TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University gymnastics team opens the 2017 season with a dual meet against Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday, Jan. 7. The meet will begin at 1 p.m. inside SECU Arena.
 
Meet Covereage
The dual meet will feature live stats and a live video stream, courtesy of Towson Sports Network. Amy Phillips and program alumna Tandy Knight '91 will have the call. Fans can also find results of the meet on Road to Nationals.
 
Previewing the Season
The Tigers return 13 gymnasts and welcome a five-member freshman class for the 2017 season. Towson opens the season at home for the first time since 2002 when the Tigers hosted James Madison and Wilson. It will also be the earliest season-opener since the Tigers competed at Maryland on Jan. 8, 2000.
 
Towson is expected to have a stronger vault lineup than in the past as the team has increased its difficulty at that event with more routines competing at a higher level. The Tigers return sophomore Erin Tucker and junior Gabriella Yarussi from injury, and both are expected to find spots in the vault lineup. Freshman Melissa Temkov could make her collegiate debut on vault on Saturday as well.
 
Head Coach Vicki Chliszczyk is looking for Towson to be clean and consistent on the uneven bars this season. The Tigers will have two key gymnasts missing from the uneven bars lineups to start the season in junior Katie McGrady and senior Bridget Steffen. Two freshman in Temkov and Ally Wesoly could see time on the uneven bars early in the season.
 
The balance beam is anticipated to be one of Towson's strongest events this season with the potential to get stronger as the season progresses. Sophomore Mary Elle Arduino returns after setting multiple program records on balance beam. Towson will be without Steffen's experience in the event to start the season.
 
Chliszczyk expects the floor exercise to be a strong point for the Tigers. Towson has added difficulty at the event, with a strong lineup and entertaining routines that could win over the crowds. Temkov's routine is one in particular that Chliszczyk is looking forward to seeing as the season progresses.
 
Returning Routines
Towson's senior class consists of Bayleigh Fobes, Bayleigh Gallagher and Steffen. Fobes and Steffen will be looked to for leadership as they enter their final year of competition. Gallagher, who will be out for the entire season, is expected to play an important role on the sidelines and during practices and meets.
 
The junior class is made up of McGrady, Yarussi, Lauren Cahalan, Noelle Harada and Tyra McKellar and Yarussi. Harada was a valuable member in the floor exercise, uneven bars and vault lineups last season. She also competed in the all-around three times throughout the season. McKellar saw action as an all-around competitor in every meet for a second-straight year. Yarussi was a mainstay on the Tigers' balance beam lineup, recording a personal-best of 9.900 at New Hampshire's quad meet.
 
The sophomore class could play an important role for the Tigers this season. Towson returns Arduino, Tucker, Cortni Baker, Amanda Pratt and Brittney Ranti. Arduino competed in every meet on the balance beam last season and was a mainstay in the uneven bars and vault lineups. Baker saw action on vault and floor exercise while Ranti competed in five meets on the uneven bars. Tucker is expected to play a big role on vault for the Tigers as she returns from an injury that kept her out for all but three meets last season.
 
Fresh Faces
Fans will see a number of new faces this season. Towson's freshman class consists of Temkov, Wesoly, April Bass, Olivia Lubarsky and Zoey Packard. In addition, Jay Ramirez begins his first season an assistant coach.
 
NCAA Athens Regional
Towson had two gymnasts qualify for the 2016 NCAA Athens Regional. McKellar competed as an all-around specialist for the second time at a regional meet, placing 15^th with a score of 38.525. Arduino competed as a balance beam specialist, tallying a 9.800 to finish tied for 17^th-place.
 
Program Bests
Arduino had an impressive freshman campaign that features multiple program-bests on the balance beam. She tallied a school reocrd 9.925 at George Washington, becoming just the third Tiger in program history to earn that mark. She also posted Towson's best season average on balance beam with a 9.777.
 
All EAGL Honorees
Towson returns three gymnasts who were selected to the All-East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) teams last season. McKellar earned first team honors for the uneven bars, floor exercise and all-around. Arduino also picked up first team honors for the balance beam as the top freshman in the league for the event at the conclusion of the regular season, ranking fifth. Yarussi earned Second Team All-EAGL honors for balance beam.
 
Last season, the Tigers also had 10 gymnasts earn spots on the All-EAGL Scholastic Team for having a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
 
Up Next
Towson hits the road for a tri-meet at Iowa State on Friday, Jan. 13. That meet, which begins at 7:30 pm (EST) will also feature Wisconsin-Oshkosh.