The ECAC has been a conference on the rise over the last few seasons. 2019 was a record breaking season for several teams, and with some strong freshmen coming up, expect the conference to continue on that path in 2020.
The 2020 season will be here before we know it! And with preseason training in full swing, it’s time to start looking at the teams and how they might fare when the action kicks off in January—from who’s expected to compete, holes coaches need to fill, exciting upgrades you might see and more.
No. 46 Temple
Temple had yet another record breaking season in 2019. With only a few lost routines and several solid additions, the Owls look to continue that trajectory in 2020.
| Losses: | India Anderson (FX), Yasmin Eubanks (VT; no longer on roster), Morgan Fridey (VT, BB), Erica Fuchs (FX; became student coach), Whitney King (became manager), Kaci Martir (no longer on roster) | |||
| Gains: | Madi Brooks, Grace Busch, Faith Leary (junior, transfer from Utah State), Heidi Vanderboom | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Ariana Castrence (9.820 NQS), Jaylene Everett (9.800), Monica Servidio (9.750), Jazmyn Estrella (9.745), Jackie Terpak (9.625), Tori Edwards (9.575), Faith Leary (9.790 in 2018), Daisy Todd (9.642 avg), Madi Brooks
How It Looked Before: Vault was a strong event for the Owls in 2019 led by a Yurchenko one and a half from regionals qualifier Ariana Castrence.
How It Looks Now: Temple retains the core of its vault lineup from 2019 and adds two strong options from freshman Madi Brooks and junior transfer Faith Leary who boasts a career high 9.900.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Expect vault to improve for the Owls in 2020.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Jazmyn Estrella (9.810 NQS), Ariana Castrence (9.745), Monica Servidio (9.740), Daisy Todd (9.740), Tori Edwards (9.740), Delaney Garin (9.680), Madi Brooks
How It Looked Before: Bars was a good event for Temple in 2019 but was often a bit inconsistent.
How It Looks Now: Temple does not lose any of its bars contributors from 2019 so the lineup should look mostly the same in 2020. Of the newcomers, Brooks has the best chance of breaking into the lineup with her big Tkatchev.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Expect bars to stay the same if not improve for the Owls.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Monica Servidio (9.850 NQS), Ariana Castrence (9.790), Delaney Garin (9.775), Jazmyn Estrella (9.765), Jordyn Oster (9.755), Taylor Newland (9.665), Madi Brooks, Heidi Vanderboom
How It Looked Before: Beam was Temple’s best event in 2019, even breaking the school record at one point.
How It Looks Now: Temple only graduates one person from its beam lineup and gains some solid options. Brooks was a consistent competitor on beam in J.O. and will be a great addition to the lineup. Heidi Vanderboom could also be an option if she can find her consistency.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Beam should continue to rise for Temple in 2020.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Ariana Castrence (9.815 NQS), Monica Servidio (9.800), Jaylene Everett (9.790), Tori Edwards (9.735), Faith Leary (9.675), Taylor Newland (9.500), Delaney Garin (9.460), Jordyn Oster (9.760 in 2018), Faith Leary, Madi Brooks, Heidi Vanderboom, Grace Busch
How It Looked Before: While the lineup had its struggles early in the season, Floor ended up being a great event for Temple in the end, led by regionals qualifier India Anderson.
How It Looks Now: The Owls will feel Anderson’s absence, but they bring in several solid options as well. Leary was a regular competitor for Utah State and with a career high of 9.900, she should fit right into Temple’s top six. Freshmen Brooks and Vanderboom bring clean sets that should see lineup time, and Grace Busch is a possibility as well.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Despite losing Anderson, Temple’s floor lineup should be even stronger this season.
Overall Outlook
With most of the lineup returning and several great additions, expect Temple to be even better in 2020. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Owls contend for a regionals berth. The biggest obstacle will be replacing Anderson’s floor score, but if they can do that, expect good things for the Owls in 2020.
