2008 ECAC D3 championships don’t fail to excite. By David F.P. (Full scores coming later, scores listed are from eyewitness account verified against official results. Note: Springfield College is mentioned in the context of a news report, no endorsement of Springfield College is stated nor implied with regards to any aspect of collegiate athletics. )(A more detailed analysis of scores and moves will be coming later on in the week once scores are all posted.) March 16th, 2008 The eight teams that make up the Division 3 portion of the ECAC conference marched into Springfield College’s Blake Arena proudly to the supporting cheers of a large contingent fans. Each school basically had their own cheering section of committed parents, fans, and alumni. Springfield sounded like they had a larger cheering section, as would be expected from the home crowd, but the other schools kept up with the enthusiasm and noise throughout. Over four hours later, three schools would learn that they were headed to Division 3 National Championships and they would be joined by a variety of individual competitors from the other teams as well. Ursinus would be going by virtue of capturing the ECAC Championship this day with a 187.675. Second was SUNY Brockport with a 187.175, and SUNY Cortland with a 186.750. Cortland, as host of D3 nationals was going to go anyway, but they earned the shot no questions asked with the third place finish. Springfield was close but fourth with a 185.875, MIT had a 185.025, which was a season high for them as they did very well on 3 of 4 events especially. Ithaca came in sixth with a 183.150. The meet built with anticipation throughout, it was obvious the meet was close between the top teams. After one rotation, Brockport had opened on floor with and lead the meet with a 46.775, MIT was in second place after a 46.550 on Beam, the most treacherous of the four events. Ursinus was third with a 46.525 on Bars. Ithaca wasn’t far behind with a 46 on Vault, Cortland was fifth with a 45.425 on Bars, and Springfield sixth with a 44.750 on Beam. Following Rotation 2, Brockport was still in the lead with a combined 93.800 after their vault. Ursinus had jumped into second place, after their beam rotation and picked up a 93.6. MIT’s floor routine kept them at third with a 93.275. Cortland had jumped a place to 92.575 after a Beam appearance. Springfield moved to fourth after their Floor with a 91.950, and Ithaca’s Bars routine had them in sixth with a 90.475. Rotation 3 saw a big shift in the placement, as Ursinus jumped into first with their Floor routine and had a 141.050. MIT’s Vault propelled them back into second with a 140.550. Brockport fell to third, after a bars routine and had a 140.200. Springfield was still in fourth after their Vault rotation. Cortland dropped to fifth after their Floor rotation and had a 139.400. Ithaca was in six with a 135.625 after a Beam rotation. So Rotation 4 would settle it. At this point it was pretty much down to the top five. Interestingly enough, as the rotations had worked out, none of those teams would be on floor in the final rotation, and Brockport had to finish on Beam, with MIT and Springfield on Bars, and Ursinus and Cortland on the Vault. As can be seen by the final results, Ursinus kept the momentum towards first going with their vault routine, Brockport put together a Beam rotation to fly back into second, and Cortland vaulted over MIT and Springfield into third. Springfield held at fourth, and MIT dropped to fifth. If one looks for competition and suspense in a gymnastics meet this one provided it.     As the meet was concluded the senior class of the ECAC was recognized before the crowd as well as all past ECAC D3 gymnasts of the week. Then came the results and award announcements. The ECAC D3 coach of the year is Gary Babjack of Cortland, the rookie of the year is Ithaca’s Kailee Spusta, and the Co-Gymnasts of the year are MIT’s Sophia Harrison, and Briana Morrisey of Ursinus. The top finishers were as follows… In the All Around, Sophia Harrison from MIT finished her last ECAC Championships in style with a 38.275 to win the event. In second by a razor-thin margin was Briana Morrissey from Ursinus. Two of Morrissey’s teammates, Kira Oldham-Curtis with a 38.075, and Olivia Oller with a 37.8 came in fourth and fifth. Julia Zimmerman from MIT was fifth with a 37.725, and Brittany Wiesner from