WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Yale women's gymnastics team continued their 2015 season with a trip to Washington Sunday to take on host George Washington and Western Michigan. The Bulldogs finished third with a team score of 190.950. Host George Washington won the meet (195.725) and Western Michigan followed in second (194.825).
On vault, the Bulldogs were packed together on the leaderboard. Junior and ECAC specialist of the week Camilla Opperman led the way for Yale with a score of 9.650 (12th). Seniors Katherine Lucas and Joyce Li finished in a tie for 13th place with scores of 9.575. Captain Morgan Traina was next in 15th (9.550). Anella Anderson and Anna Merkuryev also competed on the vault for Yale, with scores of 9.400 and 9.150, respectively.
The Bulldogs then moved on to the uneven bars, where Traina had one of the best performances of the day with a tie for third (9.800). With only .100 separating Traina and fellow senior Li (10th) it was evident that the event was extremely competitive. With a score of 9.625, Merkuryev place 13th, not far behind her senior teammates. Brianna Chrisman, Allison Bushman and Tatiana Winkelman made their first appearances of the meet on bars, scoring 9.575, 9.550 and 9.100.
On the balance beam, Morgan again came away with a strong performance for the Bulldogs. Her score of 9.700 on beam landed her in 8th. Li was not far behind in 11th (9.450). Winkelman, Anderson and Merkuryev finished 13th, 14th and 16th with scores of 9.400, 9.150 and 9.075, respectively. Sophomore Kacie Traina made her first appearance of the 2015 season, scoring 9.025 on the event.
Yale finally moved to floor exercise, where Lucas and Opperman had the best finishes of any Bulldog on the event. They tied for tenth with a score of 9.700. Li and Anderson also shared a score (9.600) to tie for 14th. Morgan Traina and Merkuryev rounded out the rotation for the Bulldogs with scores of 9.575 and 9.350.
Yale had three all-around competitors on the day. Captain Traina finished in a tie for 4th (38.625).Li and Merkuryev finished sixth and eighth with scores of 38.325 and 37.200.
The Bulldogs will return to Ivy competition March 15, as they head to Providence to take on Ivy Classic rival, Brown.
Report filed by Rachel Wofford '17, Yale Sports Publicity
