First Rotation
Another trip to North Carolina is on tap for the Tigers this weekend as Towson makes its way to Chapel Hill for a tri-meet against the Tar Heels of North Carolina and Pittsburgh. Friday's meet is set for 7 p.m. on GoHeels TV.

In The Road to Nationals Rankings
Towson is currently 38th in the Week 3 Road to Nationals standings, averaging 194.375 points per meet. North Carolina sets in 25th with a 195.467 average while Pitt ranks 42nd behind a 194.238 average.

The Back to North Carolina Tigers
It was a week-long stay for practice in Towson before the Tigers return to the Triangle for a second-straight weekend, this time in Chapel Hall after competing in Raleigh last weekend.

Towson's vault squad is led by Lauren Bolen, who averages a 9.767, with Camille Vitoff (9.750) and Jenna Weitz (9.667) close behind. Freshman Mia Davis improved her vault average to a 9.663 after last week.

Freshman Steph Macasu has the top bars average, though she has competed just once with an 9.850. Classmate Clara Hong (9.783) is second on average while Grace Vaillancourt (9.775) and Lauren Keener (9.775) are tied for third.

On beam, Macasu (9.800) also has the top average with one meet under her belt. Hong (9.775) is second while Vaillancourt is third (9.800).

Amy Stewart (9.767) brings the top floor average for the Tigers with Hong and Paige Casper tied for second at 9.758. Vaillancourt (9.713) and Bolen (9.708) are also north of a 9.700 average.

Hong is the only Tiger to finish an all-around routine, scoring a 38.950 in the Tigers' home opener on January 14.

Scouting the Tar Heels
North Carolina bring a split 4-4 record to Friday's meet, scoring a season high 196.475 against Brown, George Washington and Missouri last weekend.

The Tar Heels have the 25th best scoring average in college gymnastics (195.467), a big jump from North Carolina's 195.581 average in 2021.

Lali Dekanoidze (9.842) has the best vault average for the Tar Heels with Hallie Thompson (9.800) close behind. UNC's vault squad is ranked 21st in the country.

Leading the 21st-best bars unit, paced by a trio of 9.800 or better averages, Elizabeth Culton averages a 9.875 while Dekanoidze (9.867) and Isabelle Schaefer (9.838) are second and third, respectively.

Jamie Shearer (9.850) leads UNC's beam squad, which ranks 23rd nationally. Culton (9.825) is second while Julia Knower (9.972) is third.

The floor is UNC's weakest rotation, ranking 42nd nationally. Brianna Greenlow is the only Tar Heel north of a 9.800 average, registering a 9.817. Dekanoidze (9.767) and Sailyn St. Brice (9.713) are second and third.

Dekanoidze (39.175) is one of two North Carolina gymnasts to register an all-around and leads the team, followed by Knower's 38.733 average.

Scouting the Panthers
Pitt brings a 2-1 overall record to Chapel Hill after posting a season-best 195.575 last weekend at Texas Woman's. The Panthers rank 42nd nationally with a 194.238 average.

Sidney Washington (9.775) has the top vault average, with Katie Chamberlain (9.750) close behind.

Hallie Copperwheat (9.800) is the lone Panther with a 9.800 or better on bars this year, while Erin Hutchinson is second at 9.750.

The pair also lead on beam at 9.850 and 9.838, respectively. Washington is also averaging a 9.825.

Washington and Olivia Miller lead the floor rotation with a 9.850 and 9.812, respectively.

Another Week, Another Improvement
The stock continues to rise for the Towson women's gymnastics team. Since registering a season-opener record 194.000 on January 9 at UNH, the Tigers have increased their point total over the last two meets.

In the Tigers' homeopener, a sweep over West Virginia, West Chester and William & Mary, the Tigers logged 194.150 points.

The following weekend at N.C. State, Towson posted another season best, this time at 194.975, the top score in the month of January since at least 2013.

Heading back to North Carolina, the Tigers will look to continue elevating scores.

Road Trippin' Again
After a brief stop at SECU Arena, the Tigers are on the road again for a trip to North Carolina's piedmont region. Two weeks ago, Towson went 921 miles round trip to Durham, New Hampshire before this weekend's 676 mile round trip to Raleigh. Next weekend, Towson will log 658 round trip miles for a tri-meet at UNC with Pittsburgh.

