It was home sweet home for the gymnastics team this weekend, as it took second place in the Big Red Invitational. With a score of 190.200, Cornell raised the bar and got its highest score of the year, finishing just .35 points behind the meet’s winner, Bridgeport.
“The stands were full of our fans,” said senior captain Molly Parker. “It was the first home meet of the season and we wanted to show Cornell what we are made of. Breaking the 190 mark is always an accomplishment. We know we have room for improvement, but it’s good to know we’re on upswing.”
In its season opener in Maryland, Cornell finished ahead of Bridgeport with 188.025, while the Purple Knights delivered a 187.350. The previous times the two teams had met was in the 2009 national championships, where they tied to both earn a share of the title.
Cornell was able to outperform its other three guests, Towson (188.900), Southern Connecticut State (185.850) and Ithaca College (182.750). Cornell had beaten the Bombers the previous weekend in a dual meet, but has yet to win a multi-team meet this season, finishing second twice.
The story for Cornell, however, was not the loss to Bridgeport, but instead the win against its ECAC rival Towson.
“We’re actually really excited about beating Towson,” Parker said. “This was only the second time in school history we beat them. Especially since they are an ECAC rival and we’re facing them again next week at the Towson Invitation, it’s nice to know we have ability to beat them, too.”
The top performers for the Red were Parker and sophomore Melanie Standridge. Parker won the uneven bars event with a 9.725, while Standridge tied for first on the beam with a 9.800. Junior Emily Santoro added two second-place finishes for Cornell, finishing as the runner-up in the vault and floor.
Original Author: John Forman