NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The Yale gymnastics team opened the season Sunday at Lee Amphitheater, returning to competition for the first time since 2020 and posting a score of 190.800 to finish third behind West Chester (192.325) and LIU (190.825) and ahead of Brown (188.700). The day included individual victories from
Lindsay Chia on beam and
Sherry Wang on bars. Chia not only put up the best all-around score of the day (39.075) but also the best all-around score of her career.
The Bulldogs started on vault, where they had to overcome two falls. Chia and
Raegan Walker were able to put up scores amongst the top four of the meet. Walker vaulted a Yurchenko half, which is known to be difficult because of the blind landing, and posted a strong 9.775. Chia competed the most difficult vault of the rotation with a full-twisting Yurchenko and followed up with a 9.750.
The Bulldogs bounced back quickly with an extremely strong uneven bars rotation, registering the top four scores of the meet and posting their highest team rotation score of the day (48.875). Wang,
Kendal Toy, Walker and
Sarah Wilson posted the top four scores respectively. Wang (9.825) and Toy (9.800) both debuted a high-flying straddled Jaeger while Walker (9.800) and Wilson (9.775) both concluded their routines with strong dismounts -- a double layout and a double tuck, respectively.
The gymnasts followed up with a strong performance on beam, where Chia, Walker and Toy had the top three scores. Chia (9.875) completed a beautiful side aerial to layout full combination. Walker (9.825) executed an artistic routine, stamping her routine off a stuck side aerial to a layout full dismount. Toy (9.800) executed difficult skills like a back handspring layout step out and a sheep jump.
Chia and Toy punctuated the meet with strong floor performances, tying for third overall. Chia (9.775) pulled off 1.5 twisting front layout to a split jump with some modern artistry with her choice of music. Toy (9.775) opened with a strong double pike and front layout to front full.
Overall, Interim Head Coach
Andrew Leis said he was proud of the team's performance and believes it is a great start to the season.
"After having almost two years off from competition, they got off to an amazing start to the season with some big routines today. Our goal is to continue to get better every week," Leis said.
The Bulldogs will compete at Penn State this coming Friday.