No. 51 Yale
Yale had a great 2019 season that included 32 new top 10 all-time records that include team totals, event totals and individual scores. Despite the list of accomplishments, it was a season in which numerous injuries restricted all three freshmen at various points, as well as all around star Jacey Baldovino. If everyone is in competition shape, Yale is theoretically a team that can threaten for regionals; bringing in one of its best-ever recruits, Californian Raegan Walker, won’t hurt. Walker is recovering from an Achilles tear that ended her senior season in January, but she should be fit by the beginning of her first college season barring complications.
| Losses: | Kiarra Alleyne (BB, FX), Sarah Caldwell, Mary Catherine Fletcher, Roxanne Trachtenberg (VT, UB), Jessica Wang (VT, UB, BB). | |||
| Gains: | Cassie Clement, Caitlin Henry, Riley Meeks, Aimee Titche, Raegan Walker | |||
| Returning From Injury: | Jacey Baldovino (knee, possibly ankle), Seina Cho (shoulder) | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Alyssa Firth (9.740 NQS), Rebecca Chong (9.720), Charlotte Cooperman (9.705), Jade Buford (9.690), Anna Jennings (9.660), Jacey Baldovino, Raegan Walker, Aimee Titche
How It Looked Before: Vault was okay for the Bulldogs in 2019, but it was their weakest event by ranking. It was a lineup that could usually field six 9.95-plus start value vaults, but there was a range of amplitude and landing security. Baldovino, who was a lineup standby in her freshman year, was unable to compete the event for all but a few weeks and wasn’t convincing on the ones she did.
How It Looks Now: Only one regular contributor graduated, and the Bulldogs add two who are obvious choices for the lineup. Raegan Walker could anchor immediately with a huge and consistent Yurchenko half that went as high as 9.800 in level 10 while Aimee Titche’s Yurchenko full is great but could one day be replaced by a Yurchenko one and a half that she’s trained both in high school and so far in college. In her level 10 days, sophomore Kendal Toy had a strong Yurchenko half that could also feature now that she’s fully healthy.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Up, by at least a little. Losing one good vault and adding two great ones is simple math, and that’s not counting Baldovino and Toy.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Jacey Baldovino (9.795 NQS), Jade Buford (9.720), Kendal Toy (9.710), Lindsay Chia (9.670), Alyssa Firth (9.150), Seina Cho, Raegan Walker, Cassie Clement, Caitlin Henry
How It Looked Before: Star senior Jessica Wang held this lineup together, scoring emphatically week after week and allowing the Bulldogs to drop mistakes when they happened. The regular lineup was a stylish crew that included fellow senior Roxanne Trachtenberg, but it wasn’t an incredibly consistent one.
How It Looks Now: If there’s going to be a trouble spot for the Bulldogs, this is it, with two of 2019’s best routines gone. Sophomore Seina Cho has the talent to fill the gap left by Wang’s amazing routine if she has recovered well from the shoulder injury that kept her out in 2019. Sophomores Toy and Chia both have room to improve here. Walker does a dynamic and consistent routine that you can expect to see toward the end of the lineup every week. Two other freshmen, Cassie Clement and Caitlin Henry, have E releases and great peak scores in level 10. They were less consistent than Walker, but both have potential—Clement in particular has the skills to score very high if she can hit.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Should be about the same. Yale has sufficient routines on bars, but a few of them will likely score around 9.600 every week.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Jacey Baldovino (9.810 NQS), Lindsay Chia (9.795), Emma Firmstone (9.790), Jade Buford (9.775), Charlotte Cooperman (9.750), Carly Israel, Seina Cho, Kendal Toy, Riley Meeks, Raegan Walker, Aimee Titche
How It Looked Before: This was a great beam squad that set a program record of 49.125 and finished inside the top 30 in the country. Wang once again was a star on the event, but in this case program record holder Baldovino was the team’s highest scorer. This was also a star event for freshman Chia, who ranks with the best in the country in terms of poise and technique. Carly Israel, who competed only twice at the end of the season and produced strong hits both times, is one to watch.
How It Looks Now: Yale adds three great routines on beam this year and should have no problem keeping the momentum going. Walker is emphatic and incredibly consistent on beam. Riley Meeks got great scores in level 10 with a broad set of skills and a very polished style, and Titche has difficulty and top scores of her own. Sophomore Cho also has potential here, depending on her injury status, and Toy was strongest on beam in level 10 and could become a late-lineup star.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Beam was so good last year that saying it’s going to improve seems like a risky bet, but we’re going to do it anyway. There are so many great routines on the roster in 2020 that the Bulldogs have margin for error.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Alyssa Firth (9.825 NQS), Emma Firmstone (9.760), Jade Buford (9.750), Rebecca Chong (9.750), Charlotte Cooperman (9.730), Jacey Baldovino, Kendal Toy, Raegan Walker, RIley Meeks, Aimee Titche
How It Looked Before: Floor was the Bulldogs’ most consistent event in 2019, coming in between 48.400 and 48.900 every week. Senior Kiarra Alleyne provided one of the most reliable routines, but no other seniors competed floor. Then-junior and weekly all arounder Jade Buford shone on floor, as did team scoring leader Alyssa Firth. As on vault, Baldovino was only able to compete once in 2019, though she has been a strong contributor in the past.