SUNY Cortland placed sixth with a 37.350. On the Vault it would be Zimmerman with the first place honors after posting a 9.750. Lauren Gildemeyer from Brockport was second with her close 9.725. Springfield Jackie Mazzola was third with a 9.75, Amber French from Cortland 4th with a 9.650, Ericca Castagna and Brittany Davis from the home team of SC had 9.6’s to tie for fifth. On the Uneven Bars, it was Harrison with the victory as she put up a 9.625. Ursinus’ Oller and Oldham-Curtis were in close second with 9.6s. Brockport’s Christina Baggetta was fourth with a 9.550, Danielle Chmelewski from Ursinus was fifth with a 9.525, and Nicole Horodyski from Brockport was sixth with a 9.450. Brockport’s Lauren Gildemeyer and Cortland’s Christine Haung’s both won the Balance Beam with their 9.625. Oller from UC and Nikki Visnick from Brockport were third with a 9.6. Cortland’s Wiesner was 5th with a 9.575 and Morrisey from Ursinus had a 9.550. On Floor, it would be Cortland’s French and UC’s Morrissey who both had 9.8s to win first place. Finishing third was Nikki Fisher from Brockport and Harrison from MIT had 9.675. Jenn Najuch from Cortland, Oldham-Curtis from UC, and Zimmerman from MIT had 9.650s for fifth place. Based on their finishes, the following gymnasts from teams that didn’t qualify for nationals have earned a trip. In the All Around, Harrison, Zimmerman, Alexandra Ploenes from SC, and MIT’s Sarah Trowbridge are going. In the Vault Springfield is sending Mazzola, Castagna, Brittany Davis, Jenna Williams, and Jeanna Bradle, and MIT will be sending Alison Barnard. On the Bars, SC’s Bradle, Williams, and Ashley Moreck will be going. Ithaca is sending France Ente, Devon Birek, and Roxanne DeShaies. On the Beam, Ithaca’s Brianne Sullivan, Justine Picciano, and Lauren Ferrone will be going. MIT’s Katie Mingo earned a trip, and SC’s Penelope Bohunko and Brittany Davis will compete on that event. Finally on Floor, IC’s Jessica Oddo, Kailee Spusta, and Sullivan will be at nationals, as well as Bradle, Davis, and Castagna from Springfield. Moves(IDs were difficult given the scope of the event.) (Because I was covering more than one event at once I don't usually have dance routines from the Floor Exercise.) Cortland Uneven bars Routine A Mount unknown, grip change on high bar, aerial high to low, aerial low to high transition, back tuck dismount. Routine B Mounts from front of low bar, over low bar to high bar, aerial high to low transition, aerial low to high transition, grip change on high bar, grip change, grip change, back layout? dismount Routine C Mount unknown, aerial flipping high to low transition, grip change on low bar, aerial low to high transition, grip change...grip change, back tuck dismount. Routine D Mount from in front of low bar, over low bar to high bar, aerial hight o low transition, grip change, tkatchev, back tuck dismount. Routine E Mount from behind high bar, grip change, grip change, aerial high to low transition, aerial low to high transition, grip change into back tuck dismount. Routine F Mount unkown, aerial high to low transition, aerial low to high transition, tkatchev, grip change, back tuck dismount. Cortland Beam Routine A Unknown mount, wolf jump, turning wolf jump, BHS walkout, BHS walkout, switch split leap, straddle jump, back flip, FHS*, pirouette, RO, full twist to side of the beam. Routine B Front flip onto the end of the beam, pirouette, BHS walkout, layout stepout, switch split leap, pike jump...back flip, RO, full twist off end of the beam dismount. Routine C Mount unknown, handstand, handstand split, pirouette, (front layout stepout), (front layout stepout), split jump, wolf jump, switch split leap, turning tuck jump, BHS walkout...(RO, full twist dismount?) Routine D Front flip onto end of the beam mount, pirouette, BHS walkout, back flip, changement, back flip?, switchs plit jump, straddle jump, pike jump, straddle jump, (back full twisting salto dismount?) Routine E Mount to middle of the beam, changement, sheep jump, pirouette, switch split leap, turning tuck jump, BHS walkout, layout stepout, straddle jump, straddle jump, switch into side split, back full twist dismount standing sideways on beam to side of the beam. Routine F Front flip onto the beam mount, straddle jump, turning tuck jump, BHS walkout, back flip, switch split leap, straddle jump, tuck jump with turn, pirouette, BHS