Department of athletics, physical education and recreation
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Tech Shines at ECAC Championships
March 17, 2008
By CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The MIT women's gymnastics team posted its highest team score in four years and the third-best total in the program's history with a total of 185.025 to place fifth at the ECAC Championship hosted by Springfield College on Saturday. Ursinus College was the crowned the champion with an overall mark of 187.675, followed by SUNY Brockport (187.175), SUNY Cortland (186.75), and the host Pride (185.875). Rounding out the field was Ithaca College (183.150), Rhode Island College (171.55), and Wilson College (168.275). Individually, the Engineers took home more awards than any other school as Sophia Harrison was named the Co-Gymnast of the Year. The honor marked the third year in a row MIT was tabbed for conference gymnast of the year accolades. In 2006, Julia Zimmerman was voted the Rookie of the Year and then followed this up with Gymnast of the Year plaudits last season. In addition to her conference award, Harrison captured the all-around crown with a personal best of 38.275 and successfully defended her uneven bar title with a 9.625. Zimmerman put up a new Institute record on vault (9.75) which also claimed top honors in the event. The Cardinal and Gray got started on the beam with its highest total of the season (46.55) and its second-highest mark in Institute history. Katie Mingo (9.15), Sarah Trowbridge (9.425), Harrison (9.50), and Zimmerman (9.55), the defending national champion in the event, all contributed solid routines. On floor, Harrison took third place with a 9.675 as Zimmerman finished fifth with a mark of 9.65. Trowbridge contributed a solid 9.375 while Beth Stavely notched a season-best performance of 9.25. MIT showcased its dominance on the vault with a 47.225 event total that ranked second in the competition and crushed the previous Institute record of 46.675 which was set in 2004 and matched earlier this year. Zimmerman topped the MIT record with a 9.75 to claim first place. Alison Barnard registered a personal-best score of 9.575 to finish seventh overall. Becky Stavely also set a new personal standard (9.30) as Harrison (9.475) and Trowbridge (9.175) rounded out the squad. After three rotations, MIT was in third place heading into the uneven bars. With an automatic team bid to the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship on the line, the Engineers' quest fell short as they were unable to maintain their ranking. Harrison led the way with her title-winning total of 9.625 as Trowbridge (8.925) and Barnard (8.825) bolstered the team's efforts. Due to their strong individual performances, MIT will send five gymnasts to the NCGA Championship which will be hosted by SUNY Cortland on March 28-29. Trowbridge, on the strength of a career-best total of 36.85, qualified for the all-around along with Harrison and Zimmerman. Barnard will compete on the vault while Mingo will represent the Engineers on the balance beam. |