How It Looks Now: Oddly for such a powerful gymnast, floor is Walker’s weakest-scoring event. She doesn’t compete an E pass and frequently over-rotates her double saltos, losing tenths on foot shuffles and small steps. That said, she’s still impressive to watch and should feature late in this lineup. As on beam, Meeks performs with panache and great landings, and Titche has a powerful routine with a similar look to several of the returning lineup regulars.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? This is a lineup the Bulldogs should be able to improve significantly, with numerous strong routines coming in and only one graduating.
Overall Outlook
For the Bulldogs, 2020 is all about keeping injuries at bay. If they have a similar progression to last year, with four or five major players restricted or out altogether, they will still be able to produce good scores given the strength and depth of the roster. But if the sophomores are healthy and the freshmen produce even half of the great routines they’re capable of, expect a record-breaking season. Yale is a team that has been scoring well yet capable of much more for a few years now. If 2020 is the year that changes—watch out.
No. 57 Penn
Penn has been recruiting beyond belief for the last few seasons, and its 25-gymnast roster is one of the largest in Division I this year. In 2019 it showed a great deal of potential, some remarkable results and little consistency. If that improves in 2020, the Quakers could make a huge leap up the rankings. The program record it set in 2019 showed fans what Penn is capable of—now it’s a matter of executing more than once a year.
| Losses: | Morgan Hunker (FX), Caroline Moore (VT, BB, FX), Valerie Rube (VT, FX), Nicole Swirbalus (VT, BB, FX), Sophia Reistano (became manager) | |||
| Gains: | Ariyana Agarwala, Najah Curtis, Rose Debarberie, Ali Karpousis, Carly Kulevich, Rebekah Lashley, McCaleigh Marr, Sarah Penuela-Wermers | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Sydney Kraez (9.735 NQS), Ava Caravela (9.675), Lauren Joost (9.590), Rose Hoffman (9.365), Tara Mills, Najah Curtis, Rose DeBarberie, Rebekah Lashley
How It Looked Before: Vault was the Quakers’ weakest event by ranking in 2019, due to a mix of inconsistency, lower difficulty and questionable judging. It was a lineup that consisted primarily of freshmen and seniors, leaving a strong base for the future but also a meaningful gap for 2020.
How It Looks Now: Luckily, the freshman class includes several talented vaulters. Najah Curtis has a beautiful airy Yurchenko full, and expect Rose DeBarberie to be a lineup stalwart with a solid and incredibly consistent full of her own. Rebekah Lashley is a mysterious prospect—we were only able to find video of a Yurchenko layout in competition, albeit a strong one, but she has recently trained a Yurchenko one and a half, so it’s likely there was a viable full somewhere in the middle.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? It could go either way. There are definite prospects for improvements here, but it will depend on consistent landings (and the grace of the judges).
Bars
Potential Contributors: Alison Frommer (9.785 NQS), Jordyn Mannino (9.760), Rose Hoffman (9.685), Libby Garfoot (9.675), Caroline Mitsch (9.590), Kellie Flavin (9.550), Alex Kothe (9.425), Sarah Penuela-Wermers, McCaleigh Marr, Ariyana Agarwala, Naja Curtis, Rebekah Lashley, Rose Debarberie
How It Looked Before: Yeah, that’s seven gymnasts you see listed by NQS in the “potential contributors” heading. Penn loses absolutely nothing on this event coming into 2020, and it has the depth to play with options. Bars was an event that always looked fantastic in training in 2019 before falling a little short in competition. It can be difficult for mid-ranked teams to convert talent into clean routines in front of the judges, but it’s far better than not having the routines at all.