walkout, back full twist. Cortland Floor Routine A P1: Front full twist, front tuck. p2: FHS*, front layout, front layout. p3: RO, 1 1/2 twists. Routine B P1: Front full twist?. P2: Front layout, front tuck. P3: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twists. Routine C P1: RO, BHS, 2 1/2 twists. P2: FHS*, full twist, front tuck. P3: FHS*, front layout, front layout. Routine D P1: Front tuck, RO, BHS, double back pike. P2: FHS*, front layout, front layout. P3: RO, BHS, double back tuck. Routine E P1: RO, BHS, double back pike. P2: RO, 1/2 twist, front layout. P3: RO, BHS, double back tuck. Routine F P1: RO, BHS, double back tuck. P2: Front tuck, FHS*, 1 1/2 twist. P3: RO, BHS, 2 1/2 twists. Cortland Vault Routine A Tsukahara, back layout. Routine B Yurchenko, back layout. Routine C FHS, Front Tuck. Routine D FHS, Front Tuck. Routine E (1/4 on?, twist into front tuck?) Routine F (Tsukahara, twisting?) Brockport Floor Routine A P1: RO, BHS, 2 twists. P2: FHS*, front layout, front tuck. P3: FHS*, full twist. Routine B P1: FHS*, 1 1/2 twists. P2: RO, 1/2 twist, front layout. P3: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twists. Routine C P1: RO, BHS, double back tuck. P2: FHS, front layout, front layout. P3: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twist. Routine D P1: FHS*, Front layout, full twist. P2: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twist. P3: FHS*, Front layout. Routine E P1: RO, BHS, double back tuck. P2: FHS*, front layout, front tuck. P3: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twist, front tuck. Routine F P1: RO, BHS, full twist into back tuck. P2: FHS*, full twist. P3: RO, back layout, double back tuck. Brockport Vault Routine A Yurchenko, back tuck. Routine B FHS, front tuck. Routine C Yurchenko, back tuck. Routine D Tsukahara, back layout. Routine E Tsukhara, back pike. Routine F Yurchenko, full twist. Brockport Bars Routine A Mount unknown, aerial low to high transition, aerial high to low transition, grip change on high bar, back dismount tuck after being at handstand position on high bar. Routine B Mount from front of low bar to low bar, grip change, aerial high to low transition, back tuck dismount. Routine C Mount unknown, grip change on high bar, aerial high to low transition, aerial low to high transition, grip change on high bar, back tuck dismount. Routine D Mount unknown, grip change on high bar, aerial high to low transition...back tuck dismount. Routine E Mount from front of low bar to low bar, grip change on high bar, grip change, straddled jaeger, aerial high to low transition...back tuck dismount. Routine F Mount from in front of low bar to low bar, grip change on high bar, aerial high to low transition, aerial low to high transition, front tuck dismount. Brockport Beam Routine A Unknown mount, pike jump, turning split jump, (FHS*), BHS walkout, back flip, pirouette, switch split leap, straddle jump, full twist off end of the beam. Routine B Mount to center of the beam, BHS walkout, (aerial roundoff?), changement, turning split jump, switch split jump, turning straddle jump, gainer full twist off beam. Routine C Mount to the middle of the beam, split jump, turning tuck jump, BHS walkout, back flip, handstand, dance moves at beam level, handstand variant, double stag, turning tuck jump, pirouette, gainer back full twist to side of the beam dismount. Routine D Mount to middle of the beam, dance moves at beam level, (aerial roundoff?), BHS walkout, switch split leap, turning staddle jump, split jump, BHS walkout, straddle jump, turning tuck jump, pirouette, full twist off end of the beam dismount. Routine E Mount to beam, split on the beam, BHS walkout, back flip, switch split into side split?, switch split, pike jump, pirouette, split jump, full twist off end of the beam. Routine F Mount to middle of the beam, RO, layout stepout, pirouette, switch split leap, straddle jump, straddle jump, turning tuck jump, back 1/2 twist from standing sideways on beam to side of the beam dismount. Ithaca Vault Routine A Yurchenko, Back Pike. Routine B Yurchenko, Back Pike. Routine C Tsukahara, (back tuck + 1/2 twist.) Routine D Tsukhara, back pike. Routine E Yurchenko, Back Pike. Routine F Yurchenko, (1/2 twist into front tuck.) Ithaca Bars Routine A Mount from in front of low bar to low bar, aerial low to high transition, grip change, aerial high to low