PROVIDENCE, R.I.- The Yale Women's gymnastics team faced Ivy Classic rival Brown for the second time this season Sunday in Providence. The bears came out on top with a score of 193.150, but the Bulldogs came away from the meet with a season-high score of 192.775. With a Yale gymnast finishing in the top spot on three out of the four events, the Bulldogs put together a solid performance to compete with the 2014 Ivy Classic champions.
On vault, it was freshman Anna Merkuryev who sat atop the leaderboard. Her 9.750 earned her a first-place finish on the apparatus. Junior Camilla Opperman was also on the podium for the Bulldogs, finishing third (9.675). A pack of Bulldogs then took places 5-9. Captain Morgan Traina finished in a tie for fifth (9.600) and fellow senior Joyce Li was close behind with a score of 9.575. Brianna Chrisman was next in eighth place (9.525). Freshman Sloane Smith made her first appearance on the competition floor as a Bulldog. She scored a 9.425 to finish ninth.
On the uneven bars, it was Traina who found herself winning the apparatus with a score of 9.875. Li tied for third with a score of 9.750. Allison Bushman made her first appearance of the meet, scoring 9.700 to finish 6th. Chrisman, Tatiana Winkelman and Merkuryev also competed on bars for Yale, with scores of 9.550, 9.325 and 8.750, respectively.
Balance beam was up next for the Bulldogs, and Li stepped up to win the event with a score of 9.750. Anella Anderson was close behind, finishing in a tie for second with a career high (9.725). Kacie Traina returned to compete on the balance beam, scoring a career high 9.675. Merkuryev, Morgan Traina and Winkelman rounded out the lineup for the Bulldogs, finishing 8th, 9th and 12th.
On floor, Opperman had the best finish for the Bulldogs with a tie for third; she tied her career high on the apparatus (9.825). Morgan Traina and Li finished in a tie for sixth, both scoring 9.750. Anderson finished tenth with a score of 9.675. Smith returned to compete on yet another apparatus for the Bulldogs in her debut competition, scoring 9.625 on floor exercise. Katherine Lucas made her first appearance of the meet on floor, scoring 8.325.
In the all-around, Yale placed two gymnasts in the top three. Li finished in second (38.825) while captain Traina finished in third (38.475).
The Bulldogs will return home to host the ECAC Championships on March 21. Check back for updates on the ECAC meet later this week.
Report filed by Rachel Wofford '17, Yale Sports Publicity
