NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale gymnastics team had a successful home opener Sunday at Lee Amphitheater. In a nail-biting meet, the Bulldogs edged Brown by less than a point, 191.850 to 191.225. Senior
Raegan Walker secured the balance beam title, while junior
Sarah Wilson posted a score of 38.050 in all-around competition.
Yale had a strong start on vault (48.575), the Bulldogs' highest-scoring event of the meet. Almost all gymnasts had a score of above 9.500. First year
Gigi Sabatini emerged as the team's front runner for this event after she nearly stuck her Yurchenko full. She had the highest score on the team (9.825) and the second-highest score in the meet. Wilson was second with a Yurchenko tuck full (9.800).
The uneven bars was the team's second-strongest event (48.450). Walker led the Bulldogs in the event, scoring a 9.825. She was also second in the meet. She had perfect form through her routine, especially with her handstands, and nearly stuck her double layout dismount. Wilson and
Sherry Wang tied for third with a 9.750. Wilson had minor form errors in her transitions but had a great routine overall. Wang also had some form errors in her bail to handstand transition but stuck her difficult full twisting double back dismount.
The balance beam (47.800) challenged the team after the Bulldogs suffered two falls, with only one counting towards their final score. Walker found her confidence on the event once again after a challenging set during the last meet. She won the balance beam title with a 9.750 after a solid routine and a tiny hop on her gainer full dismount. Junior
Emma Mangiacapre tied for third with a solid 9.675 with a solid gainer pike dismount.
Yale ended the meet on the floor, where the Bulldogs suffered three falls (47.025). Wilson and first year
Lauren Holt tied for second with a 9.650. Holt had solid landings on all her passes with only some leg separation on her twisting elements. Wilson also had great landings on her passes with little form errors on her leaps.
Wilson was the lone all-around competitor at the meet and has now won the all-around in each of the first two meets.
Yale returns to competition at the University of North Carolina on Monday, Jan. 23 in a meet that also includes UW-Stout.
