Gymnastics Introduces Three Student-Athletes in Class of 2022
7/19/2018 10:57:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown University gymnastics will welcome three student-athletes to the program for the 2018-19 season as part of the Class of 2022, head coach Sara Carver-Milne announced on Thursday.
The class comprises one gymnast each from Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Michigan. The Bears' Class of 2022 includes Mei Li Costa (Lawrenceville, N.J.), Sophia Petrillo (Stoneham, Mass.), and Abby Walsh (White Lake, Mich.).
Mei Li Costa
Hometown: Lawrenceville, N.J.
High School: Lawrence
Club: Arena Gymnastics
Prep Accolades: Qualified for the Junior Olympic Nationals in 2016 and 2017 … Placed ninth in the all-around at the 2016 Junior Olympics … Won all-around state titles in 2015, 2016, and 2017 … Competed on the club level for Arena Gymnastics … Performed for coaches Ann and Valdi Kolasa … National Honor Society student.
Why Brown? "It gives a good balance of athletics and academics, and it lets me find my own way through my education with the open curriculum. The environment felt very welcoming and inclusive so I could see myself growing as a person at Brown."
Sophia Petrillo
Hometown: Stoneham, Mass.
High School: Lexington Christian Academy
Club: Brestyan's American Gymnastics Club
Prep Accolades: Qualified for the Junior Olympic National Championships in 2015, 2016, and 2018 … Advanced to the Regional Championships seven straight times … Placed second in the all-around at the 2018 Regional Championships … Won the beam title and came in second in the all-around and bars at the 2018 State Championships … Took bronze on bars at the 2017 Regional Championships … Came in second in the all-around at the 2017 State Championships … Performed for coaches Mihai and Silvia Brestyan at Brestyan's American Gymnastics Club … High honor roll and National Honor Society student … Graduated as high school's salutatorian.
Why Brown? "At Brown, I can be a student, directing my own academic journey and pursuing the area of study that I find most intriguing with the open curriculum, and at the same time, an athlete, competing in Division I athletics alongside a team of motivated and talented individuals. Being a student-athlete at Brown allows me to have the same experience of participating in Division I gymnastics as athletes at larger universities while still receiving the outstanding education for which the university is so commonly celebrated. Brown provides me with the opportunity to fulfill my childhood dreams of being a collegiate athlete while simultaneously setting me up to succeed in my future endeavors in the workplace, something that very few universities in the country can offer."
Abby Walsh
Hometown: White Lake, Mich.
High School: International Academy
Club: Olympia Gymnastics Academy
Prep Accolades: Qualified for the Level 10 Region 5 Championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018 … Won the all-around at the Atlanta Centennial Classic as a senior … Finished fifth in the all-around at the 2016 State Championships … Began competing as a Level 10 gymnast in 2016 … Competed on the club level at Olympia Gymnastics Academy … Performed for coaches Lori Koch and Deanna Sigler … National Honor Society and honor roll student.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because I loved the small campus and all of the people that I met when I visited. I also love the open curriculum because I know that I can find exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life. The main reason that I chose Brown was because it allowed me to continue my athletic and academic careers."
The class comprises one gymnast each from Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Michigan. The Bears' Class of 2022 includes Mei Li Costa (Lawrenceville, N.J.), Sophia Petrillo (Stoneham, Mass.), and Abby Walsh (White Lake, Mich.).
Mei Li Costa
Hometown: Lawrenceville, N.J.
High School: Lawrence
Club: Arena Gymnastics
Prep Accolades: Qualified for the Junior Olympic Nationals in 2016 and 2017 … Placed ninth in the all-around at the 2016 Junior Olympics … Won all-around state titles in 2015, 2016, and 2017 … Competed on the club level for Arena Gymnastics … Performed for coaches Ann and Valdi Kolasa … National Honor Society student.
Why Brown? "It gives a good balance of athletics and academics, and it lets me find my own way through my education with the open curriculum. The environment felt very welcoming and inclusive so I could see myself growing as a person at Brown."
Sophia Petrillo
Hometown: Stoneham, Mass.
High School: Lexington Christian Academy
Club: Brestyan's American Gymnastics Club
Prep Accolades: Qualified for the Junior Olympic National Championships in 2015, 2016, and 2018 … Advanced to the Regional Championships seven straight times … Placed second in the all-around at the 2018 Regional Championships … Won the beam title and came in second in the all-around and bars at the 2018 State Championships … Took bronze on bars at the 2017 Regional Championships … Came in second in the all-around at the 2017 State Championships … Performed for coaches Mihai and Silvia Brestyan at Brestyan's American Gymnastics Club … High honor roll and National Honor Society student … Graduated as high school's salutatorian.
Why Brown? "At Brown, I can be a student, directing my own academic journey and pursuing the area of study that I find most intriguing with the open curriculum, and at the same time, an athlete, competing in Division I athletics alongside a team of motivated and talented individuals. Being a student-athlete at Brown allows me to have the same experience of participating in Division I gymnastics as athletes at larger universities while still receiving the outstanding education for which the university is so commonly celebrated. Brown provides me with the opportunity to fulfill my childhood dreams of being a collegiate athlete while simultaneously setting me up to succeed in my future endeavors in the workplace, something that very few universities in the country can offer."
Abby Walsh
Hometown: White Lake, Mich.
High School: International Academy
Club: Olympia Gymnastics Academy
Prep Accolades: Qualified for the Level 10 Region 5 Championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018 … Won the all-around at the Atlanta Centennial Classic as a senior … Finished fifth in the all-around at the 2016 State Championships … Began competing as a Level 10 gymnast in 2016 … Competed on the club level at Olympia Gymnastics Academy … Performed for coaches Lori Koch and Deanna Sigler … National Honor Society and honor roll student.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because I loved the small campus and all of the people that I met when I visited. I also love the open curriculum because I know that I can find exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life. The main reason that I chose Brown was because it allowed me to continue my athletic and academic careers."
Brown University 50th Anniversary Event Recap
Friday, April 11
Maya Davis- NCAA Regional Feature
Friday, April 04
Gymnastics Tri-Meet Recap - March 2, 2025
Friday, March 07
Brown Gymnastics at 2025 Ivy Classic
Friday, February 28
