TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University gymnastics team earned the top spot in the 2024 East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Preseason Poll, announced by the league on Wednesday.
For the first time in program history the Black & Gold were voted to finish atop the league, picking up 21 points and two first place votes. George Washington was the runner up, tallying 18 points and one first place vote. New Hampshire (16 points – one first place vote) was picked to finish third. Temple (12 points – one first place vote) and Long Island University (8 points) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Last season, The Tigers won their first EAGL Championship after earning a final score of 196.500 which is the second highest championship score for the conference recorded.
Towson finished second in EAGL for the 2023 regular season with a National Qualifying Score (NQS) of 196.375, conference record of 3-2-1 and overall record of 26-7-1. The team ranked 31
st nationally, qualifying for NCAA Regionals for the third consecutive season.
Following the 2023 campaign, head coach
Jay Ramirez and associate head coach
Ashley Sauer earned regional coaching honors by the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) for the third straight year. Ramirez was named Southeast Region Coach of the Year while Sauer received the Southeast Region assistant coach of the year title.
Returning for the Tigers this upcoming season are several prominent competitors who have received All-EAGL recognition. Of the upperclassmen
Camille Vitoff (vault) and
Grace Vaillancourt (bars) earned First Team All-EAGL honors while
Steph Macasu (bars),
Clara Hong (bars) and
Lauren Keener (bars) were named to Second Team All-EAGL. Standout freshmen
Polina Belanovski (vault) and
Isabella Minervini (bars) picked up First Team All-EAGL honors while
Carmella Calafati (floor) was named to second team. Belanovski (vault), Minervini (bars) and Vaillancourt (bars) also qualified as individuals for NCAA Regionals – competing in the second round of the tournament.
The 2024 season officially begins for Towson on January 14
th as the Tigers head to Ohio State for a tri meet with Ball State.
The Black & Gold host their home opener at TU Arena on January 26 for a quint meet. Three EAGL members; LIU, George Washington and New Hampshire as well as Cornell will travel to Towson for a 6 p.m. meet.
Season tickets are now available and can be purchased by visiting TowsonTigers.com, clicking
here, or by calling 410-704-3331.
