Gymnastics Team Claims Third Consecutive ECAC Division II Title

West Chester, Pa.-The University of Bridgeport women's gymnastics team won its third consecutive ECAC Division II title on Saturday afternoon as the Purple Knights posted a team score of 192.000 to top second place Southern Connecticut State (187.725 points) and third place West Chester University (186.050 points).  Saturday's title also marks the 14th time in school history that UB has won the ECAC Division II crown.

As a team, Bridgeport won all four events at the 2011 ECAC Division II Championship, as a Purple Knight took first place individually in each competition.

Sophomore Monica Mesalles (Barcelona, Spain) continued her top-notch 2011 season on Saturday, as she won the All-Around with a score of 37.750, and she also took first place in the vault (9.850) and on the balance beam (9.825).

On the bars, UB freshman Emily Turik (Crystal Lake, Ill.) and Leah Goldberg (Marlton, N.J.) went one-two, as Turik won the event with a score of 9.800 and Goldberg was second with a score of 9.725.

In the floor exercise, juniors Emily Repko (Gilbertsville, Pa.) and Jessica Watts (Marietta, Ga.) tied for first place with a score of 9.750.  Repko also took second place on the balance beam on Saturday with a score of 9.800, and junior Caroline McAvity (Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada) was third on the beam with a score of 9.625.

Sophomore Natalie Saimeri (East Longmeadow, Mass.) took third on the vault for the Purple Knights with a score of 9.675.

The following members of the Bridgeport gymnastics team received individaul awards at the conculsion of the meet:

Scholar Athlete of the Year - Caroline McAvity
Athlete of the Year - Monica Mesalles
Assistant Coach of the Year - Becky Caravetta
Coach of the Year - Byron Knox