EAGL Championship Session Two

Recap

The Big Storyline: Temple shattered its previous program record by nearly a half point to pull off an upset and earn its first EAGL championship title in its first year in the conference. Towson put up a strong score but was ultimately unable to catch Temple, finishing third. Pitt had a rough day, but Jordan Ceccarini took home the floor title in her final competition. LIU had a rough outing on beam—counting two falls—but rallied on floor in the final rotation to put up a program record 49.025, the first time the Sharks have broken 49 on any event.

Postseason Implications: With its score here, Temple moves into the top 36 to qualify to regionals for the first time since 1992. Towson put up a high enough score to move into the top 28, avoiding the play-in round and qualifying to regionals for the first time since 2000. Pitt will qualify a few individuals to regionals—Katrina Coca and Katie Chamberlain on bars and Lauren Beckwith on beam.

Records: Not only was Temple’s team score a program record, but it also tied the program record on beam and set a new program record on floor. Julianna Roland tied the vault program record for the second time this season. In addition to setting a program record on floor, LIU also set a new individual record on the event with Amanda Loo’s 9.850. Katy Koopman also managed a 38.575 in the all around for a program record there as well. Jordan Ceccarini tied her personal best on floor with a 9.900.

Conference Awards

• Gymnast of the Year: Emily Shepard (N.C. State)
• Event Specialist of the Year: Robyn Kelley (New Hampshire)
• Newcomer of the Year: Allison Zuhlke (Towson)
• Coach of the Year: Jay Ramirez (Towson)

Preview

• No. 29 Towson | 195.925 NQS | 196.150 season high
• No. 39 Temple | 195.613 NQS | 196.025 season high
• No. 47 Pittsburgh | 194.681 NQS | 195.700 season high
• No. 52 LIU | 191.663 NQS | 193.100 season high

If you can only watch one meet, here’s why it should be this one… Only one total EAGL championship has been won by any of these teams (Pitt in 2016), so if the winner comes from this session, it will be historic. Of these four, Towson and Temple have the most likely shot at the title. Both teams have proven to be capable of breaking into the 196s this year. While Pitt does not have the same ceiling as Temple or Towson, the Panthers are at home, and last time they hosted EAGLs, they won in an upset.

If this is one of many meets you’ll be watching, don’t miss this… Temple has an impressive floor team, ranking first in the conference and No. 23 in the country. The Owls compete on floor in the third rotation, so you won’t want to miss it! 

What’s the bigger picture to keep an eye on? Towson’s position for regionals is pretty secure, but since it’s not mathematically locked, the Tigers will still want to put up a good number just to be sure. Plus, another 196 could also keep them out of the play-in round. Temple is making a last-second push for regionals and seems to be peaking at the right time. While there’s still a lot of ground to make up, another 196 could keep the Owls in contention, especially if teams above them falter. 

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: 2 titles, last won in 2017
• Pittsburgh: 1 title, last won in 2016
• Towson, 0 titles
• Temple, 0 titles (joined in 2021)
• LIU, 0 titles (joined in 2021)

Records Watch

• Team: 196.750 (New Hampshire, 2003)
• Vault: 49.525 (West Virginia, 2004) 
• Bars: 49.325 (N.C. State, 2003)
• Beam: 49.325 (New Hampshire, 2003; N.C. State, 1998; Maryland, 1999)
• Floor: 49.575 (West Virginia, 2002)

Last Time Out

Two of these teams were not even in the EAGL last time the championship meet was held, and Towson came into the meet ranked last in the conference. Since then, Towson has gotten a new coaching staff and moved up over 20 spots in the national rankings to become a serious EAGL title contender.

*Special thanks to Drew Porche for all of the Records Watch data provided in this preview.