Brown Gymnastics Nipped by Yale in Season Opener

Sunday, January 15

New Haven, Conn.

1 p.m.

Brown University

191.225

191.850

Yale

Photo by: Clarus Multimedia Group

Brown Gymnastics Nipped by Yale in Season Opener

1/15/2023 7:37:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

Complete Results Photo Gallery

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Brown women's gymnastics team was edged by Yale in Sunday's season-opening meet by a score of 191.850-191.225. The Bears' point total is their highest in a season-opener since 2017. Individually, Brown gymnasts won three of four events, including two from sophomore Julia Bedell on vault and floor, and one on bars from junior Asta-Sollilja Farrell in her collegiate debut. Senior Lauren Lazaro added a runner-up finish on beam.

"Overall, this was a great foundation for our first meet of the season," head coach Brittany Harris said following her first meet as Brown's head coach. "I told them we're not expected to go out and win championships today and to just go big on our gymnastics, get used to the competition floor, and handling nerves and we'll build from there. I thought it was a pretty good start."

Brown kicked off the meet on bars where Farrell took first place overall in her first collegiate event with a score of 9.850. Junior Lauren McKeown, Contello and Ella Poley all followed at 9.675 in a three-way tie for fifth.

"From the moment I met Asta to watching her compete today, you could tell that she was determined to be in the bar lineup and has been giving it everything she has," Harris said. "It was nice to watch all of her hard work pay off and super exciting that she got rewarded with a very good score for her first collegiate routine."

Next on vault, Bedell picked up the first of two wins on the day by setting a new career-high at 9.850 to take the gold. Competing on vault for the first time since 2020, Contello set a new career-high of 9.800 to finish tied for third, while freshmen Sophia Dewar and Umi El Mammann both tied for sixth overall in their debuts at 9.725. Junior Angela Xing followed with a score of 9.700.

"On every event, there are always things to improve on, but there were a lot of positive takeaways," Harris said. "You can tell they are motivated and excited by it. And for Julia, it's nice for our returners to come back and watching all the hard work of our preseason pay off when the lights are on and it's time to shine."

Next up on floor, Bedell took home first place for her second win of the meet, posting a 9.700. Sophomore Maya Davis scored a 9.600 to tie for fourth overall.

Rounding out the meet on beam, Lazaro paced the Bears with a 9.700 to finish second overall. Davis also finished on the podium with a 9.675, tying for third overall.

Brown will hit the road for its next meet this coming Saturday, January 21 at Oregon State, where the Bears will square off against OSU, Denver and Sacramento State in a quad meet.

BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the lifeblood of the athletics program, and exists to enhance the student-athlete experience through philanthropic support from alumni, parents, fans and friends. A gift through the Sports Foundation makes an immediate impact on today's Brown Bears and helps them to be their best in the classroom, in competition and most importantly in the community. To learn more about supporting the Bears, please click here.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on Twitter, @BrownU_Bears on Instagram, like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.