Gymnastics Moves Onto USAG Team Finals

Colorado Springs, Colo.-The University of Bridgeport gymnastics team, in search of its third consecutive USA Gymnastics Collegiate Team Title, took its first step toward that goal on Friday by advancing to Saturday's team finals by virtue of taking first place in its team session on Friday.  UB won Friday's first session at the United State Air Force Academy with 192.775 points.  Seattle Pacific was second with 191.050 points and will join the Purple Knights in Saturday's team final.  Temple was third with a score of 190.750 and Centenary was fourth with 190.475 points.  The Purple Knights took first place in three of four events on Friday afternoon winning the vault, the balance beam and the floor exercise competition.

Sophomore Monica Mesalles (Barcelona, Spain) had an outstanding start to the 2011 USAG Championships taking first place in UB's session in the vault (9.850), in the floor exercise (9.875) and she tied for first on the beam with teammate Emily Repko (Gilbertsville, Pa.) with a score of 9.825.  Mesalles won Friday's first all-around competition with a total 38.575.

In the vault, sophomore Natalie Saimeri (East Longmeadow, Mass.) tied for second place with a score of 9.725, and freshman Kamri Riles (Ellenwood, Ga.) tied for fifth place with a score of 9.675.

Freshman Emily Turik (Crystal Lake, Ill.) was UB's top finisher on the bars tying for third place with a score of 9.625.

Junior Jessica Watts (Marietta, Ga.) tied for third in the floor exercise with a score of 9.775

Gymnasts who finished in the top five in each individual event, including ties, will advance to events finals on Saturday.