NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale gymnastics team paid fitting tribute to legends Barbara and Don Tonry Sunday afternoon at Lee Amphitheater. The Bulldogs earned their second-highest score of the season (194.075) and finished first at the Tonry Invitational against Southern Connecticut State University (192.275) and the University of Bridgeport (191.325).
Oren Aviad and
Gigi Sabatini had the best scores on vault for Yale and placed second in the competition with a 9.725. Aviad had a solid Yurchenko 0.5 layout vault while Sabatini had a powerful Yurchenko full twist. The rest of the team had a solid set with only one major mistake to get a 48.425.
The uneven bars were the team's strongest event (48.675).
Raegan Walker and
Sherry Wang stood out. Walker had a solid routine with perfect handstands, punctuated by a stick on her difficult double layout dismount. Wang also stuck her difficult full twisting double back dismount.
The balance beam (48.550) was the second-strongest event for the Bulldogs.
Emma Mangiacapre continued her strong performances on the beam as she again scored the highest on the team (9.800). Sabatini and
Riley Meeks tied for fifth with a 9.750.
Yale also had a solid set on floor exercise with only one major mistake (48.425).
Hana Strause has consistently stood out on floor this season. She nailed her signature tumbling pass 2.5 twist to punch front. After a great routine, she scored a 9.800 to take first. Meeks followed closely with a 9.775. She had flawless landings, with the double pike as her highlight.
Yale will face George Washington University on Friday in D.C.
