Gymnastics to Begin 2024 in New Hampshire on Sunday

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The University of Bridgeport's gymnastics team begins its 2024 season on the road this Sunday afternoon (Jan. 14). The Purple Knights are set to compete against the University of New Hampshire and Long Island University on the campus of UNH. 

THE OPENER – UNH's Spread Respect Meet
Bridgeport vs. New Hampshire and LIU | 2 p.m. | Durham, N.H. | Live Results | Video

LAST YEAR
The Purple Knights concluded their 2023 season with a team score of 192.800 and a seventh-place finish at the Gymnastics East Championship. The two weeks prior to that, the squad posted scores of 194.1 (season high) at Southern Connecticut State on March 10 and a 193.475 against those same Owls two days later.

2023 Team Event Highs
Vault- 48.625
Bars- 47.925
Beam- 48.9
Floor- 48.825

RETURNERS TO WATCH via Coach Galow
Sophomore Lola Sepulveda (Woodbridge, Va. / Woodbridge Senior HS) is continuing her career in the all-around. She has a few skill upgrades, specifically on floor and uneven bars that we are excited to consistently see in competition. Last year, Lola was named an NCAA Division II All-Around second-team All-American.

Classmate Abby Kenney (Brick, N.J. / Brick Township Memorial HS) will be debuting a new vault this season, a new release move on the uneven bars and a new skill on balance beam. We are looking forward to seeing her in the all-around as well. Our entire beam lineup will debuting brand new choreography this season.

Senior Hannah Barry (W. Hartford, Conn. / Temple U.) is debuting a new combination on beam, and we are looking to try her out in the anchor spot on beam. Kieran Ross (Reno, Nev. / Rutgers U.) will continue to work to consistently compete her 10.0 start value on vault and she will be debuting two new pieces of floor choreography this season.

We also have a handful of athletes returning from injury. We are looking for sophomore Madelyn Viles (Janesville. Wis. / Craig H.S.) to make her college debut on uneven bars and sophomore Brooklyn Weingardt (Firestone, Colo. / Frederick HS) to make her college debut on beam.

Kenney, Weingardt and Olivia Imbarlina (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon HS) will lead our team as captains for the 2024 season.

NEWCOMERS
The Purple Knights welcome five freshmen and a pair of transfer student-athletes to the program for a total of 24 on the roster. Amongst the newcomers, Nova Staruk (West Boylston, Mass. / West Boylston HS) will be competing on vault and floor exercise, Emily Hernandez (Downey, Calif. / Downey HS) on vault and uneven bars and Samantha Nokes (Austin, Texas / University of New Hampshire) on uneven bars.

MEETS TO WATCH
Feb. 4: at Penn with Cornell
Feb. 11: at Yale with SCSU

These two matchups should provide an early preview of conference championships. The 2024 GEC's will take place at Yale so getting to compete in that same facility should offer some familiarity for the Purple Knights later in the season.

Feb. 19: All-American Challenge at Mohegan Sun vs. Brown, Temple, and West Chester.

The trip to Uncasville will be another glimpse of conference squads. Also, many of the Purple Knights have never had the opportunity to compete on the podium in such a large arena before. It should be a great experience and preparation for postseason competition.

COACHING STAFF
Lorraine Galow ('11 and '14) returns for her third year as the head coach of her alma mater. She had previously served as a long-time assistant at UB from 2011-12 and from 2014-2020. Galow was officially named the head coach of Bridgeport Gymnastics on May 3, 2021.

Galow, an inductee into the Bridgeport Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022, is easily one of the best gymnasts in program history. Her outstanding UB career included winning both the 2013 ECC John Smilie Jr. Award and the 2013 USAG Mari-Rae Soper Spirit of the Sport Award, in addition to being a three-time individual NCAA Division I Regional qualifier. She was also selected as the 2009 and 2010 ECAC Women's Gymnastics Athlete of the Year.

One of Galow's confidants, Mark Sorrentino, is also back for the Purple and White with some accolades of his own. Sorrentino was named the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association's (WCGA) Assistant Coach of the Year for his efforts in 2023.

FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can keep up to date with Bridgeport Gymnastics via their social media channels. You can follow the Purple Knights on both X and Instagram (@UBGymnastics).