PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Yale gymnastics team traveled to Pittsburgh this weekend to face some tough competition. Yale placed third among fierce competitors that included host Pittsburgh and Towson. The Bulldogs had a steady meet until the last event, resulting in a score of 193.050. The Panthers took first, earning a 194.700. Towson followed behind, receiving a 193.200.

First, Yale made its way to the balance beam, where the Bulldogs are ranked 47th nationally. Junior Charlotte Cooperman proved how much she could contribute to the apparatus as lead-off yet again. She led Yale off with a hit set (9.675). Sophomore Lindsay Chia set the tone for the meet, blasting a 9.825 hit routine. Junior Alyssa Firth made her first showing of this competition following close behind Cooperman with a score of 9.425. Senior Jade Buford also had a great beam routine for the Bulldogs, finishing with a score of 9.750. Junior Jacey Baldovino started her three-event debut with a huge 9.800 on this event. Senior anchor Emma Firmstone was the final Bulldog to compete on the apparatus, hitting her beam set for a 9.775 finish. Yale's beam lineup totaled a huge 48.825. The exhibition of the day was senior Carly Israel.
 
The Bulldogs carried over the momentum from beam to the floor exercise. All six gymnasts competing stepped up and gave spectacular performances. Six gymnasts earned a 9.650 or higher. Senior Rebecca Chong was at the top of the Bulldogs' floor lineup, posting a 9.800. Both Baldovino and Firmstone came away with a huge scores of 9.675 and 9.650. Next up, Cooperman competed for the Bulldogs and put up a fantastic 9.775. Buford came away with a 9.700 and Firth rounded out the second event with a 9.750. This team proved why they are ranked 49th nationally on this event, as the floor total came out to a 48.700. The exhibition of the day was senior Sofia Menemenlis.
 
Gymnasts then moved on to vault, where the Bulldogs are ranked 58th nationally. Senior Anna Jennings demonstrated how much she could contribute to the apparatus, earning the fourth-highest score in the lineup  at 9.625 with a yurchenko tuck full. Close behind, Buford continued her impressive all-around outing with another front-entry vault, 9.550. Cooperman had yet another strong performance, scoring a 9.700. Chong finished her last rotation of the day with her yurchenko half, posting a 9.675. First year Aimee Titche posted a 9.400, while Firth competed on their third event of the day, scoring 9.800 with her yurchenko full. The exhibition of the day was Rowan Palmer. Yale totaled a 48.350.
 
Heading into the last event -- uneven bars -- Yale had a two-tenth lead over Towson. Titche started with a two-fall 8.150. Fellow first year Caitlin Henry picked up the momentum with a clean, hit routine earning a 9.675. Chia continued her two-event competition with a one-fall 8.900 on the apparatus. First-year Raegan Walker scored a 9.150 with a fall on her double layout dismount. Baldovino continued her presence in the uneven bar lineup with a solid 9.725. Buford came away from the event with the top score for Yale, tying with Baldovino (9.725). The bars score totaled to a 47.175, falling two-tenths behind the Tigers.
 
At the end of the competition, Yale had one all-around competitor: Buford. Buford put together four fantastic routines to finish with a score of 38.725, earning another first-place finish.
 
As a team, Yale is now ranked 53rd nationally, averaging a 192.615 for the season.

The Bulldogs now aim to get mentally prepared for their next big competition: at Cornell for the Ivy Classic Championships, Feb. 23.