CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Cortland women's gymnastics team finished in third place at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) East Region Championship at Corey Gymnasium and earned a berth to the NCGA Championships, which will be held March 23 at Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Brockport won the team title with a regional record-setting score of 193.70. Ithaca was second with a 191.65 and Cortland was third with a season-best 188.175 to barely edge Springfield (188.10) for the third and final spot at nationals. Rounding out the field were Ursinus (186.15) and Rhode Island College (185.525).

Under a new format this year, the NCGA national championship will be held on one day. As a result of Cortland qualifying as a team, any Red Dragon who competes at nationals is eligible to earn All-America honors in individual events or the all-around with their team competition score.

Sophomore Emma Schulz (Poughquag/Arlington) tied a school record on floor exercise with a 9.90 that landed her in a three-way tie for first place along with Brockport's Alexis Castellaneta and Ithaca's Victoria Gery. She matched the 9.90 recorded by Courtney Mangini during the 2013-14 season. Schulz's performance helped Cortland set a school team record on floor with a 48.85, breaking last year's mark of 48.75. The Red Dragons also had a season-best scores on vault (47.675).

Schulz earned NCGA All-East honors in two events with top-six finishes. In addition to her share of first on floor she ended in a five-way tie for third on balance beam with a 9.70.

The Red Dragons earned 11 other top-15 finishes at the meet, which featured 36 competitors in each of the four individual events. Rachel Filipski (Lancaster) tied for seventh on vault (9.65) and Sidney McConnell (Winchester, CA/Vista Murrieta) was eighth on uneven bars (9.425). Kamryn Rodriguez (Minisink/Minisink Valley) posted two career highs with her tie for ninth on vault (9.625) and 13th place score on floor (9.75).

Julie Giardina (Wantagh) tied for ninth on floor with a season-best 9.80 and Schulz tied for 11th on vault (9.60). Genna Orlik (Port Jefferson Station/Comsewogue) was 12th on balance beam with a season-high 9.525 and Vivian Trevisani (Colchester, VT) placed 14th on bars (9.225).

Lindsay Riggs (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Trabuco Hills) set a career high with her 9.70 on floor exercise, and Lily Szafranski (Williamsville/Williamsville South) also recorded a 9.70 on floor for a season-best effort. They were part of a tie for 15th place in the event. Also, Megan Hanley (Lynbrook/Malverne) placed 15th on uneven bars (9.15).

UPDATE: On March 10 the NCGA announced the list of East gymnasts named to the inaugural NCGA "All-Championship Team" by either placing in the top five at the regional or being among the next five in Seasonal Average Score (SAS), prior to regionals, in each individual event. Cortland's All-Championship Team selections are Schulz on floor and beam, Filipski on vault, Hanley on beam, and Emily Speciale (San Antonio, TX/James Madison) on bars.


2019 NCGA East Regional Qualifier
March 9 – Cortland, N.Y.

Complete Results
Tournament Web Page

FINAL TEAM SCORES:
1) Brockport – 193.70
2) Ithaca – 191.65
3) Cortland – 188.175
4) Springfield – 188.10
5) Ursinus – 186.15
6) Rhode Island College – 185.525

Individual Event Top 6 finishers (All-NCGA East)

VAULT:
1) Candis Kowalik (Brockport) – 9.75
tie 2) Baylie Trammell (Ithaca) – 9.725
tie 2) Carolyn Nichols (Ithaca) – 9.725
tie 4) Stephanie Mager (Brockport) – 9.70
tie 4) Cassidy Marquette (Ithaca) – 9.70
tie 4) Ali Rushlow (Springfield) – 9.70

UNEVEN BARS:
1) Rachel Doll (Brockport) – 9.65
2) Taylor Keough (Brockport) – 9.575
3) Courtney Christoforo (Ithaca) – 9.525
tie 4) Amy Eck (Brockport) – 9.50
tie 4) Candis Kowalik (Brockport) – 9.50
tie 4) Lauren Hansen (Ithaca) – 9.50

BALANCE BEAM:
1) Candis Kowalik (Brockport) – 9.80
2) Alexis Castellaneta (Brockport) – 9.75
tie 3) Emma Schulz (Cortland) – 9.70
tie 3) Alexis Frankowski (Brockport) – 9.70
tie 3) Kimberly Musall (Brockport) – 9.70
tie 3) Katie Holcomb (Ithaca) – 9.70
tie 3) Sara King (Springfield) – 9.70

FLOOR EXERCISE:
tie 1) Emma Schulz (Cortland) – 9.90
tie 1) Alexis Castellaneta (Brockport) – 9.90
tie 1) Victoria Gery (Ithaca) – 9.90
4) Candis Kowalik (Brockport) – 9.875
tie 5) Taylor Keough (Brockport) – 9.85
tie 5) Kimberly Musall (Brockport) – 9.85

ALL-AROUND:
1) Candis Kowalik (Brockport) – 38.925
2) Ali Rushlow (Springfield) – 37.775
3) Allie DiBiase (Rhode Island College) – 37.325
4) Miranda Murphy (Rhode Island College) – 37.225
5) Jessica Clemens (Springfield) – 36.875