Rhode Island’s 2018 Outlook

Rhode Island finished last season ranked No. 82. The Anchormen improved on team scores from the previous year and sent two gymnasts to NCGA nationals. Rhode Island’s highest finisher there was Allie Dibiase, who will be a junior in 2018 and finished 14th in the all around. The anchormen will look to replace four strong seniors from last year’s contingent to maintain improvement next season.

Vault

Rhode Island had seven gymnasts regularly competing in the vault lineup in 2017, with six returning in the coming year. Kyndel Yett led the team with an RQS of 9.425. She was followed by Dibiase and Erin Shea who both recorded RQSs above 9.3. Additional returning gymnasts expected to contribute include Lacey Whitaker (season high 9.15), Miranda Murphy (season high 9.325) and Chandler Lynn (season high 9.1). The incoming freshman for Rhode Island are still a bit of a mystery at this point, but we look forward to seeing some strong vaulters enter the lineup.

Bars

Rhode Island will look to improve on bars next season. While the Anchormen showed promise on the event, they struggled with consistency and all six in the lineup hitting on the same day. The team loses Corinne Paul (season high 9.15) and Jackie Hahn but returns the rest of its contributors. They will be lead by Dibiase (season high 9.175) and Yett (season high 8.925) with supporting routines potentially being performed by Murphy, Lynn and Violet Pinola, who all hover around an 8.6 season high, which can be easily improved next year as the group has a high rate of development on bars and will have an extra year of experience with their skills next year.

Beam

Rhode Island’s best event last season was beam, finishing ranked No. 81. All six gymnasts from last season’s lineup return in 2018, and additionally, each gymnast finished with an RQS near or above 9.0, an impressive feat in DIII on the event. Top beam routines for the Anchormen in 2017 were Grace Davis and Alexandria Otis, who scored as high as 9.525 and 9.4, respectively. Dibiase, Cailee Mallory and Pinola all recorded scores in the 9.3 range on beam and Murphy was steady as a rock with a 9.120 RQS. Because the team isn’t losing any lineup regulars—and is potentially gaining more strong beamers—the event should again be one of Rhode Island’s strongest events as these gymnasts will only improve with more experience heading into next season.

Floor

Rhode Island had very high scores on floor last season as well, totaling as high as a 46.425. The team again returns all six regular lineup contributors from 2017, all of whom had RQSs near or above 9.0. The contingent is lead by Dibiase and Yett, who have season highs of 9.425 and 9.45, respectively. Shea, Murphy, Davis and Lynn are all capable of scoring in the 9.2 to 9.3 range and will all be sure to improve upon that in the 2018 season as well.

The 2018 season outlook for the Anchormen is quite strong as most lineup routines return and the team has a history of developing its athletes at a high level. With the addition of freshmen to the mix, RIC looks to have a great season of improvement in 2018.

Article by Morgan Bradford