ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cortland women's gymnastics team recorded the third-highest team score in school history and its best in nine years at the inaugural Empire State Collegiate Championship, hosted by Cornell University. Cortland finished with a score of 191.225. The top two scores in program history, 191.65 and 191.45, were both accomplished during the 2014-15 season.
 
Brockport won the team title with a 193.025, followed by Division I schools LIU (192.50) and Cornell (192.075). Cortland placed ahead of Ithaca (189.05) and Utica (184.325).
 
Fueling Cortland's team score was a 47.85 on uneven bars, the best score of any school at the meet and the second-best effort in school history. The Red Dragons narrowly missed the school record of 47.875 set in 2013-14. Taylor Goldstein (Dix Hills/Half Hollow Hills West) tied for third place out of 36 competitors on bars with a career-best 9.725. Rianna Adams (South Setauket/Ward Melville) finished sixth with a season-best 9.65, Kathryn McSweeney (East Brunswick, NJ) tied for ninth with a 9.575, Alexa Rose Pahila (Greenville, SC/St. Joseph's Catholic School) placed 13th with a career-high 9.50 and Cloe Block (Lockport/North Tonawanda), in her first competition of the season, finished 15th with a 9.40.
 
Gianna Mirigliano (Springfield, PA) tied for fifth on floor exercise with a career-high 9.80 and tied for 11th place on vault with a 9.65. Pahila was Cortland's top performer on balance beam, tying for 18th place with a career-high 9.65. Delaney Brown (Peru) tied for 11th on floor (9.775), and Brown, Ava Miranov (Morgantown, WV/University) and Rory Allan (Dubai, UAE/Gems International School Al Khail) each tied for 18th on vault with scores of 9.55 – career bests for Miranov and Allan.
 
Event champions were Sydney Beers of Cornell on vault (9.875), Morgan Shambo of Cornell on bars (9.80), Regina Walton of Cornell, Alexandra Quiana of Cornell and Syd Morris of LIU in a three-way tie on beam (9.925), and Alexis Castellaneta of Utica on floor (9.90). Morris was the all-around champion with a 38.625.
 
Cortland will host Ithaca in a dual meet on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Coach's Corner - Comments from Cortland Head Coach Sulekha Modi Zaug:

The goal this meet was to continue to have clean routines, to hit beam, and minimize deductions. Our team goal number was 190.8 based on what I conservatively figured we could score. The bars lineup started off so strong, sky high releases and stuck dismounts. I knew they were locked in. Beam was much better but still not where I know it can be. Floor scores were tight this meet across the board but they really fought to be as clean as possible and their artistry was incredible. We finished with really strong vaults and I knew our numbers would be the highest yet this season. To find out we had a top 3 program history score was icing on the cake for today! I'm very proud of their fight today and we are continuing our climb to be stronger still by regionals which is our team goal! We are all looking forward to being at home Wednesday evening and showcasing our routines for our home crowd!
 
Brockport 193.025, LIU 192.50, Cornell 192.075, Cortland 191.225, Ithaca 189.05, Utica 184.325

(Top 6)
 
Vault: 1) Sydney Beers (CORNELL) 9.875, 2) Syd Morris (LIU) 9.85, 3) Maren Eramo (BROCK) 9.80, 4) Lauren Miller (LIU) 9.775, 5) AnnaLisa Page (LIU) 9.75, 6) Calista Brady (CORNELL) 9.725 (Top Cortland: T11) Gianna Mirigliano, 9.65)
 
Uneven Bars: 1) Morgan Shambo (CORNELL) 9.80, 2) Brisa Carraro (LIU) 9.775, T3) Taylor Goldstein (CORT) 9.725, T3) Josie Moylan (CORNELL) 9.725, T3) Rachel Swick (BROCK) 9.725, 6) Rianna Adams (CORT) 9.65
 
Balance Beam: T1) Regina Walton (CORNELL) 9.925, T1) Alexandra Quiana (CORNELL) 9.925, T1) Syd Morris (LIU) 9.925, T4) Mikayla Burton (CORNELL) 9.85, T4) Cael Bixler (LIU) 9.85, T4) Brisa Carraro (LIU) 9.85 (Top Cortland: T18) Alexa Rose Pahila, 9.65)
 
Floor Exercise: 1) Alexis Castellaneta (UTICA) 9.90, T2) Alina Danilchenko (LIU) 9.875, T2) Syd Morris (LIU) 9.875, 4) Sydney Beers (CORNELL) 9.85, T5) Gianna Mirigliano (CORT) 9.80, T5) Grace Marra (UTICA) 9.80, T5) Kiara Hockman (BROCK) 9.80, T5) Kirsten Paultre (BROCK) 9.80, T5) Corey Foster (ITH) 9.80, T5) Grace Murray (ITH) 9.80
 
All-Around: 1) Syd Morris (LIU) 38.625, 2) Sydney Beers (CORNELL) 38.15, 3) Alexis Castellaneta (UTICA) 37.975, 4) Lienna Kay (BROCK) 37.875, 5) Grace Marra (UTICA) 37.325, 6) AnnaLisa Page (LIU) 33.575  (only six All-Around competitors)