NCGA-East Regional

Recap

The Big Storyline: Brockport easily took first by 2.5 points, a season high score, over second place and host Springfield. Ithaca rounded out the top three teams to punch their tickets to NCGA nationals to be held in Ithaca later this month. Brockport also posted a season high on vault. Lexi Castellaneta was named gymnast of the year alongside Rhode Island’s Olivia Keyes who won rookie of the year. Rhode Island’s head coach Monica Messalles Nassi was named coach of the year as well. Although the Anchorwomen didn’t have the night they may have hoped for, Olivia Keyes, Emma Tucker and Kelsey Gates qualified as individuals to nationals in what has been a remarkable season for the team. Cortland’s Rianna Adams, Abby Bang and Kamryn Rodriguez will be traveling to nationals as individuals. Ursinus notched a season high on vault and will be sending Alyssa DeLorme as an individual to nationals. For Springfield, this is the first time it took second in a regional qualifier since 2000. MacKenzie MacLeod’s titles are the first time since 2007 a Springfield gymnast has won an individual title at regionals. Ithaca’s 189.800 third place finish is over two and a half points over the team’s season average, peaking at the right time. 

Implications: Brockport, Springfield and Ithaca will be sending full teams to the NCGA nationals, where they’ll face off against Oshkosh, Whitewater and La Crosse. The remaining NCGA teams will be sending qualified individuals. Based on WIAC scores, the qualified six teams would’ve placed Brockport first, followed by Oshkosh a half-point behind the Golden Eagles, Whitewater, La Crosse, Springfield, then Ithaca. 

Records: Emma Tucker broke a Rhode Island program record on vault, scoring a 9.700. Cortland’s Zoe Potamianos had a career high 9.675 on floor and Bianca Carr followed with a 9.625. Taylor Cusick of Ursinus scored a new best of 9.625 on vault, Madison Zimmerman followed with a 9.575, Alex Panetta with a 9.550, Carly Troilo with a 9.500 and Ashley Cromer with a 9.450. Kasey Ricci recorded a new best of 9.450 on floor. Brockport’s Sydney Schumaker tied the school record on vault with a 9.850. Emma Grace Sargent scored a career best 9.775. Springfield’s Devon Rosier scored a new best of 9.700 on vault. MacKenzie MacLeod scored a career high 9.800 on floor. Alana Calabrese finished with a new high of 9.550 on bars, as well as Leah Jewett with a 9.375.

Preview

Current Rankings: NCGA-East Regional with No. 63 Brockport, No. 70 Ithaca, No. 74 Ursinus, No. 76 Rhode Island, No. 78 Cortland at No. 75 Springfield

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: If you haven’t been keeping up, these Division III programs have smashed through several program records and repeatedly broken the ones set this year as well. And with such a fierce conference, it’s going to be an intense battle to be atop the podium and qualify for NCGA Nationals. Brockport has been cruising through its first season with head coach René Lyst and doing so with a record of 15-0. The Bombers have been sitting firmly in second to Brockport. With those two teams a probable first and second, it’ll be a race for the other four teams to clinch that third spot and punch a ticket to nationals. With Cortland having just scored a scorching season high, Ursinus bringing its A-game to every meet, Rhode Island smashing records at an unprecedented rate and host Springfield breaking records as well, it’s going to be about who delivers under the pressure of the first NCGA-East regional since 2019. 

Need More Proof? Several teams are bringing down the house with astronomical floor routines. Keep an eye on Rhode Island’s tumbling duo Olivia Keyes and Kelsey Gates, who have both shattered floor records for the program this year. Keyes has broken all-around records for the Anchorwomen, too, so she’s one to watch in the all-around, as well as Ithaca’s Skye Cohen. Brockport’s Lexi Castellaneta, Kyra Figurelli and Naimah Muhammad aren’t routines you should miss either. Don’t lose sight of Gabbi Gare and Taylor Bushey who have been flirting with the Brockport bars record, which was recently tied by Gare. Springfield’s MacKenzie MacLeod recently broke a long-standing beam record and could deliver again on vault or floor, but don’t miss Springfield on vault, where the Pride is currently ranked third in the East. Cortland threw its hat in the ring with a staggering three-and-a-half-point jump to its new season high last weekend and a new program record on bars by Glynis Curcione. Don’t take your eyes off Kamryn Rodriguez either, who delivers gorgeous floor routines week after week. Ursinus is the third-ranked team on bars, an event that has proven to plague each team in this division. Junior Alyssa DeLorme has been bringing it home each week in the all-around, and Abigail Schwerdt recently tied a five-year record on bars. As for the Bombers, Ithaca is the most likely team after Brockport to punch a ticket to nationals. Although Ithaca may have been a little quieter with program records, it has been turning in consistent results week after week. Freshman Skye Cohen is reliable as ever and senior Amelia Bailey’s unique floor passes and strong beam routines have helped to lead the way. Fellow freshman Jillian Freyman has become a household name for Ithaca, with the highest vault and floor scores this season. Skip your Saturday plans and watch history instead.