Last Time Out vs. UNC | February 19, 2021 | Towson, Md. | SECU Arena
In the second of two meetings during the 2021 campaign between Towson and UNC, the Tigers posted a 193.700 team score, finishing third in a quad meet with Towson, UNC, Pittsburgh and LIU. Towson won the vault with a combined 48.800, taking the top three spots between Camille Vitoff (9.850), Allison Zuhlke (9.775) and Lauren Bolen (9.775). The Tigers were a close second on floor with a 48.775, trailing only UNC's 48.875. Tiger Nikki Borkowski tied for first overall with a 9.850 on the floor while Paige Casper took third with a 9.825.

Last Time Out vs. Pittsburgh | February 28, 2021 | Brookville, N.Y. | Pratt Recreation Center
In the final of four 2021 meetings against the Panthers, Towson won a quad meet hosted by LIU, logging a 195.175 against Pitt, LIU and UNH. Amy Stewart took first on floor with a 9.875 as Nikki Borkowski finished with a 9.825 for third. Lauren Bolen and Camille Vitoff tied for first on vault, each scoring a 9.825. Tess Zientek took second on bars, Towson's third rotation, with a 9.875 while Vitoff and Stewart posted a 9.800 for third. Emerson Hurst won the beam competition, scoring a 9.875. Bolen finished the all-around in third with a 38.600.

The "ACC" Won't Let Me Be
- This spring Towson will face three teams that will make their way to the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2023-24 season.
- Towson will take on all three of those teams, N.C. State, North Carolina and Pittsburgh, all in a row between last weekend and this weekend.
- The Tigers led off with N.C. State last weekend in Raleigh, scoring a 194.975 against the Wolfpack's 195.600.
- This weekend the Tigers face UNC and Pittsburgh, schools Towson faced a combined six times during the unique 2021 season.
- These two weekends are just the third time since Towson rejoined EAGL in 2013 that the Tigers will face this trio in successive weekends.
- Towson met the three all on Feb. 6, 2021 in Raleigh.
- In 2014, the Tigers opened the season at Pittsburgh before a quad meet in Raleigh against the Wolfpack, Tar Heels and Michigan.

Week Three Standings
- In the Week Three Road to Nationals Standings, Towson is ranked 38th behind a 194.375 scoring average.
- Towson is 49th in vault with a 48.517 average, 35th on bars (48.542), a three-spot bump, 37th on beam (48.617), and 38th on the floor (48.700).
- The Tigers are seventh in the Southeast region in scoring average, eighth on vault, sixth on bars, fifth on beam and sixth on floor.

EAGL Rookie of the Week: Clara Hong (Jan. 19, 2021)
- Freshman Clara Hong was named EAGL Co-Rookie of the Week on Wednesday, January 19.
- Hong is the second freshman to win a weekly honor from EAGL, joining classmate Steph Macasu's Jan. 12 Specialist of the Week plaudits.
- In her first collegiate all-around, Hong posted 38.950 points to finish second during a quad meet with West Virginia, West Chester and William & Mary.
- The Sugarland, Texan won the bars, landing a 9.825 to lead a Tiger sweep in the event.
- Hong tied for fourth in beam (9.800), and tied for the team lead on the floor (9.800).

EAGL Specialist of the Week: Steph Macasu (Jan. 12, 2021)
- Freshman Steph Macasu was selected as the EAGL Specialist of the Week action after the opening weekend of action.
- It is Macasu's first weekly award from the league office, which made the announcement on Wednesday, Jan. 12.
- Macasu landed a 9.850 on bars before scoring a 9.800 on beam in her first collegiate meet.
- The rookie waited 90 minutes between routines as Towson competed in bars, vault, floor, beam in the 194.000-192.250 win at UNH.

