Senior Candy Kowalik was named National Collegiate Gymnastics Association All-Around Gymnast of the Week after she posted two first place finishes on the vault and the beam and set a new personal high in the All-Around with 38.350 points. That led Brockport to a 189.050-185.975-178.250 win over previously third ranked Ithaca College and Rhode Island College respectively. Brockport remains ranked second in the nation behind only the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Kowalik scored above her season average in winning the balance beam with 9.700 with teammate Alexis Castellaneta taking third with 9.600. The Rhode Island native Kowalik also tied for first with Golden Eagles freshman Nicole Jackson on the vault with 9.700.
“This was a good measure to see where we are and … overall we’ve improved week-by-week, so it was a good showing,” Kowalik said. “I’ve honestly been having a little bit of difficulty (on the beam), but today was definitely a good showing for me – I felt a lot more confident and it felt like a good routine, so I’m very happy with it.”
Brockport junior Kimberly Musall finished first in the floor exercise with 9.750 points while Kowalik and fellow seniors Stephanie Mager and Taylor Keough finished in a four-way tie for second with 9.700.
Sophomore Rachel Doll took top honors on the uneven bars with 9.475 points with Keough and junior Courtney Kamberalis in a three-way tie for second with 9.375.
“Three events, yes but I can’t figure out the balance beam right now,” Brockport head coach John Feeney said. “We fixed vaulting and floor and bars are doing okay, we just need to figure out the beam and I have to go back to the drawing board. We’re averaging two points below last year (among our top four). We have work to do.”
Brockport has finished among the top-four in the nation in each of the last 11 seasons with one national championship. They will honor their eight seniors February 16 after their “Stick it to Cancer” meet with Cortland, raising funds for Golisano Children’s Hospital.