transition, dismount. Routine B Mount from in front of low bar to low bar, (some sort of maneuver which involves sliding over the high bar.), grip change, grip change, aerial high to low transition, back tuck dismount. Routine C Mount unknown...grip change on high bar... Routine D Mount from in front of low bar to low bar, grip change on high bar, aerial high to low transition, grip change, front tuck dismount. Routine E Mount from in front of low bar, aerial low to high transition, grip change, grip change, aerial high to low transition, back tuck dismount. Routine F Mount unknown, aerial high to low transition, gienger, grip change on high bar, back tuck dismount. Ithaca Beam Routine A Mount unknown, BHS walkout, RO, switch split leap, straddle jump, split jump, turning tuck jump, pirouette, split jump, straddle jump, back full twist off end of the beam dismount. Routine B Mount unknown...back layout stepout, back flip, sheep jump, pirouette, FHS?, front full twist off end of the beam dismount. Routine C Mount to middle of the beam, dance moves at beam level...turning straddle jump, cat leap, switch into side split leap, pirouette, front tuck...front full twist off the end of the beam? Routine D Mount to middle of the beam...switch split leap, straddle jump, turning wolf jump, turning tuck jump, FHS*, switch into side split, (back 1/2 twist into back flip dismount.) Routine E stands at side of beam, then leaps off springboard backward straddles the beam, catches beam and holds position for mount, switch split leap, straddle jump, back handspring walkout, layout stepout, pirouette, straddle jump, turning split jump, RO, front 1 1/2 twist off end of the beam. Routine F Mount to middle of the beam, pirouette, (front layout stepout.) BHS?, switch split leap, straddle jump, turning straddle jump, sitting position back into handstand, straddle jump, full front twist off end of the beam dismount. Ithaca Floor Routine A P1: RO, BHS, double back pike. P2: RO, 1 1/2 twist, front tuck. P3: RO, 1 1/2 twist. Routine B P1: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twist, front pike. P2: FHS*, full twist, P3: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twist, front tuck. Routine C P1: FHS*, 1 1/2 twist P2: RO, full twist, full twist. P3: RO, back layout?, 1 1/2 twist. Routine D P1: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twists, front tuck. P2: RO, 1/2 twist, front layout. P3: FHS*, 1 1/2 twists? Routine E P1: RO, 1/2 twist, full twist, front pike. P2: RO, 1/2 twist, front layout, front layout. P3: FHS*, full twist. Routine F P1: FHS*, front layout?, 1 1/2 twist. P2: FHS*, front full twist, front pike. P3: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twist. MIT Beam Routine A Mount to middle of the beam, switch split leap, straddle jump, straddle jump, RO, back flip, pirouette...pike jump, tuck jump with turn...full twist off the end of the beam. Routine B Mount unknown, pirouette, pike jump...BHS walkout, layout stepout, handstand variation...switch split leap, straddle jump, straddle jump, full twist off end of the beam. Routine C Mounts by doing a handstand onto the springboard and then moving backwards into sitting position on beam, back handspring walkout, layout stepout, pirouette...turning split jump, straddle jump, 1/2 twist off end of the beam dismount. Routine D Jump mount to middle of the beam, BHS walkout, layout stepout, pirouette, switch split leap, turning tuck jump, (front flip from sitting position to sitting position.) switch split leap, turning wolf jump, gainer back full twist dismount to side of the beam. Routine E Mount to middle of the beam, switch split leap, turning wolf jump, BHS walkout, layout stepout, turn on one leg, switch split into side split, split jump, turning tuck jump, back pike leap off end of the beam dismount. Routine F Front flip onto end of the beam, pirouette variation, split switch leap, turning split jump, dance moves at beam level, BHS walkout, layout stepout, straddle jump, straddle jump, full twist dismount. MIT Floor Routine A P1: RO, BHS, 2 twists. P2: Front tuck, RO, BHS, full twist. P3: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twists. Routine B P1: RO, BHS, double back tuck. P2: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twist, front tuck. P3: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twist. Routine C P1: RO, BHS, double back pike. P2: FHS*, front layout, front layout. P3: FHS* Full twist. Routine D P1: RO 1 1/2 twist, front tuck. P2: FHS*, 1 1/2 twist. P3: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twist. Routine E P1: RO, BHS, double back pike. P2: FHS*, front layout, front layout. P3: RO, BHS, double back tuck. Routine F P1: RO, BHS, double back pike. P2: Full front twist, front pike, P3: FHS*, front layout, 1/2 twist.   