Gymnastics Sets School Record on Beam in Dual Victory over SCSU

Sunday, February 5

Providence, R.I.

1 p.m.

Brown University

194.775

192.500

Southern Connecticut State

Photo by: Emma C. Marion

Gymnastics Sets School Record on Beam in Dual Victory over SCSU

2/5/2023 4:28:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

Complete Results Season Stats

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Brown women's gymnastics team set a new school record on beam and totaled the fourth-highest team score in program history in a dual meet victory over Southern Connecticut State on Sunday at the Pizzitola Sports Center. Overall, the Bears topped SCSU 194.775-192.500, which was a season-high total for the Owls.

Brown put up a score of 48.925 on beam, surpassing the previous school benchmark of 48.900 from 2013 and 2018. Four of the team's six gymnasts who competed on the event set career-highs.

The team's all-around score of 194.775 ranks as the fourth-highest in program history and the highest score ever for the program in a regular season meet. The only three marks higher in school history were all scored at either the GEC Championships (2022) or USAG Nationals (2016 and 2022).

"I feel like what's really helping everyone is we are having fun and doing what we love," head coach Brittany Harris said. "You get to do all of this with a team that truly cares about you because you are their family. It's all paying off. You're supposed to do your best when you have fun and I love where we're at, and can't wait to see where we will continue to go."

Individually, senior Abby Contello won on bars, took third on vault, and set a career-high on beam. Sophomore Julia Bedell won on vault, and helped Brown sweep the top three spots on floor, where senior Carolanne Van Zandt won the event by tying her career-high, and sophomore Maya Davis took second.

"Abby has been a rock for this team," Harris said. "She practices extremely hard and has an attention to detail which makes such a big difference being a captain and a senior she is really building upon what she has done though her career."

Brown opened the meet with a 48.350 on vault to hold the lead over SCSU, who posted a 47.450 on bars on their opening rotation. Bedell anchored for the Bears and took gold at 9.775. Contello was next for Brown in third place with a score of 9.725, and Lauren Kramer followed with a season-high 9.650.

Brown set a season-high on bars for the third straight meet with a score of 48.725 with Contello winning the event at 9.800, tying her season-high. Asta-Sollilja Farrell and Paige Richter (season-high) tied for third overall at 9.750. Senior Ella Poley followed with a score of 9.725, junior Lauren McKeown posted a 9.700 and senior Jasmine Lee, making her season-debut, led off with a 9.625, all season-highs.

In the school record performance on beam, four of Brown's six gymnasts all set career-highs on the event. Brown was led by a season-high 9.825 from junior Angela Xing, who tied for second overall. The next four Bears all set career-highs with Maya Davis (9.800), Contello (9.775), Kramer (9.775) and Liza Marcus (9.750) all turning in solid performances.

In addition, McKeown exhibitioned on beam for Brown, posting a 9.725.

"I feel like we're applying what we do in practice with our calm confidence and in the meet, they are focused in on each skill and each routine and just building off of each other's confidence, which is exciting to see, Harris said."

Rounding out the meet on floor, Bruno set a season-high once again with a final tally of 48.775. Van Zandt tied her career-high at 9.875 to take first place overall and lead a clean sweep of the podium for Brown. Davis and Bedell tied for second place 9.800 at 9.800, with Ella Poley setting a career-high at 9.675.

"Each week we set our weekly goals and what we're going to focus on in each event," Harris said. "We don't have to drastically change everything in our routine but just focus on how we can change one little ting. I think that's been the key tour recent success and we're just staying humble and building upon each meet to try and get better and better."

The Bears will next compete one week from today, Sunday, February 12 when they will host Springfield College for the annual Senior Meet. Start time is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

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