How It Looks Now: The newcomers bring plenty of options, but it’s anyone’s guess who will work out. Penn is typically not shy about cycling options through the lineup during the first part of the season, so with luck we’ll see a mix. Sarah Penuela-Wermers is perhaps the most exciting here, with gorgeous technique and a nice pike Jaeger. McCaleigh Marr also has great basics but will likely need a little more difficulty, perhaps including the new double layout dismount we’ve seen in training. Ariyana Agarwala and Najah Curtis have big releases but could benefit from a little cleaning while Lashley and DeBarberie could be useful backups.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up, in theory—there’s depth for days, but it won’t matter if the Quakers can’t stay on the bars. With luck, the increased pressure to make the lineup in the first place will prepare the bars squad for competition.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Natalie Yang (9.820 NQS), Darcy Matsuda (9.725), Lauren Joost (9.720), Sydney Kraez, Natalie Borden, Darby Nelson, Sarah Penuela-Wermers, McCaleigh Marr, Rose DeBarberie, Rebekah Lashley, Ariyana Agarwala
How It Looked Before: We knew coming into 2019 that then-freshman Natalie Yang could be a phenom on beam, and she met and exceeded those expectations at every turn, never dipping below 9.700. She was Penn’s best routine last year and ought to be in the core of this lineup for her whole career. Two lineup regulars did graduate, but Yang and beam/floor specialist Darcy Matsuda are a powerful combination.
How It Looks Now: The outlook is quite similar to bars: Penuela-Wermers is stunning but a little inconsistent. Marr is technically superior but might need to adjust her composition to be competitive in college. DeBarberie and Lashley are stronger here than on bars, and both are quite reliable choices. Agarwala has appeared in training clips recently and looks viable.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Beam is a strength both for the returning Quakers and for the newcomers. This should be a lineup that’s capable of similar marks to last year’s event program record, or perhaps even higher.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Sydney Kraez (9.800 NQS), Jordyn Mannino (9.765), Darcy Matsuda (9.725), Ava Caravela, Darby Nelson, Rose DeBarberie, Rebekah Lashley, Ariyana Agarwala
How It Looked Before: Floor is another event that was all right in 2019, but showed plenty of room to grow. Freshman Kraez immediately became the team’s leader, joining a group of consistent floor athletes that will also return. Caravela was a strong competitor for the first five weeks of the season, then disappeared. Darby Nelson, a former floor star earlier in her career, was only able to compete once.
How It Looks Now: If Caravela and Nelson are able to replicate the results of the healthiest parts of their respective careers, this lineup could be stacked. Luckily, there are plenty of freshman options, too. This is DeBarberie’s best event, and she seems like a weekly competitor with a great mix of difficulty and panache. Lashley is also a reliable bet, and while Agarwala’s level 10 scores were lower, she is very consistent.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Floor should develop into a strength for the Quakers this year.
Overall Outlook
There’s every reason to be optimistic about Penn’s 2020 season. Lineups are hard to visualise with such a large roster and so many moving parts, but the depth is a gift in many ways. After a 2019 that showed so many bright flashes of potential yet an equal number of multi-event collapses, look for Penn to settle into a rhythm from week to week and eliminate the frustrating 190 and 191 results.
No. 59 Cornell
Cornell is the best it’s ever been. It set a program record in 2018, and it flirted with that mark repeatedly in 2019, coming up short mostly due to inconsistency. While that may continue to be an issue, the Big Red brings in a large group of newcomers and will also benefit from the return of one or two upperclassmen who did not compete in 2019. Expect it to put up a few high scores through the season and qualify comfortably to USAG nationals.
| Losses: | Morgan Chall (FX), Lyanda Dudley (VT, UB, BB), Kaitlin Green (BB), Kelsy Kurfirst (VT, UB), Christina Luniewicz (UB), Malia Mackey (VT, BB), Rebecca Thron (BB) | |||
| Gains: | Imani Telesford (added as sophomore), Natalia Nottingham (former CU gymnast who was not on the roster as a junior and has returned for senior year), Victoria DeMeo, Katie Fitzpatrick, Darby Kent, Amy Krueger, Kiley Schaefer, Maddie Watson | |||
| Returning From Injury: | Amy Shen (ACL) | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Donna Webster (9.815 NQS), Sara Maughan (9.720), Maci Prescott (9.715), Claire Haklik (9.535), Samantha Henry (9.425), Maddison Smith, Amy Shen, Amy Krueger, Darby Kent
How It Looked Before: Cornell showed a healthy mix of vaulters in 2019, meaning that the loss of a few senior competitors doesn’t sting so badly. Donna Webster became an instant star with a Yurchenko half that she stuck repeatedly. The Big Red’s characteristic skill variety extends even to this event, where it regularly showed three different Yurchenko variations, as well as Maci Prescott’s Cuervo II. Maddison Smith worked a front handspring double twist vault in preseason, but was not able to compete it due to a presumed injury.
