Durham, N.H. - In its first meet of the year, the Yale gymnastics team finished fourth with a score of 186.525 at the New Hampshire Invitational, behind New Hampshire, Ball State and Utah State. Coach Barbara Tonry was relatively pleased with the result, pointing to the fact that the Bulldogs scored 3.725 points higher than they did at their first meet in 2009.

“I have a lot of optimism,” said Tonry. “We just need a little more consistency and we'll improve our scores everywhere.”

Leading the way for Yale were seniors Allison Mak and Brigitte Kivisto. Kivisto finished fourth in the all-around with a 37.700, while Mak finished fifth with a 36.900. Freshmen Tara Feld and Stephanie Goldstein finished sixth and seventh respectively, with scores of 36.750 and 36.200.vOn the vault, Kivisto placed ninth for Bulldogs, with a score of 9.600. Feld, one of three freshmen who competed in their first collegiate meet at New Hampshire, finished 11th, scoring a 9.575.

Yale struggled on the uneven bars, although freshman Lindsay Andsager scored a 9.675. Kivisto was the only other Bulldog to break 9.000, scoring a 9.450.

On the balance beam, Mak posted Yale's highest event finish of the day, placing fourth with a 9.750. Feld posted a 9.575, while Sherry Yang posted a 9.150.

In the floor exercise, three Bulldogs scored above a 9.500. Kivisto scored a 9.600, while sophomore Talis Trevino and Goldstein scored a 9.550 and a 9.525 respectively.

Next Saturday, Jan. 23, Yale travels to Penn State for a four-way meet with Cornell and Iowa.

Report filed by Trey Chandler '11, Yale Sports Publicity