MIT Bars Routine A Mount from behind high bar, aerial high to low transition, aerial low to high transition, 1 1/2 twists dismount. Routine B Mount from in front of low bar to low bar, aerial low to high transition, grip change on high bar...grip change on high bar, aerial high to low transition… back tuck dismount. Routine C Mount unknown, aerial high to low transition, aerial low to high transition, grip change on high bar, back tuck dismount. Routine D Mount from in front of low bar to low bar, gienger, aerial high to low transition, grip change on low bar, back tuck dismount. Routine E Mount from in front of low bar to low bar, aerial low to high transition, aerial high to low transition, grip change on high bar, front tuck dismount. Routine F Mount from middle behind low bar to low bar, aerial low to high transition, grip change on high bar, aerial high to low transition, grip change on high bar, back tuck dismount. MIT Vault Routine A Tsukhara, back pike. Routine B Yurchenko, back pike. Routine C Yurchenko, back pike. Routine D Yurchenko, back layout Routine E FHS, Front tuck. Routine F FHS, Front Pike. Ursinus Bars Routine A gienger, aerial high to low transition, double back tuck. Routine B Mount from front of low bar, over low bar to high bar, grip change, tucked jaeger, back tuck dismount. Routine C Mount unknown, grip change into aerial high to low transition, back tuck dismount. Routine D Mount unknown, grip change on high bar, aerial high to low transition, arial low to high transition, back tuck dismount. Routine E Mount from in front of low bar over low bar to high bar, gienger, aerial high to low transition, grip change on high bar, (1 1/2 twists off high bar dismount.) Routine F Mount from behind high bar to high bar, grip change, grip change, aerial high to low transition, back tuck dismount. Ursinus Beam Routine A Mount to middle of the beam into handstand variation...BHS walkout, back flip...back flip, straddle jump, split jump, turning split jump...straddle jump, (back full twist to side of the beam after standign sideways on the beam.) Routine B Unknown mount, pirouette, (front layout stepout) BHS?, dance moves at beam level, changement...switch split leap, turning split jump, front full twist off end of the beam. Routine C Mount to middle of the beam, pirouette, roll, front flip? (some sort of flip.), pike jump, split jump, back pike off end of the beam. Routine D Mount to middle of the beam, holds self over beam with one hand, (aerial roundoff.), front flip to sitting position, pirouette, switch split leap, turning tuck jump, back pike off end of the beam. Routine E Mount to middle of the beam...back flip, pirouette, switch into side split, jump to beam level, backwards roll, front full twist off end of the beam dismount. Routine F Mount to middle of the beam, BHS walkout, back flip, turning straddle jump, pirouette, switch split leap, RO, 1 1/2 twist off the end of the beam. Ursinus Vault Routine A Tsukhara, back pike. Routine B Tsukhara, back pike. Routine C Tsukhara, back pike. Routine D Tsukhara, back tuck. Routine E FHS, front tuck. Routine F FHS, front tuck. Ursinus Floor Routine A P1: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twists, front layout. P2: RO, 1/2 twist, 1/2 twist. P3: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twist. Routine B P1: FHS*, 1/2 twist, full twist. P2: FHS*, front layout, front layout. P3: FHS*, full twist. Routine C P1: ... some sort of twist. P2: FHS*, front layout, front layout. P3: FHS*, full front twist, front pike. Routine D P1: Front full twist, front tuck. P2: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twists, front tuck. P3: RO, BHS, 1 1/2 twists. Routine E P1: RO, 1 1/2 twists, front layout. P2: FHS*, front layout, 1/2 twist. P3: RO, 1 1/2 twists. Routine F P1: RO, BHS, double back pike. p2: FHS*, full twist, front layout. P3: FHS*, 1 1/2 twist, (I unfortunately don't have scores for 2 of the teams so it will be tough to write on the scoring. )