How It Looks Now: Between the returners, Smith and Shen, this lineup should be very healthy in 2020. It’s also the strongest event of the freshman class. Amy Krueger’s Yurchenko half is gorgeous and could potentially become the fourth in the lineup (joining Webster, Shen and Henry.) Darby Kent usually scores well for her Yurchenko layout but has trained a tucked full as well.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? The outlook is good here. Vault could keep pace with Cornell’s great floor scores, provided the always-temperamental Yurchenko halves don’t cause problems.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Donna Webster (9.650 NQS), Evelyn Patient (9.550), Payton Murphy (9.355), Amy Shen, Olivia Tometich, Maddison Smith, Miranda Lund, Kiley Schaefer, Katie Fitzpatrick, Darby Kent
How It Looked Before: Bars was odd for Cornell in 2019. It cycled 10 different lineup gymnasts throughout the year but few proved reliable. Seniors Kelsy Kurfirst, Christina Luniewicz and Lyanda Dudley were the core of the lineup, in addition to then-freshman Webster.
How It Looks Now: This could be rough. Cornell lost its three best routines by any measure, and while the freshmen have potential, none look like a guaranteed 9.700. Kiley Schaefer is the best bet—she has fantastic technique and competes two releases of which we don’t readily have names. Katie Fitzpatrick is extremely dynamic on bars, and Kent has strong technique. Shen will be essential as a centerpiece of this lineup, just like she was as a freshman.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Bars wasn’t a particular strength for Cornell in 2019, and though there’s reason for optimism, it’s not likely to become one in 2020.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Miranda Lund (9.745 NQS), Payton Murphy (9.635), Izzy Herczeg (9.590), Evelyn Patient (9.530), Valerie Aubley, Maddison Smith, Claire Haklik, Amy Shen, Kiley Schaefer, Darby Kent, Katie Fitzpatrick
How It Looked Before: Cornell does quirky, technically interesting beam that ought to be more popular than it is. Evelyn Patient’s unusual acrobatic series did get some play time on Twitter, though. Twelve different athletes competed the event in 2019, and while some of those fell on their sole opportunity, it means that there are options going forward.
How It Looks Now: Once again, Shen should—and will likely have to—provide the most critical routine of the lineup immediately. Izzy Herczeg can be better on this event than she was last year, but for many of these gymnasts, inconsistency is part of the equation. Few of the freshmen are implausible as beam competitors, but none have emphatic results either. Schaefer’s flexibility means she has great presentation on this event, and Kent has a switch ring leap. Fitzpatrick looks like she has the potential to be a steady competitor as well.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Everything comes down to consistency—as ever with beam—but 2020 could be a tricky year for this lineup.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Izzy Herczeg (9.870 NQS), Claire Haklik (9.860), Samantha Henry (9.825), Donna Webster (9.750), Maci Prescott (9.680), Amy Shen, Maddison Smith, Victoria DeMeo, Kiley Schaefer, Amy Krueger
How It Looked Before: Amazing! This lineup included the individual Ivy League and ECAC floor champions, Claire Haklik and Izzy Herczeg, respectively, and the talent from top to bottom allowed Cornell floor to crack 49.000 three times in 2019. It was consistent, dynamic and fun to watch.
How It Looks Now: Still amazing! Cornell can substitute Shen or Smith into this lineup in the place of the one graduating routine and continue to field one of the best single events in the conference. Both juniors were regular contributors of 9.750-plus scores in freshman year but were injured in 2019. If both are back, this lineup is good enough to go 49.000-plus every week, without even touching the newcomers. Of the freshmen, Victoria DeMeo is the obvious pick, with an energetic twisting-heavy routine that scored well in level 10. Once again Schaefer’s presentation is excellent, and Krueger is very consistent.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Barring injury, there’s no reason for this lineup not to be even better than it was in 2019.
