EAGL Championship Session One

Recap

The Big Storyline: Despite a tricky session with several missed routines from teams, Temple capitalized on this and posted the highest score in the first session. It was a meet of tenths with the spread of points a very narrow 0.700 between all four teams forced to count a fall or routines with significant errors. 

Postseason Implications: Despite hosting regionals next weekend, Pittsburgh’s season ends today. George Washington, Temple, and LIU will close its season out as a team now. Each will hope to qualify several individuals in the all-around and their event specialists, including Long Island’s Mara Titarsolej on bars and Ilka Juk on beam. Qualifying in the all-around includes George Washington’s Deja Chambliss and Pittsburgh’s Hallie Copperwheat. However, Copperwheat was notably absent from the lineups this afternoon and it’s suspected she may be out for the rest of the season with a concussion. Even with an absent Copperwheat, Pittsburgh will still have representation from Reyna Garvey on beam and Natalia Pawlak on bars. Making an appearance for Temple includes Renee Schugman and Brooke Donabedian.

Conference Awards

• Gymnast of the Year: Emily Shepard (NC State)
• Rookie of the Year: Syd Morris (LIU)
• Co-Specialists of the Year: Mara Titarsolej (LIU) and Lali Dekanoidze (North Carolina)
• Senior Gymnast of the Year: Deja Chambliss (George Washington)
• Head Coach of the Year: Randy Lane (LIU)
• Assistant Coach of the Year: Olivia Courtney (LIU)
• Scholar Athlete of the Year: Lauren Bolen (Towson)

Preview

• No. 39 George Washington | 195.970 NQS | 196.550 season high
• No. 44 Pittsburgh | 195.655 NQS | 196.550 season high
• No. 46 LIU | 195.530 NQS | 196.100 season high
• No. 49 Temple | 195.490 NQS | 196.375 season high

If you can only watch one meet, here’s why it should be this one… The EAGL championship is always one that comes down to who hits on the day. Last season, after already being eliminated from the postseason, George Washington upset N.C. State at home to take the title, and the previous year Temple pulled out the upset. With a strong day, any of these teams in the afternoon session could walk away with the title.

If this is one of many meets you’ll be watching, don’t miss this… If you have to tune in to only one rotation, make it the last rotation around 2:30 p.m. ET. Temple will be wrapping up the meet on beam. George Washington will be on vault, its highest-ranked event. Pittsburgh will be on floor, where Sidney Washington has been a highlight all season, and LIU will be on bars, where the rotation will feature the 10th-ranked bars worker in the country in Mara Titarsolej. 

What’s the bigger picture to keep an eye on? All of these teams are out of the postseason, but many individuals are looking to break into or hold onto their spots. Syd Morris is the first one out of the all-around qualification currently and will be looking to replace a 38.900 all-around score to qualify for regionals. Other individuals on the outside looking in will also be trying to bump up their NQS, including Kennedy Duke on vault, Natalia Pawlak on bars, Alyssa Worthington and Robyn Kelley on beam, and Sidney Washington on floor.

By the Numbers

Past Champions

• N.C. State: 6 titles, last won in 2018
• North Carolina: 5 titles, last won in 2011
• New Hampshire: 3 titles, last won in 2019
• George Washington: 3 titles, last won in 2022
• Pittsburgh: 1 title, last won in 2016
• Temple: 1 title, last won in 2021
• Towson: 0 titles
• LIU: 0 titles

Records Watch

• Team: 196.750 | Vault: 49.525 | Bars: 49.325 | Beam: 49.325 | Floor: 49.575

Last Time Out

George Washington pulled out the upset at home to claim its third EAGL title.