By David F. P.

SPRINGFIELD, MA- Although the team will be back in action at Blake Arena in a few weeks for D3 Nationals, it was the last regular home season meet for the Springfield College Pride and thus Senior Day. Division 1 Yale arrived looking to bounce back from last week at Ivy’s and both teams had reason to smile. The Bulldogs put up a 189.50 and Springfield a season average 182.600.
Read the rest of this entry »

By David F.P.
March 5, 2010 [Gymnastike's Video Coverage I contributed to is posted here.]

BRIDGEPORT, CT- The University of Bridgeport hosted their lone regular season in front of a supportive crowd of fans of all four teams in the the Wheeler Rec Center Friday night. Bridgeport scored a school record 194.200, Towson placed second with a 193.075, their 2nd highest score of the season, Temple came in third with a season high 190.650, and fourth place SCSU scored a season high 190.375 as well. UB was leading Towson going into rotation four, and the Tigers hit some big vaults, including 3 of the top scores on the event that day, but UB held the lead with a floor rotation featuring 4 of the top scores of the meet on that event. This meet featured two ECAC D1 teams and two ECAC D2 teams, plus Temple, SCSU, and UB are also members of the USAG Collegiate nationals division and the post season is approaching in a few weeks.

Read the rest of this entry »

By David F.P.

Apologies for the much shorter than usual previews. Just a matter of time constraints. Anyway, the week ahead for the region’s teams is as follows:

Towson, Temple, Southern Connecticut at Bridgeport
University of Bridgeport, Wheeler Rec Center, 7pm Friday, March 5th.

Towson is currently the ECAC Division 1 champion and their hosts Bridgeport are the reigning D2 champs in the ECAC as well, yet either of these teams could beat the other. Temple is a frequent opponent of each as well. Southern Connecticut is not only a frequent opponent of UB, and a presumed rival, but has also seen their scores rising in past weeks. Putting rankings and scoring aside it’s going to be an exciting meeting between four conference teams. Additionally it will be senior night for UB’s small but talented class of seniors.

Past footage from my contributions to Gymnastike:
SCSU: Feb 21 Feb 20 Feb 6 Jan 24 Jan 16
Bridgeport: Practice from March 3

Brockport, Rutgers at Cornell
Cornell University, Teagle Hall, 1pm Saturday March 6th

The Division 3 leading Brockport Golden Eagles head to take on a fellow instate team in the Ivy Classic Champions themselves. Rutgers meanwhile crosses the border to create a meet of Scarlet vs. Red. Could be a very interesting meet for all the teams involved. Brockport has just this meet before they host ECAC Championships where they hope to win. Cornell and Rutgers meanwhile have plenty of regular season left before their respective postseasons.

Past footage from my contributions to Gymnastike:
Rutgers: Jan 30 Jan 9
Cornell: Ivy Classic

Yale at Springfield
Springfield College, Blake Arena 1pm, Sunday, March 7th

It’ll be senior day at D3 Springfield, but also a day in which Gynecological Cancer awareness is promoted through the Tumble for Teal mantra attached to the meet. On the floor itself, the Yale Bulldogs are coming off an Ivy Classic with it’s highs and lows, and will face a Springfield team participating in their last meet before ECAC Championships the following week. Throwing the question of who wins out the window, each team brings with it an especially exciting floor lineup and both teams should bring a lot of impact to the mat.

Past footage from my contributions to Gymnastike:
Yale: Ivy Classic Feb 20 Feb 13 Feb 6
Springfield: Feb 21 Feb 13 Feb 7

Maryland, Michigan, and Bridgeport at Penn State
Penn State University, 2pm, Sunday March 7th

In a unique meet to say the least, Big Ten rivals Michigan and Penn State will meet up. These two teams, nationally ranked, also lead the northeast region. Maryland and Bridgeport have met before this season with the Terps gaining the upper hand, but this will be the rematch. UMD is capable of making a run at the two Big Ten teams as well based on past scoring. The true winner in this one will be the fans who get to see all of the action.

Past footage from my contributions to Gymnastike:
Bridgeport: Practice from March 3

New Hampshire at George Washington
George Washington University, 2pm, Sunday March 7th
The Wildcats head south the nation’s capital to take on fellow EAGL team GW. These teams will be among those at the EAGL championships at UNH in a few week, but for now the meet is on George Washington’s home turf. UNH has seen their scores drop in the past two road meets and would hope to keep the scoring back up towards their home numbers.

Past footage from my contributions to Gymnastike:
New Hampshire: Feb 12 Jan 24 Jan 9

by David F.P. [Photo Gallery] 2-28-10

PROVIDENCE, RI- The four members of the Ivy League who field Gymnastics team took to the floor this afternoon in the annual Ivy Classic. Coach John Ceralde’s Pennsylvania Quakers, Coach Barbara Tonry’s Yale Bulldogs, and Paul Beckwith’s Cornell Big Red, took on the host team, Sara Carver-Milne’s Brown Bears amidst a good crowd in Brown’s Pizzitola Center, including fans from all four schools, as well as some gentlemen clad in either USA or Canada colors reflecting the hockey game that was to take place after the meet. Even a small group from the Bridgeport gymnastics team (who shared the USAG title with Cornell last year) was in the house. Soon the four teams were marching in and Cornell set out to defend their title.
Read the rest of this entry »

by David F.P.
2-27-10 [Photo Gallery]

TOLLAND, CT- When the University of Connecticut club team started competing, Boston University hosted them in their first competitive meet, and when Sacred Heart’s club team was reactivated after a lull, UConn served to host their return to action. Tri-Town Gymnastics was the scene as a group of parents and spectators gathered around each apparatus as the teams competed for the lone judge in attendance. It was a cozy event, where each team cheered for the other as they competed. UConn began the meet with the customary “UConnnnn Huskies!” chant. The Huskies were clad in blue to match the schools color, and the Pioneers from SHU wore black with red, the color of their school as well. Each team representing schools that have risen to prominence from opposite parts of the state.

The skills varied, the execution varied, but the gymnasts all made their salutes and competed, doing their best and if appearances are any indication having fun in the process. When a landing was stuck the crowd gave an appreciative clap. Each team moved through the events wrapping up on the floor, where a variety of well chosen music selections accompanied each competitor as they flipped and danced along, the floor itself ringed by the spectators.

The problem with saying that these gymnasts do it just for the love of the sport can imply that scholarship athletes at the varsity level have other motives, and who am I to judge? But turning it around, if we assume that all gymnasts do it for the love of the sport, then it is still worthy of note that these gymnasts did not only join their teams, they created them. There may not be the army of fans as one might find at Gampel or the Pitt Center any given night, but there is the appreciation of their teammates and those who made a trip into Tolland on a Saturday afternoon to watch some gymnasts do what they do.

Modest previews for the week ahead.

Maryland at UNH
Bridgeport, Southern Connecticut, William & Mary at Rutgers Preview
Temple, Springfield at West Chester
Ivy Classic

Boston University’s Club Team is set to have a fundraiser Wednesday to raise money to support the trip to nationals. More details are at the club’s facebook event. [External Link]