USAG Nationals - Session 1 Results
USAG Nationals - Session 2 Results WEST CHESTER, PA

– West Chester University scored a 193.975 to place second out of three schools in Session 2 of the USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championships Friday night inside Hollinger Field House and advance to the team finals on Saturday night.
 
Lindenwood, which finished in first place in Session 2, and West Chester will join Session 1 finalists, Texas Woman's University and the U.S. Air Force Academy, in the team finals Saturday night at 7 p.m. It marks West Chester's first appearance in the finals in four trips to nationals as a team.
 
"I'm so overwhelmed right now," Cordova said afterwards. "It's just amazing. When you compete at home, something definitely kicks in. This isn't our normal gym and our normal equipment. But, something definitely kicks in. The gymnasts are just more comfortable, and there was definitely a great crowd here.
 
West Chester kicked off Session 2 on the uneven bars and posted a 48.35 that ranked as its fourth-best effort of the season. That was exactly the start that head coach Barb Cordova was hoping for as it put the host Golden Rams in second place ahead of Brown University.
 
Jordan Coleman (Bowie, Md.) led the way with a 9.775 while Sarah Eskew (Pittsburgh, Pa.) posted a 9.725. Eskew, competing in the all-around category as well for West Chester placed fifth with a cumulative score of 38.85.
 
West Chester kept the pressure on through the second rotation with its two All-Americans on the beam, Caroline Cascadden (Ashburn, Va.) and Lily McFarland (Baltimore, Md.), posting scores of 9.775 and 9.8 to maintain a two-tenths of a point lead on the Bears.
 
Cascadden continued her special night on the floor exercise with a 9.85 while anchoring that event. West Chester's 48.875 increased the team's lead over Brown heading into the final event of the evening.
 
"This has been a goal of mine since my freshman year," Cascadden said. "Playing at home helped calm the nerves.
 
West Chester put up a 48.175 on the vault while Brown was forced to count a fall on the bars in the final rotation.
 
"We have something we call a 'Ram Bubble' that we try to maintain where we just focus on ourselves," Cascadden said. "But, it was hard not to look over at what (Brown) was doing. I was just really excited we were able to stay in our lane and stay focused."
 
"Vault is not our best event," Cordova commented. "But, bars was being judged hard all day. I was just hoping that would stay the same. It was hard though, staying in our Ram Bubble."
 
The spot in the team finals guarantees West Chester a top four finish – its highest ever at nationals. The Golden Rams also will have one student-athlete in each event on Sunday in the individual finals. Eskew advanced on the vault, Coleman on the uneven bars, McFarland on the balance beam and Cascadden on the floor exercise.

The only national champion crowned on Friday evening was in the all-around category where Fisk University's Morgan Price was the overall winner.

ALL-AROUND FINAL RESULTS

1. Morgan Price – Fisk                        39.225
2. Jaly Jones – Lindenwood               39.15
3. Kyrstin Johnson – Talladega           39.05
4. Maggie Slife – Air Force                 39.025
5. Sarah Eskew – WCU                      38.85
6. Lola Sepulveda – Bridgeport          38.825
7. Clara Wallace _Air Force                38.775
8. Alexa Chuy – Talladega                  38.4
9. Sydney Beers – Cornell                  38.35
10. Ayla McKean – Air Force                37.9
11. Abigail Kenney – Bridgeport           37.8