Piscataway, N.J. – The Towson University women's gymnastics team hit the ground running for the start of the 2023 season. After two career bests and six top-three finishes the Tigers recorded a final score of 195.850, the highest opening road score in school history, which was good enough to win the meet.
Towson's previous highest opening road score of 194.000 was recorded last season during a dual meet with the University of New Hampshire.
The Tigers dominated the uneven bars, picking up an individual win from junior
Grace Vaillancourt, who scored a career-best of 9.925. Rookie
Isabella Minervini secured the second-place spot after scoring her career-best of 9.900.
Host team Rutgers placed second, earning a final score of 195.550 with two individual wins on balance beam and floor. The Scarlet Knights swept the beam as Elia Aird and Gianna Ortiz tied for first with 9.850s. Emily Leese won floor with a 9.875. Rutgers narrowly outscored Ball State, who concluded the meet at 195.450 after registering a 49.000 on vault, led by event winner Suki Pfister (9.900). UW-Oshkosh placed fourth with a final team score of 192.425.
How it Happened
- Freshman Carmella Calafati made her collegiate debut as a Tiger during the first rotation, posting a score of 9.850 after an impressive floor routine and tying with Rutger's Suki Pfister for silver.
- Paige Casper and Elise Tisler competed on floor as well, both earning 9.800s.
- Towson completed the first rotation in the lead with a score of 48.975.
- Moving to vault next, Camille Vitoff and Polina Belanovski tied for third after recording 9.825s. Teammate Elise Tisler (9.800) completed the event in sixth place.
- After the second rotation the Tigers extended their lead, finishing with a 97.950.
- The Black & Gold led the way for the uneven bars, posting the top score of 49.150. Behind Vaillancourt and Minervini's one-two finish was Lauren Keener (9.825) and Clara Hong (9.800), both placing in the top-10.
- Towson received a team score of 147.100 after the third rotation, remaining in first.
- Grace Vaillancourt paved the way for the Tigers in beam, placing third after posting a 9.825. Classmate Sarah Girot (9.775) secured the fifth-place spot while Lauren Keener (9.750) placed sixth.
Behind the Numbers
- 195.850 is a top-20 team score of all time.
- This is the first time in history that a top-20 team score has come from a season opener meet.
- Towson's 49.150 on bars is the 11th highest score for that event in school history.
- Vaillancourt's 9.925 on bars is the fourth highest score in history. Minervini's 9.900 is sixth highest.
- On vault, Tisler debuted the second 1.5 yurchenko competed in Towson history.
Quotes – Head Coach Jay Ramirez
"These athletes have come so far with their mental game. They stayed present routine for routine. We are so excited about the highest opening road score in history by almost 2 entire points! Couldn't be more proud of the intention and effort."
Up Next
- Towson makes it's home debut next week on Friday, Jan.20 at 6 p.m. at the George McGinty Alumni meet.
- The Tigers will welcome West Virginia, West Chester and EAGL foe New Hampshire for a quad meet at SECU arena.
- This will be the team's annual Pink Meet in support of those battling breast cancer.
