Historic Performance Lifts Gymnastics to Ivy Classic Title

Sunday, February 26

Providence, R.I.

1 p.m.

Brown University

Ivy Classic

Photo by: Chip DeLorenzo

Historic Performance Lifts Gymnastics to Ivy Classic Title

2/26/2023 6:27:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

Complete Results

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Behind the second-highest score in program history, the Brown women's gymnastics team took home its fifth Ivy Classic title on Sunday afternoon at the Pizzitola Sports Center, posting a 195.200 to top league foes Cornell, Penn, and Yale.

Sophomore Julia Bedell took home the Ivy Classic titles on vault and floor, tying the program record on floor (9.925) for the second time in the last three meets. Senior Carolanne Van Zandt took runner-up on floor and freshman Liza Marcus had a huge career-high to take second place on beam. Abby Contello finished third on bars and Maya Davis earned a pair of All-Ivy Classic honors on beam and floor.

The team's total score marks just the second time Brown has topped the 195-point mark, surpassed only by last year's performance (195.975) at the GEC Championships. The Bears also finish the 2023 season a perfect 8-0 at home.

The Ivy title is the program's fifth all-time joining the 1990, 2013, 2014 and 2016 (co) squads.

"We definitely discussed what we thought was a little bit off last week at LIU," head coach Britany Harris said. "We came up with some new cheers in practice and incorporated them into our competition. From start to finish, you could tell the athletes bought in. I preach control our controllables and that's our gymnastics. I told them to fight for everything and have fun, because that's when they are at their best."

Brown gymnasts earned eight All-Ivy Classic honors, with First Teamers finishing in the top three, and gymnasts placing fourth-through-sixth earning Second Team laurels.

FIRST TEAM ALL-IVY CLASSIC
Julia Bedell (Vault, Floor)
Abby Contello (Bars)
Liza Marcus (Beam)
Carolanne Van Zandt (Floor)

SECOND TEAM ALL-IVY CLASSIC
Abby Contello (Vault)
Maya Davis (Beam)
Maya Davis (Floor)

Brown turned in its second highest score of the season on bars to open up the meet, scoring 48.700 on the opening rotation. Contello led Brown in third place by tying her season-high at 9.825, followed by a career-high of 9.750 from Maya Davis and a 9.750 from Ella Poley, both tying for eighth. Lauren McKeown followed at 9.700 and Lauren Lazaro had a 9.675.

Brown followed up by scoring 48.700 on beam, its third-highest total of the season. The top three spots through the first two rotations were separated by just .050 points with Penn in front (97.475), followed by Brown (97.450), Cornell (97.400) and Yale (96.000). Five gymnasts scored 9.700 or higher, led by a career-high of 9.825 from Marcus, who finished runner-up. Davis added a 9.775 to place fourth, followed by Lauren Kramer (9.725) and McKeown (9.725), with McKeown's mark tying a career-high.

On floor, Brown overtook first place overall by posting a 48.850 to hold 146.300 points through three rotations. Bedell won the individual title by tying the school record of 9.925 for the second time in the last three meets. Van Zandt placed second overall at 9.800, followed by Maya Davis in sixth place at 9.750.

Rounding out the meet on vault, Bedell won her second event of the day at 9.800, tying her season and career-high. Contello tied for fourth overall at 9.800 and Kramer set a new personal-best at 9.775.

"This is obviously huge for our team," Harris said. "The goal was to be Ivy champs and to achieve that is fabulous. Next week is a new week and there is still a lot of the season left, so I told them to stay hungry and keep hustling, and working hard. We're starting to peak at the right moment."

Brown will hit the road for its final two regular season meets before the GEC Championships, starting next Sunday, March 5 at Maryland with a quad meet against the Terrapins, New Hampshire and Penn.

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