ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College gymnastics team turned in its best overall effort of the season and went on to a championship victory in the Harriet Marranca Memorial Invitational at the Hill Center on Saturday evening. The Bombers scored a season-best total of 186.025 and edged Brockport with 185.975. Rhode Island College was third with a score of 172.375 and a gymnast from Wilson College finished with an all-around total of 29.275.

Ithaca posted its highest team score of the season by more than four full points, and scored a tremendous total of 47.225 on the uneven bars, the second-best team score in school history, just .125 shy of the team record set in 2008.

It was the final home gymnastics meet for five Bomber seniors and graduate students – graduate students Tiffany Grube and Christine Niles and seniors Erin Roberts, Chelsea Robie and Katie Sampson.

The Bombers held a one point lead heading into the final rotation over Brockport, and the Golden Eagles competed on vault and totaled an impressive score of 47.450. Ithaca was on the floor exercise and started strongly on that event with Robie posting 9.275, Megan Harrington scoring 9.475 and Emma Duncan with 9.425 through the first three routines. After Sampson scored 8.825 and Valerie Cohen scored 8.925, it came down to Grube, who needed a score of at least 9.375 to give the Bombers the win. She scored 9.4 and the Bombers claimed their first team victory of the season.

Cohen led Ithaca on vault, with a score of 9.475 to place third. Niles was second on uneven bars with a score of 9.575 and Robie was third with a score of 9.525. Harrington placed second on balance beam with a score of 9.225 and Robie was third on beam at 9.2. Sampson placed first in all-around among four competitors with a career-best total of 36.600.

The meet is named for Harriet Marranca, who helped build the foundation for the Ithaca College gymnastics program. Marranca's teams produced a 68-47 dual-meet record and state titles in 1970 and 1981. After retiring from coaching she continued to teach at the school and remained an active supporter of the gymnastics program until her death. Marranca was inducted into Ithaca College's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Bombers wore pink leotards in an effort to raise awareness for breast cancer research. The team also collected cash donations. Gymnasts also donated old leotards that were collected and sent to Left Over Leos where they will be reconditioned and distributed to needy gymnasts. In turn, Left Over Leos will make a donation to the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes.

Complete Meet Results (.pdf)