Wealth of Experience...
- Nearly every Tiger that competed for the Black and Gold at the 2021 NCAA Regional Meet in Morgantown, West Virginia is back this season.
- Five of six competitors from vault: Jenna Weitz, Nikki Borkowski, Amy Stewart, Lauren Bolen, Camille Vitoff.
- Four of five bar scorers: Lauren Bolen, Camille Vitoff, Amy Stewart, Grace Vaillancourt.
- Five of six competitors from beam: Lauren Bolen, Camille Vitoff, Jenna Weitz, Emerson Hurst, Cassidy Stuart
- All six competitors from floor: Lauren Bolen, Jenna Weitz, Camille Vitoff, Nikki Borkowski, Amy Stewart, Paige Casper.
- Both All-Around scorers: Lauren Bolen, Camille Vitoff.
- Bolen finished fourth in all-around (39.00) while Vitoff took fifth (38.900)

...But Starting a Youth Movement
- Towson had a lot of youth in its lineup last weekend at UNH.
- Mia Davis and Elise Tisler made their collegiate debut in vault, Clara Hong, Lauren Keener and Steph Macasu all appeared in a college meet for the first time on bars and beam.
- Hong also made her first college appearance on the floor and was a vault shy of going all-around.

Momma I'm Coming Hoooooome
- These next two weekends will be a big homecoming for Lauren Keener.
- The freshman hails from Apex, North Carolina, roughly a dozen miles from Reynolds Coliseum for Saturday's meet and a 20 minute drive from Chapel Hill.
- The next two week's will be Keener's first return to North Carolina for a collegiate meet.
- Keener won't be the only Apex competitor at Reynolds Coliseum this weekend; N.C. State freshman Macy Jennings is also from Apex, North Carolina. The two went to different high schools, however: Keener at Crossroads FLEX High School in Cary and Jennings at Apex Friendship School.
- Cassidy Stuart is another North Carolinian, calling Marvin her hometown.
- Stuart's hometown is just shy of three hours southwest of Raleigh/Chapel Hill, located along the South Carolina stateline south of Charlotte and east of Rock Hill, South Carolina.
- Expect a large amount of Black and Gold in the Triangle the next two weeks.

Those Leos Tho
- Per CollegeGymNews on Twitter and .com, the contributors for the site ranked Towson's season-opening leotards as the top in college gymnastics.
- The Tigers wore leos with a black bodice, white shoulders and arms with a jeweled "TOWSON" down the left sleeve.
- The back of the leos also featured a jeweled pattern and gold piping.
- The Tigers scored a 7.575 from the contributors, based on design, fabric, sparkle, school spirit, uniqueness and overall appearance.
- Towson's 2022 leos are manufactured by Quatro. Assistant coach Ashley Sauer aided in the design process with Quatro.

Towson Picked Second in EAGL Poll
- Towson was picked to finish second in a preseason poll of the EAGL Head Coaches.
- The Tigers garnered 44 points, trailing only N.C. State's 58 points with two first-place votes.
- Reigning champion Temple and North Carolina tied for third with 43 points.
- George Washington (35), New Hampshire (30) and Pittsburgh ranked fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively, each picking up one first place vote. LIU was picked eighth with eight points
- The second-place selection was the best preseason placement for the Tigers in EAGL history.

Not Shying Away
- Towson won't be shying away from anyone this season.
- In addition to landing in the receiving votes column of the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Preseason Poll, the 2022 Tigers will take on 12 opponents mentioned in the preseason rankings.
- NC State (21), Utah State (26), West Virginia (30), Maryland (31), North Carolina (35), Temple (RV), Eastern Michigan (RV), George Washington (RV), New Hampshire (RV), Pittsburgh (RV), Penn (RV), and LIU (RV)

It's Becoming a Theme
- Prior to winter break, the Tigers announced this season's themes for Towson's six home dates
- January 14: Pink Meet (West Virginia, William & Mary, West Chester)
- February 2: TUCAN night with TUAIDE (William & Mary, George Washington)
- February 4: Pride Meet (LIU, Eastern Michigan, Temple)
- February 13: Shelley Calloway Meet/Domestic Violence Awareness Meet (Penn)
- February 19: George McGinty Alumni Meet/Choose Your Own Cause Meet (Ursinus)
- March 11: Senior Night/Own Your Roar Meet (George Washington, Maryland)