The Cornell women’s gymnastics team tied for third place with Brown at the Ivy Championships on Saturday and came home with a new all time high overall score of 189.475. With the team not operating at full strength, this was quite an accomplishment.
Sophomore co-captain Abby Vedder, the team’s only All-American, missed out on both the beam and the floor exercise, her best events, and could only compete on the bars. Three of her teammates suffered from flu-like symptoms, but competed to the best of their ability.
Even with this handicap, the team couldn’t be happier with the results. “This is the best meet we’ve ever had,” said head coach Paul Beckwith.
Host Yale won the event with a score of 193.250, followed by Penn, who scored a 190.475.
For many on the team, this was their first Ivy Classic meet, and they performed exceptionally well.
Freshman Stephanie Daehler, standing in Vedder led the way for the Red, setting a new Cornell record in the all-around by placing seventh, with a score of 38.175.
Freshman Denise Hurd led Cornell in the vault with a score of 9.650, a new school record. Sophomore Shannon Weisman scored a 9.700 both on the floor and beam, leading the way for the Red in both events.
“I couldn’t be more pleased,” said Beckwith of the way his rookies handled themselves under the pressure of their first Ivy Championships. “Everyone came through.”
Coach Beckwith has only praise for his team, and can only see better things to come.
“This is the most cohesive team we’ve ever had here at Cornell. Everyone is doing their job, and doing it well. No matter what the outcome is, we always have a good time.”
With home field advantage on its side, the women’s gymnastics team is looking to rise to the occasion, and walk away with first place at the ECAC championships.
Archived article by Tammy Fang