TOWSON, Md. – After opening the season with back-to-back road meets, Coach Vicki Chliszczyk and the Tiger gymnastics team hosts the University of Bridgeport, Lindenwood University and Ursinus College in the Tigers' home opener at the Towson Center on Saturday, January 26 at 4:00 p.m.
With one of the youngest teams in school history, Coach Chliszczyk has a roster with seven veterans and seven newcomers.
In the first two meets of the season, almost of the Tiger freshmen have seen a significant amount of action.
In fact, freshmen Abby Griswold, Katie Sassa, Lydia Thompson and Samantha Ward have been three-event gymnasts for the first two meets.
Griswold, who earned a 9.825 score on beam at Penn State, has competed on bars, beam and floor this season. She is averaging 9.70 on bars and 9.76 on beam.Sassa has been part of the Tigers' vault, beam and floor lineups this year. She has averaged 9.75 on vault and 9.70 on floor.
Thompson has competed on vault, bars and beam while Ward has contributed on vault, bars and beam.
Senior Britney Russell and junior Alexa Davis are the Tigers' most experienced gymnasts. Russell has vaulted in the first two meets and had a 9.675 score on floor at Penn State.
The Tigers, who have not lost a home meet since March 21, 2008, will be tested this week.
Probably the top Division II program in the nation, Bridgeport has won four straight USA Gymnastics national championships. Bridgeport is undefeated this season and has a 193.383 average. Bridgeport is led by senior Monica Mesalles, a former member of the Olympics team from Spain. She is one of the top performers on vault and floor in the nation. Sophomore Sasha Tsikhanovich is also having a solid season. She is averaging 39.30 in the all-around to date.
A first-year gymnastics program, Lindenwood is competing in only the fourth meet in school history. The Lions, who are from Missouri, are seeking their first-ever victory this week.
The Lions opened their first season at Denver and finished third in a meet against Denver and Penn State. After a loss at Illinois State, Lindenwood had its best meet last week with a 188.625 team score in a home loss to Southeast Missouri.
Freshman Alicia Floyd has been the Lions' top performer in the all-around to date while junior Emily Turik has also done well.
Ursinus is also seeking its first win of the season as the Bears come to Towson with an 0-4 record. Monica Dunham has been the Bears' top gymnast this season.
During their long winning streak at home, the Tigers have won 33 consecutive decisions. The streak has reached the point where none of the gymnasts currently on the Tiger roster have ever been part of a team that lost a meet in the Towson Center.
The Tigers' oldest gymnast, Russell was a junior in high school when Towson lost to George Washington in 2008.
The Tigers are starting their first season of their second stint as members of the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL). Towson has rejoined the EAGL, nine years after leaving the league.
In 1996, Towson was a charter member of the EAGL, along with Maryland, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and West Virginia.
After the 2004 season, the Tigers left the EAGL to join the ECAC. Towson was replaced in the EAGL lineup by George Washington.
Last year, West Virginia left the EAGL and became a member of the Big 12 Conference, creating an opening the league. When Towson was invited to rejoin, the Tigers jumped at the opportunity.
The Tigers return to the Towson Center on February 17 when they host the Shelli Calloway Memorial Meet at 1:00 p.m. It will also be Towson's Alumni Meet.
TIGER TALES: Coach Chliszczyk started her third season as the Tigers' coach with a 38-6 career record … She was honored as the ECAC Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012.
Last season, Bridgeport won a dual meet against Towson on the Purple Knights' home floor … Bridgeport had a 194.60 team score in a win over Brown last week.
When the Tigers host the Shelli Calloway Meet on February 17, they will face Cornell, Temple and Ursinus.
