UB Gymnastics Voted Fifth in GEC Preseason Coaches Poll
Purple Knights coming off their best-ever finish (3rd place) at GECs last year.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – With 26 days remaining until its season-opening meet, the University of Bridgeport's gymnastics team has been picked to finish fifth in the Gymnastics East Conference, according to the GEC's Preseason Coaches Poll released on Tuesday.
The Purple Knights, led by head coach Lorraine Galow, enter the new season with significant momentum after producing one of the most successful campaigns in program history a year ago.
UB is coming off its best-ever finish at the Gymnastics East Conference Championships, placing third overall while posting a team score of 193.150. That total not only led all Division II programs at the meet, but also finished ahead of Division I opponents William & Mary, Cornell and Brown.
Bridgeport's prowess was evident even before the conference championships, as six gymnasts earned All-GEC recognition last season. Four of those honorees return this winter, led by senior Abby Kenney, who earned All-GEC honors in every event in 2025. Juniors Nova Staruk (vault, first team) and Emily Hernandez (vault, second team), along with senior Maggie Coyle (floor, second team), also return after earning all-conference accolades last March.
The postseason success carried over to the national level, where UB finished third at the 2025 Women's Collegiate Gymnastics National Invitational Championship. The Purple Knights recorded a team score of 193.600, their third-highest total of the season, while Kenney, Staruk, Coyle and Hernandez followed up their All-GEC seasons with All-America honors. Kenney highlighted the meet with her best all-around performance of the year, posting a 39.125 during the team finals.
With 21 student-athletes returning from last season's roster, Bridgeport brings back a highly experienced group. The Purple Knights also welcome seven newcomers of five freshmen, a junior and a sophomore, who add depth and balance across all events.
FULL 2025-26 GEC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Penn (63 points, 7 first place votes)
2. Yale (55 points, 1 first place vote)
3T. Brown (41 points)
3T. Cornell (41 points)
5. Bridgeport (34 points)
6. William & Mary (24 points)
7. West Chester (22 points)
8. Southern Connecticut (8 points)
A full season preview for UB Gymnastics will be posted to UBKnights.com in early January.
For all information regarding Bridgeport Athletics, visit www.UBKnights.com and follow UB Athletics on Facebook (UBPurpleKnights), X (@UBPurpleKnights) and Instagram (@UBPurpleKnights).