When                     Friday, January 20, 2023
Where                   SECU Arena | Towson, Md.
Time                      6 p.m.
Team Records      Towson (3-0)
                               West Virginia (3-2)
                               West Chester (4-0)
                               New Hampshire (2-1)
Live Stats              Stat Broadcast
Live Video             YouTube
 
First Rotation
This Friday marks Towson gymnastics first home meet of the season. The Tigers welcome West Virginia, New Hampshire and West Chester to SECU Arena.
 
In The National Rankings
Towson was only two points away from being ranked in the Top 36 teams for the WCGA Preseason Coaches' Poll after picking up 142 votes. West Virginia was ranked 33rd with 214 votes. New Hampshire received 51.
 
Hit the Ground Running
The Tigers opened the season last Saturday with two major accomplishments; a dominating win over Rutgers, Ball State and Oshkosh and the highest opening road score in program history.
 
The team earned a final score of 195.850 after picking up two career bests and six top-three finishes. Host team Rutgers placed second with a 195.550, followed by Ball State who concluded the meet at 195.450. Oshkosh rounded out the field, finishing the meet with a score of 192.425.
 
The six top-three finishes were earned by Camille Vitoff (3rd VT), Polina Belanovski (3rd VT), Grace Vaillancourt (1st UB & 3rd BB), Isabella Minervini (2nd UB) and Carmella Calafati (2nd FX).
 
Towson received the top bars score (49.150) of the meet, which also happens to be the 11th highest beam score in program history.
 
Scouting the Mountaineers
West Virginia is currently 3-2 (overall). The team opened it's season with a second place finish at a quad meet hosted by Florida. The Mountaineers earned a final score of 194.925. The following week West Virginia hosted it's home opener, placing second after posting a 195.100. Floor exercise was the best event for the Mountaineers, as they were the only team in the tri-meet to score above 49.0. Four of the five gymnasts scored a 9.8 or better.
 
Scouting the Wildcats
New Hampshire currently sits at 2-1 (1-0 EAGL).  The Wildcats began the season with a dual meet at Southern Utah, where they fell to the Thunderbirds after posting a 192.875. Senior Kylie Gorgenyi lead for the team, placing first on vault (9.850) and tying for second on bars (9.850). New Hampshire won it's season opener tri-meet with a final score of 194.475 after picking up three first-place finishes.
 
Scouting the Rams 
West Chester started the season with a home opener, defeating Southern Conneticut State and Bridgeport by almost four points. The Rams winning score of 190.975 was supported by first place finishes from Lily McFarland and McKenna Kissinger. The earned it's second win of the season after dual meet against Alaska-Anchorage after posting a 191.625.
 
Impressive Newbies
Several new Tigers made their collegiate debut's at the Rutgers quad meet, proving to be valuable additions to the team. For starters Isabella Minervini was named EAGL Rookie of the Week after a stellar performance on bars at last week's meet. Minervini scored a 9.900, a career best and sixth highest score in program history, on the uneven bars. Carmella Calafati dominated for the Tigers on floor, posting the top score for Towson and second overall of 9.850. Polina Belanovski earned the top Towson spot on vault, tying with teammate Camille Vitoff for third overall after scoring 9.825. Lauren Greene scored a 9.625 on bars, placing 15th.
 
Last Time Out vs. West Virginia | Feb 19, 2022 | SECU Arena | Towson, Md.
-The Tigers hosted West Virginia and Ursinus college for a tri-meet at SECU, placing second just a tenth behind WVU after posting a final score of 196.575.
-The Black & Gold earned scores of 49.000 or better in every rotation.
-Towson earned four first place finishes, picked up by Clara Hong, Lauren Bolen, Camille Vitoff and alum Emerson Hurst.
-West Virginia swept the floor event as one of the top floor teams in the country at that time.
 
Last Time Out vs. West Chester| January 14, 2022  | SECU Arena | Towson, Md.
-Towson welcomed West Chester, West Virginia and William & Mary for a home opener where the Tigers finished on top, winning the quad meet after receiving a final score of 194.150.
-Clara Hong competed in her first all-around, placing second overall with 38.950 points
-The Tigers swept the bars, which marked the second time that season Towson recorded at least two of the top three scores in that event.
-Hong finished first with a 9.825. Lauren Keener and Grace Vaillancourt tied for second after posting 9.800s. 
-Cassidy Stuart earned a first-place finish on balance beam after scoring a near career best of 9.875.
 
Last Time Out vs. New Hampshire | January 9, 2022 | Lundholm Gymnasium | Durham, N.H.
-Towson earned it's previous program best season opening score of 194.000 at this dual meet against New Hampshire.
-The Tigers had six top-three finishes during the meet including three gold medal performances from Steph Macasu, Amy Stewart and Paige Casper.
-The Black & Gold dominated the uneven bars as all six competitors placed in the top seven spots.
 
EAGL Standings
-After week two Towson is currently ranked second in EAGL with it's season opener score of 195.850.
-NC State sits in first after posting a season high of 196.375.
-New Hampshire sits in eighth place with a high of 194.475.
 
Road To Nationals
-After week two of competitions, Towson is ranked 26th on RoadToNationals.com
-The Tigers are ranked 25^th in the nation for vault and 15th for uneven bars.
-Oklahoma remains in first place with an average score of 197.925
-West Virginia is currently ranked 37^th.
 
Towson Leaders by Event 
-Vault: Camille Vitoff and Polina Belanovski, 9.825
-Bars: Grace Vaillancourt, 9.925
-Beam: Grace Vaillancourt, 9.825
-Floor: Carmella Calafati, 9.850
 
Getting Into the Spirit
-During winter break, the Tigers announced this season's themes for Towson's four home dates.
-January 20: George McGinty Alumni/Pink Meet (New Hampshire, West Virginia & West Chester).
-February 1: Pride Night (George Washington).
-February 10: Shelley Calloway/Choose Your Cause Meet (NC State, Temple & Pitt).
-February 26: Senior/Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Day (George Washington, Fisk and William & Mary).
 
Talented Playing Field
-12 out of the 21 teams Towson will compete against for the 2023 season are either ranked or receiving votes in the WGCA Preseason Coaches Poll.
-The highest ranked competitor is University of Denver, ranked 13th with 1119 points.
-Maryland (424) and Iowa State (407) are ranked 29th and 30th respectively.
-West Virginia is ranked 33rd with 214 points.
-George Washington, Temple, New Hampshire, Rutgers, Pittsburg, LIU, Ball State and Fisk all received votes.
 
How to Say It: TOWSON
TOWSON is pronounced TOW like towel + Son.
 
IT IS NOT: TOE-son, Townson, Towsond, Townsend, Townsen, Towzen. One N, no Z.
 
We are Towson University, no longer Towson State University (and haven't been since July 1, 1997).
 
Our mascot is Doc The Tiger, named after Donald "Doc" Minnegan, long-time soccer coach and athletics department administrator. Towson became the "Tigers" in 1962 after John Schuerholz (yes, the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame General Manager) pushed for the name change from the "Towson College Knights".