WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Texas Woman’s University showed exactly why it is the top-ranked Division II program in the country and the 37th-ranked program across all three divisions of the NCAA as the Pioneers outdistanced its three competitors from the ECAC on Sunday afternoon at Sturzebecker Health Science Center on the campus of West Chester University.
TWU posted a score of 191.875 to capture first place at the historic meet, which featured four of the country’s five NCAA Division II women’s gymnastics programs. The quad hosted by West Chester University marked the first time that four of the five DII programs have come together to compete. Southern Connecticut State was runner-up with 184.875 and Bridgeport was third with a 184.625. West Chester rounded out the field with a 170.6.
Seattle Pacific University in the state of Washington is the only other Division II women’s gymnastics program in the NCAA.
“Everybody was pleased with how the weekend went,” WCU first-year head coach Shari Medini said. “We received nothing but positive feedback on the presentation of the meet. It was an honor for West Chester to host such an event.”
TWU produced the most consist scores all around, capturing each event in the process. The Pioneers are annually considered one of the top programs in the country and they showed why on Sunday.
“It was a good opportunity for our team to see that level of competition and witness the potential that is there,” Medini continued.
Malvern, Pa., native Jennifer Liberato placed first in the all-around competition for TWU with a 38.775. She received a 9.825 on the floor exercise, placing first overall in that event, and a 9.775 on the vault to place fourth overall.
“I was very pleased with (Liberato),” TWU head coach Frank Kudlac said. “She took some big steps this weekend. She is our first all-arounder in a long time.”
Kudlac,a 1978 graduate of WCU, was inducted into the school’s athletics hall of fame Saturday night. West Chester University officials worked with TWU on bringing Kudlac back to his alma mater for this occasion over the past few years.
“It’s been three years in the making,” Kudlac explained. “I appreciate all that WCU did to make this happen. I can’t put a price on what this weekend’s experience has meant to me. I am just pleased that I was able to share it with my team and their parents and my former teammates at WCU.”
West Chester’s Colleen Sheehan and Jenna Ciatto placed seventh and eighth, respectively, in the all-around. Sheehan scored a 34.325 and Ciatto a 34.175 for the Golden Rams.