12-14-2023 4:14am

TU GYMNASTICS

Jeff Barto Editor

TOWSON PICKED FIRST IN 2024 EAGL PRESEASON POLL

The Towson University gymnastics team earned the top spot in the 2024 East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Preseason Poll, announced by the league on Wednesday.

For the first time in program history the Black & Gold were voted to finish atop the league, picking up 21 points and two first place votes. George Washington was the runner up, tallying 18 points and one first place vote. New Hampshire (16 points – one first place vote) was picked to finish third. Temple (12 points – one first place vote) and Long Island University (8 points) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Last season, The Tigers won their first EAGL Championship after earning a final score of 196.500 which is the second highest championship score for the conference recorded.

Towson finished second in EAGL for the 2023 regular season with a National Qualifying Score (NQS) of 196.375, conference record of 3-2-1 and overall record of 26-7-1. The team ranked 31st nationally, qualifying for NCAA Regionals for the third consecutive season.

Following the 2023 campaign, head coach Jay Ramirez and associate head coach Ashley Sauer earned regional coaching honors by the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) for the third straight year. Ramirez was named Southeast Region Coach of the Year while Sauer received the Southeast Region assistant coach of the year title.

Returning for the Tigers this upcoming season are several prominent competitors who have received All-EAGL recognition. Of the upperclassmen Camille Vitoff (vault) and Grace Vaillancourt (bars) earned First Team All-EAGL honors while Steph Macasu (bars), Clara Hong (bars) and Lauren Keener (bars) were named to Second Team All-EAGL. Standout freshmen Polina Belanovski (vault) and Isabella Minervini (bars) picked up First Team All-EAGL honors while Carmella Calafati (floor) was named to second team. Belanovski (vault), Minervini (bars) and Vaillancourt (bars) also qualified as individuals for NCAA Regionals – competing in the second round of the tournament.

The 2024 season officially begins for Towson on January 14th as the Tigers head to Ohio State for a tri meet with Ball State.

The Black & Gold host their home opener at TU Arena on January 26 for a quint meet. Three EAGL members; LIU, George Washington and New Hampshire as well as Cornell will travel to Towson for a 6 p.m. meet.

Season tickets are now available and can be purchased by visiting TowsonTigers.com, clicking here, or by calling 410-704-3331.

WGCA RANKS TU

In anticipation of the 2024 season, the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) has released the results of the preseason poll, as voted by the members of the organization.

The Towson University gymnastics team received 137 points to rank 36th in the poll, projected to make it to the first round of the 2024 NCAA tournament. This is the highest that the Tigers have been ranked in the WCGA preseason poll. In last season's poll the Black & Gold received 142 votes, two behind the 36th spot.

The Tigers are the highest ranked East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) team in this year's poll, ahead of George Washington (32 points), New Hampshire (27 points) and Temple (9 points).

Reigning 2023 NCAA Champions University of Oklahoma was selected first in the poll, collecting 1709 points with 36 first-place votes. Florida followed with 1634 points and three first-place votes while SEC member LSU was ranked third after earning 1628 points and five first-place votes. Utah (1516 points) and UCLA (1499) rounded out the top-5 in the poll.

In total, 10 of Towson's 2024 opponents were listed in the WCGA preseason poll: Denver (10th – 1273 points), Maryland (25th – 548 points), Penn State (28th – 429 points), Western Michigan (33rd – 227 points), West Virginia (34th – 220 points), Ball State (RV - 76 points), George Washington (RV - 32 points), Kent State (RV - 28 points), New Hampshire (RV - 27 points), UPenn (RV - 14 points) and Temple (RV - 9 points).

The Tigers open the 2024 season with a trip to the Midwest, heading to Ohio for a tri meet with Ball State on January 14 at 2 p.m.

Towson's home opener will be on January 26 at 6 p.m., where the Tigers welcome three EAGL members LIU, George Washington and New Hampshire as well as Cornell to TU Arena.

Season tickets are now available and can be purchased by visiting TowsonTigers.com, clicking here, or by calling 410-704-3331.