Women's Gymnastics Opens the 2016 with a 188.9 at Central Michigan

Sunday, January 3

Mount Pleasant, MIch.

1:00 PM

Temple University

188.900

193.425

Central Michigan

Sophomore Sahara Gipson

Women's Gymnastics Opens the 2016 with a 188.9 at Central Michigan

1.3.16 | Women's Gymnastics

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – In its first competition of the season, the Temple women's gymnastics team totaled a 188.9 against the Central Michigan Chippewas. The Chippewas topped the Owls with a team score of 193.425. This is the Owls' highest season-opening score since 2011 when the team opened the season with a 189.625 at the Lindsey Ferris Invitational.

"This team went out and competed to the best of their ability," said head coach Umme Salim-Beasley. "We had some nervous mistakes in the beginning and the girls were still able to finish strong in those routines."

Vault was the most solid event for the Owls with all six competitors hitting their vaults for an event total of 47.675. Sophomore Sahara Gipson led the event with a 9.65, followed by junior Bri Odom who landed an impressive 9.625.
Floor fell closely behind vault with an event total of 47.425. Odom posted the highest score for the Owls, as well as a personal career-best, with a 9.725.

Beam had very strong highlights, with freshman Breahna Wiczkowski and senior Reagan Oliveri both scoring a 9.7 for their efforts. Kerry Arone also hit a strong routine to score a 9.6 that helped the Owls to a total score of 46.975 on the event.

"Our first three up on beam were really solid," said Salim-Beasley. "Breahna started us off with a 9.7 that really set the pace. The routines were aggressive and were done very well."

Bars rounded out the events with a total score of 46.825. Gipson led the team with a 9.55 and was followed by Odom and Michaela Lapent who both logged a score of 9.45.

Arone and Gipson both competed on all four events on Sunday afternoon. Gipson took the top all-around score in her first meet with the Owls, totaling a 37.75. Arone, who competed on only three events in 2015, logged a 37.45 in her first competition as an all-around gymnast.

The Owls return home for a full week of practice before their second meet against Kent State University on Jan. 10.

"We want to build on what we have," said Salim-Beasley. "We had a solid start and the team knows what they are capable of and that we have room for improvement. The best way to get past the nervous energy we had is to get back out and keep competing."