SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Cortland women's gymnastics team finished in fifth place at the 2018 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championships, hosted by Springfield College.

Wisconsin-Whitewater repeated as national champion with a score of 193.70, followed by Wisconsin-La Crosse at 192.55. Brockport finished third (191.35), followed by Hamline (190.00), Cortland (189.00) and Ithaca (188.175).

Cortland tied for second on vault with a 47.825. The Red Dragons also posted a 48.175 on floor, and identical scores of 46.50 on uneven bars and balance beam.

Bailey Gildemeyer (Liverpool/Cicero-North Syracuse) was among Cortland's top two performers in three different events. She had the Red Dragons' best score on vault with a 9.675 and beam with a 9.65, and she was Cortland's second-best scorer on floor with a 9.70. Emma Schulz (Poughquag/Arlington) was Cortland's best scorer on floor with a 9.80 and Sidney McConnell (Winchester, CA/Vista Murrieta) was the best Red Dragon on bars with a 9.75.

McKenna Passalacqua (Whitesboro) was in the top three among Cortland gymnasts in two events with her 9.55 on vault and 9.475 on beam. Other Cortland gymnasts among the top three within the team were: Rachel Filipski (Lancaster) with a 9.65 on vault; Lily Szafranski (Williamsville/Williamsville South) with a 9.65 on floor; Ashley Scarantino (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area) with a 9.375 on bars; Emily Speciale (San Antonio, TX/James Madison) with a 9.325 on beam; and Lindsay Riggs (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Trabuco Hills) with a career-best 9.225 on bars.

The opening night scores and places have no impact on who competes in Saturday's individual event finals. Instead, Saturday's lineups, from the East Region, were determined by the top five regional finishers and the next-best five Seasonal Average Scores (SAS). Cortland's individual event competitors Saturday will be: Filipski on vault and floor exercise; Gildemeyer on vault and balance beam; Schulz on balance beam and floor; McConnell on uneven bars; Passalacqua on balance beam; Scarantino on uneven bars; and Szafranski on vault.

2018 NCGA Women's Gymnastics Championships; March 23; Springfield, Mass.

FINAL TEAM SCORES:
1) Wisconsin-Whitewater - 193.70
2) Wisconsin-La Crosse - 192.55
3) Brockport - 191.35
4) Hamline - 190.00
5) Cortland- 189.00
6) Ithaca - 188.175

Complete Results