Overall Outlook
Cornell is the same quirky, enthralling, sometimes-frustrating team we’ve gotten to know in previous years. This roster is more than capable of matching 2018’s program record, but it’ll need to prove it can keep the counted falls on bars and beam away. If not, expect similar reaults to 2019.
No. 62 Brown
Brown had a talented roster and a lot of beautiful gymnastics in 2019, but it never quite seemed to find its rhythm, with odd fluke errors hounding it into postseason. Missing USAG nationals was a disappointment for the Bears, and they’ll need that motivation to overcome a significant loss of routines this year. There will be a lot of pressure on the freshmen, but luckily they look to be up to the challenge.
| Losses: | Julia Green (VT, BB, FX), Morgan Hagenbuch (VT, BB, FX), Gabrielle Hechtman (VT), Cassidy Jung (BB), Kate Nelson (no longer on roster, VT, UB, FX) | |||
| Gains: | Abby Contello, Lauren Lazaro, Jasmine Lee, Lauren McKeown, Ella Poley, Carolanne Van Zandt | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Mei Li Costa (9.770 NQS), Alyssa Gardner (9.720), Sophia Petrillo (9.520), Abby Contello, Ella Poley, Lauren McKeown, Jasmine Lee
How It Looked Before: Vault was not excellent for the 2019 Bears, but it was fairly consistent. Freshman Mei Li Costa lead the team confidently all season, never making a major mistake. Brown is a team that uses at least a handful of Yurchenko layouts at a time.
How It Looks Now: There are only three returners of any kind. Freshmen will be critical. Abby Contello and Ella Poley compete a Yurchenko full, which should be a one-way ticket into the lineup all season. Lauren McKeown vaults a front handspring front tuck, and Jasmine Lee scores well enough to be an option as well.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? It’s possible that Brown will see an increase in difficulty this year that will be reflected in scores. That said, it’s an uncertain prospect to assume based on so many freshmen.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Mei Li Costa (9.840 NQS), Emma Hansen (9.675), Sophia Petrillo (9.645), Caroline Warren (9.610), Alyssa Gardner (9.510), Lauren Lazaro, Lauren McKeown, Jasmine Lee, Ella Poley
How It Looked Before: Bars was the Bears’ best event in 2019, led once again by Costa. ECAC bars champion Kate Nelson not returning for 2020 is a definite blow, as she was the next-strongest contributor.
How It Looks Now: Bars returns numerous good routines, and the freshmen are strong here, too. Lauren Lazaro is likely to be a regular, with a routine featuring a beautiful Jaeger and great handstands. McKeown is another strong option, with a great double layout. Lee and Ella Poley also have a lot of potential.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Bars should improve in 2019, with less routine losses than on other events and plenty of incoming talent.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Rose Domonoske (9.735 NQS), Emma Hansen (9.660), Sophia Petrillo (9.540), Jasmine Lee, Lauren McKeown, Ella Poley
How It Looked Before: Beam could be great for Brown in 2019, but it could also go downhill quickly. In 2020 it will have to wrangle with a number of new routines since the same six gymnasts competed every week last year and three have graduated.
How It Looks Now: There’s plenty of potential on beam from the newcomers but no obvious superstar. Lee has the highest peak score of the group while McKeown and Poley have consistent results.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? We’ll have to see the newcomers’ college routines before we can draw any real conclusions here, but expect a similar level of consistency to 2019.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Sophia Petrillo (9.795), Abby Walsh (9.665), Rose Domonoske (9.660), Alyssa Gardner (9.645), Lauren Lazaro, Jasmine Lee, Ella Poley
How It Looked Before: Brown put up some strong scores on floor in 2019, though consistency could again be a trouble spot. This is where freshmen Sophia Petrillo and Abby Walsh really shone.
How It Looks Now: There are enough freshman options to fill the gaps and allow for depth. Lazaro is an energetic performer with a strong front tumbling set. Lee is fairly consistent, and Poley gets the highest scores of the group with excellent amplitude on her acrobatic skills.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? This lineup should be able to build on its 2019 results.
Overall Outlook
Brown should be able to improve on its 2019 results thanks to a little added depth on several events, but the outlook isn’t radically different. This freshman class should lay the foundation for several years of growth, so watching them over the first two months to see how quickly they learn to hit under pressure will reveal a lot about the team’s future.
