Nelson, Hechtman Win Event Titles, Gymnastics Opens Season at Alaska Anchorage

Friday, January 11

Anchorage, AK

11:00 PM ET

Brown University

University of Alaska Anchorage

Nelson, Hechtman Win Event Titles, Gymnastics Opens Season at Alaska Anchorage

1/12/2019 1:50:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics

Results

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Sophomore Kate Nelson won the bars title, and senior Gabrielle Hechtman tied for the high score on vault as Brown University gymnastics fell to the University of Alaska Anchorage, 192.400 to 186.900, in its season opener on Friday night at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Competing in the first of two meets against the Seawolves on their opening weekend, the Bears are making their first trip to Alaska Anchorage – the alma mater of Brown head coach Sara Carver-Milne – since February 2010.

"We had some strong performances tonight, especially considering that this was our first meet of the season, but also realize that we have a lot of work to do," Carver-Milne said. "We knew that we would have some opening night nerves to work through, and we are looking forward to competing again on Sunday."

Nelson (Montara, Calif.) claimed the bars title with a 9.800 while Hechtman (Bellmore, N.Y.) captured a share of the vault title with a career-high 9.775. Freshman Sophia Petrillo (Stoneham, Mass.) came in second in the all-around with a 35.600, becoming the first Brown gymnast to compete in the all-around since the 2017 season.

As a team, Brown posted a 48.300 on vault, a 47.150 on bars, a 45.875 on beam, and a 45.575 on floor.

Hechtman paced the Bears on vault with her career-best 9.775, tying for first place. Freshman Mei Li Costa (Lawrenceville, N.J.) came in third with a 9.725 while senior Julia Green (Exton, Pa.) posted a 9.650. Nelson added a 9.600, and Petrillo tallied a 9.550.

On bars, Nelson led all performers with her 9.800 while sophomore Emma Hansen (Cincinnati, Ohio) registered a 9.475. Junior Erin Howell (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) and sophomore Caroline Warren (Pawleys Island, S.C.) recorded a 9.450 and 9.425 respectively.

Hansen notched a team-high 9.500 on beam. Seniors Morgan Hagenbuch (Norwich, N.Y.), Cassidy Jung (San Marino, Calif.), and Green each tacked on a 9.150.

On floor, Green scored a team-best 9.500, Hansen tallied a 9.350, and Hagenbuch finished with a 9.150.

Next, Brown concludes its trip to Alaska with another match-up against the Seawolves on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 6:00 p.m. ET.