ST. CHARLES, Mo.- The Yale women's gymnastics team competed for the last time as a team in 2016 Friday, as the Bulldogs faced off against Brown, Lindenwood and Texas Women's in session two of the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Nationals team semifinal. Yale came away with a fourth-place finish, surpassing its score attained at the 2015 championships by nearly three points. The Bulldogs scored 192.350, landing them in fourth place in the session.
Although Yale has concluded its team competition in 2016, two gymnasts found themselves extending their seasons, as they moved on to the individual event finals, held on Sunday. Freshman Jessica Wang had a spectacular day, which included qualifications in two individual events in only her second all-around competition of the season. Wang earned the top qualifying spot in session two on balance beam (9.850). The score ties the second place all-time score at Yale, an achievement junior Tatiana Winkelman experienced earlier in 2016. The score was a career high for Wang, putting her in a great position to be crowned a national champion Sunday. The score helped the Bulldogs achieve the highest team beam score in history (48.775). Wang also qualified second on uneven bars. Her score of 9.850 tied a career high. The young freshman has the potential to score big on both events, and return to New Haven a National Champion.
Wang also scored an impressive 38.775, earning her a fifth-place finish in the all-around. The score was a career high.
Senior Brittney Sooksengdao also clinched a spot in Sunday's event finals on balance beam. The event has been the senior's specialty since her arrival at Yale. Her score of 9.800 was a season high, finishing in a tie for fifth place.
The top five gymnasts on each event from session two will face off against the top-five finishers from session one Sunday to crown a national champion.
Top scorers for Yale on each event included Camilla Opperman on vault (9.700), Wang on bars and beam and Kiarra Alleyne and Opperman on floor exercise (9.800). Additional career highs scored included Anella Anderson on vault (9.600) and Sooksengdao on floor (9.675).
Additionally, five Yale gymnasts were named scholar athletes at the pre-competition banquet: Allison Bushman, Anna Merkuryev, Opperman, Sooksengdao and Winkelman.
The individual event finals will be held Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Live Stats can be found here.
Report filed by Rachel Wofford '17, Yale Sports Publicity