No. 63 William & Mary
William & Mary is a team that has tons of potential but often falls victim to inconsistency. With a new leader at the helm, the Tribe will be looking to turn the tide in 2020.
| Losses: | Madison Dwyer (VT, BB), Sophie Harris, Aaliyah Kerr (BB, FX), Samantha Sakti (VT, BB, FX; transfer to UCLA), Regan Sindelar, Katie Webber (VT, UB), Anna Weiskopf | |||
| Gains: | Abby Carpenter, Brianna Greenlow, Amanda Jackson, Keaghan Schafer, Emma Wiley | |||
| Returning From Injury: | Chloe Campbell (unknown), Mary Graceyn Gordon (unknown), Hailey Haycox (unknown) | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Erika Marr (9.730 NQS), Caroline Caponi (9.655), Taylor White (9.630), Katie Waldman (9.795 in 2018), Chloe Campbell, Brianna Greenlow, Abby Carpenter, Emma Wiley
How It Looked Before: Ranking wise, vault was the Tribe’s best event in 2019, but it lacked the difficulty to be competitive with the rest of the country.
How It Looks Now: Because of an injury, Katie Waldman was not in the vault lineup for most of the season but should be right back in 2020. If healthy, Chloe Campbell’s strong Yurchenko full should find a place in the lineup. Brianna Greenlow competes a tucked Yurcheko full that could see lineup time. While Abby Carpenter and Emma Wiley only compete a Yurchenko layouts, they are both clean and could be useful backup options.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? It’s too early to tell. With only a few returners, the success of the lineup will depend on how well the newcomers can fill the gaps.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Evan Pakshong (9.765 NQS), Caroline Caponi (9.725), Taylor White (9.680), Erika Marr (9.610), Katie Waldman (9.800 in 2018), Brianna Greenlow, Chloe Campbell, Amanda Jackson, Keaghan Schafer
How It Looked Before: Bars was up and down for William & Mary all season, but it showed hints of greatness all season long.
How It Looks Now: Of the freshmen, Greenlow has the best chance to break into the lineup with a big Gienger and a double Arabian dismount. Campbell has a Gienger of her own and should see lineup time if healthy. Both Amanda Jackson and Keaghan Schafer show promise on the event if they can clean up some form issues here and there.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Expect bars to improve for the Tribe in 2020.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Evan Pakshong (9.720 NQS), Caroline Caponi (9.645), Katie Waldman (9.760 in 2018), Brianna Greenlow, Keaghan Schafer, Abby Carpenter, Amanda Jackson
How It Looked Before: Beam was inconsistent for the Tribe in 2019, with scores ranging from 46.875 to 48.725.
How It Looks Now: Greenlow and Schafer both have clean routines that should contend for the top six. Carpenter and Jackson are also possibilities if they can find consistency.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? The success of the beam lineup will depend on how consistent the lineup can be. It’s too early to tell.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Caroline Caponi (9.755 NQS), Taylor White (9.700), Evan Pakshong (9.575), Katie Waldman (9.770 in 2018), Elizabeth Snoddy (9.730 in 2018), Keaghan Schafer, Brianna Greenlow, Abby Carpenter, Amanda Jackson, Chloe Campbell
How It Looked Before: Floor was a good event for the Tribe in 2019, mostly thanks to Samantha Sakti who has since transferred to UCLA.
How It Looks Now: Sakti’s transfer and Aaliyah Kerr’s graduation are a huge blow for the floor lineup. Schafer has great pop on her tumbling, but an ACL tear at the end of the J.O. season means her status on the power events is questionable. Greenlow is also a strong contender, and Carpenter and Jackson should not be counted out as well. If healthy, Campbell is also a possibility, and Waldman should also be a regular in the lineup again.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Floor will probably be a bit weaker in 2020.
Overall Outlook
William & Mary’s success is going to depend on several factors, none of which are known at this point. How the Tribe will respond to a new leader and the loss of a few key players is the question they will need to answer.
Article by Mary Emma Burton and Rebecca Scally
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For William & Mary:
Mary Graceyn has recovered fully from ankle surgery and has been doing everything at practice. Also, Brianna Greenlow competed a yurchenko layout full not tucked full her last season in JO & plans to compete that vault for W&M.