NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale gymnastics team began its quest for a third ECAC Championship and 17th Ivy Classic Championship on Sunday afternoon during its season-opening meet at Blake Arena in Springfield, Mass. The quad meet featured Brown, SCSU and Springfield. Yale posted a score of 191.525, while Brown (189.275), SCSU (189.475) and Springfield (182.300) followed.
 
"I was really happy with the effort and results from our team today. Considering it was the first meet of the season, I thought we came out strong and prepared," said assistant coach Andy Leis. "We still have a lot of work to do and I know this team is eager to get back in the gym this week to keep improving. We look forward to the challenge of competing next weekend at Bridgeport and building off of this first meet."
 
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Yale – 191.525
2. SCSU – 189.475
3. Brown – 189.275
4. Springfield – 182.300
 
Floor exercise proved to be the strongest event of the evening for the Bulldogs. The top five scores totaled a 48.625 for the night and took home a floor win. Senior Sofia Menemenlis started off lineup with a hit 9.600 routine, while junior Jacey Baldovino finished fifth with a 9.700 score. Fellow junior Charlotte Cooperman performed an outstanding set, earning second place (9.775). Senior Rebecca Chong came away with a 9.675, while all-arounder Jade Buford had a 9.650. Junior Alyssa Firth was not only Yale's top floor scorer, but won the entire meet with a huge 9.825.
The exhibition for the day was Riley Meeks.
 
The Bulldogs took home another event win on vault and tied for second-best event of the evening for the team with a total of 48.325. Senior lead-off Anna Jennings began the competition with a yurchenko tuck full and Buford steadily followed with a 9.675 front-entry vault. Buford tied for fourth alongside fellow senior Rebecca Chong, who competed a yurchenko half, perfecting the blind landing. Junior Charlotte Cooperman put up a 9.525 yurchenko full twist to earn seventh place. First-year Aimee Titche made her vault debut as a Bulldog and placed third with a full-twisting yurchenko (9.700). Junior anchor Firth placed second with another outstanding 9.750 yurchenko full. The exhibition for the day was Rowan Palmer.
 
On the uneven bars, the Bulldogs took third place on the event. Titche made another debut on this event, hitting her routine and starting off the Bulldogs on a strong note. Firth and first year Caitlin Henry followed in the lineup while Baldovino shined for a third-place finish of 9.975. Buford competed her third event of the evening, competing in the fifth line-up spot. First year Raegan Walker made her season debut on bars and nailed a 9.825 bar routine to take first place on the podium.
 
"My first competition as a Bulldog was a surreal experience. It was so fun competing with such an amazing and talented team," said Walker. "It felt so great to be back competing after my achilles injury. I just wanted to have fun representing Yale gymnastics for the first time."
 
The Bulldogs ended the competition on balance beam: they won the event with a team score of 48.325 and took the top three places.  Cooperman remained a strong beam lead-off for the third season in a row with a second-place finish of 9.750. Firth followed with another stuck routine of 9.500. Buford put up a strong routine, continuing her all-around competition with a 9.550. Sophomore Lindsay Chia kept the momentum going with a huge 9.750 finish, placing second overall. Baldovino followed Chia, competing in the fifth place spot, while senior Emma Firmstone delivered a spectacular performance earning an impressive 9.775 and first place. The exhibition for the day was first year Riley Meeks with a hit routine and fantastic finish to Yale's beam lineup.
 
Yale will remain close by -- Bridgeport, Conn. -- for its second meet of the season next weekend. The Purple Knights will host Brown, RIC and Yale. 

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