourth in Quad-Meet

Junior Sensation Returns to All-Around; Breaks Institute Record on Vault

March 4, 2008

BROCKPORT, N.Y. - MIT's women's gymnastics team was given a huge boost by the return of Julia Zimmerman to the all-around competition on Sunday afternoon, as the remarkable junior set a new MIT standard on the vault and tied the Institute record in the floor exercise. However it wasn't enough for the Engineers to overcome their opponents, as they finished fourth in a quad-meet at SUNY Brockport. The Cardinal and Gray totaled a team-score of 179.900, placing it behind the host Golden Eagles (188.975), Southern Connecticut State University (185.700) and Ithaca College (184.325).

The Engineers dropped to 6-12 on the season with the trio of setbacks, though their most recent defeats have come without the services of Division III's top all-around performer, Sophia Harrison.

With Harrison not yet completely healthy, all the more emphasis was placed on Zimmerman's return to the full slate of events. The defending National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) All-Around National Champion did not disappoint, producing an Institute record-tying tally of 9.775 on the floor exercise to tie for fourth in the event, while also winning the vault with an MIT record mark of 9.675. Zimmerman's floor exercise score equaled the mark held jointly by herself and Sonja Ellefson, while her score on the vault broke her own record of 9.650. The Chicago, Ill., native also placed sixth on the bars (9.475) and 10th on the beam (9.100) en route to a runner-up finish in the all-around with a season-high mark of 38.025.

Freshman Kristen Watkins was impressive on the vault, earning a 9.200, while teammates Sarah Trowbridge and Becky Stavely each scored a 9.150 to help make the apparatus the most successful of the afternoon for the Cardinal and Gray.

Laura Kelly's 8.900 on the bars and Trowbridge's 9.425 in the floor exercise were other notable scores.

MIT will close out its regular season schedule on Friday, Mar. 7, when it will travel to Kingston, R.I., to take on the University of Rhode Island. The meet is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start-time.