Results (PDF) | Highlights
 
CORTLAND, N.Y. – The fourth-ranked Ithaca College gymnastics team hit the road on Wednesday night for the program's third-annual matchup against SUNY Cortland in the Rumble and Tumble Meet, held in conjunction with both institutions' varsity wrestling programs. For the second straight year it was the Bombers that would emerge victorious, as Ithaca outpaced the Red Dragons 189.925-to-187.125. The victory improved Ithaca's mark to 2-0 in dual-meet competition this season and 4-2 against Division III competition on the year.
 
The Bombers performance on Wednesday night continued a trend of steadily improving outings over recent weeks. Coming off a season-high score of 189.375 this past weekend at the Cornell Big Red Invitational, it took IC only four days to eclipse that effort with a new high mark. Ithaca's 189.925 on Wednesday blew past the previous high by over a half point, allowing Ithaca to easily outpace a Cortland outfit that figures to be a challenger in the NCGA East Region down the stretch this season.
 
Paving the way for Ithaca's success was a honed in team focus that was as sharp as we have seen all season. Right from the outset of the evening, the Bombers were in the zone and hitting routines one after another. The confidence clearly seemed to build as the night continued, resulting in season highs team totals in vault (47.425), balance beam (47.625), and floor exercise (48.125).
 
Headlining Ithaca's evening were 11 Top-5 individual finishes among the four rotations, which included first-place individual finishers in three of the four events. One personal record also fell on the night, as junior Cassidy Marquette smashed her previous best with a 9.725 in the vault. However, it was a consistently strong night throughout the lineup the ultimately made the difference in the Bombers most comprehensive outing of the season.
 
The Blue and Gold got its night started on the uneven bars and immediately found a rhythm. Junior Baylie Trammell led the way for IC, carding her best routine of the year with a season-high 9.525 to tie with Cortland's Emily Speciale for first-place on the night.
 
Ithaca also received hitting performances from four other gymnasts, as the Bombers swept the fourth-through-seventh positions in the overall standings. Sophomore Lauren Hansen opened the evening for IC, getting the Bombers off to a strong start with a 9.375 that ultimately was good for fourth-place. Fellow classmates Katie Holcomb and Savannah Gigandet also were quite on-point, posting scores of 9.350 and 9.275, respectively. Senior Rachel Lee also posted her second-best outing of the year with a 9.225 to round out Ithaca's scoring group.
 
The lone routine that was not a hit for the Bombers came from sophomore Courtney Christoforo. The second-year talent and bars ace for IC just barely over shot her signature release move over the top bar, which was the lone major blemish in what was an otherwise excellent routine. Christoforo settled for an 8.850 in a ninth-place finish.
 
The second rotation was where Ithaca really began to gain a little separation from the Red Dragons, as the Bombers put together their best vault run of the year. It was Marquette's personal record that led the way for IC, as she bested her previous best from the season opener with an outstanding 9.725 that was a high score among IC gymnasts this season. Senior Carolyn Nichols ensured that Ithaca would sweep the Top-2 positions, as she tied her best vault of 2019 with another 9.675 on Wednesday. It was another very positive sign for the two-time national qualifier in the event.
 
Rounding out Ithaca's scoring group were sophomore Marin Sheridan, senior Victoria Gery, and junior Baylie Trammell. The trio would secure the sixth-through-eighth positions in the overall standings. Sheridan continued to be extremely steady and consistent, posting a 9.400 to lead that group. Recently jumping back into the vault lineup for the first time this past weekend, Gery backed that outing with another consistent effort, posting a 9.350 to come in seventh. Trammell went for eighth with a 9.275. Christoforo also competed on the night, registering a 9.050 in an 11^th-place showing.
 
The Bombers led 94.175-to-91.975 at the midway change over.
 
Ithaca has held down the top team ranking among Division III programs in floor exercise since the season's opening week. The Bombers showed no signs of slowing down in the event on Wednesday, marking a new season high for team score with a 48.125.
 
It was Ithaca's national-qualifying duo from a season ago that delivered the one-two punch atop the overall standings. Gery and Nichols both tied with Cortland's Emma Schulz atop the standings on the night with all three smashing their respective routines to earn 9.750 scores.
 
Behind the senior duo, first-year Mackenzie Kennedy continued to be a force in the event. She came just short of equaling her personal best from earlier this season, posting a 9.650 to finish fifth. Sophomore Alexis Griffin was right behind IC's rookie, tying Cortland's Kamryn Rodriguez for sixth with a 9.600. Trammell and Marquette capped the scoring group, each posting 9.375 scores to tie with each other for 10^th.
 
Ithaca cemented its victory with its second straight phenomenal run on balance beam. IC surpassed the 47.000-threshold for the second time over the past four days, carding a 47.625 that was a full half point better than this past weekend at Cornell.
 
Beam ace, Katie Holcomb, led the way for IC with another classically technical performance by the second-year standout. She marked a new season high with a 9.750 that was good for second-place on the night. Right behind her was senior Rachel Lee who easily turned in her best routine of the season. She posted a 9.725 that was just .05 shy of her personal best from her All-America rookie season. She would finish in third place.
 
Junior Paige Landes continued to showcase the talent and consistency that had her ranked among the nation's best in the event a season ago. She posted a 9.525, her third straight outing reaching the 9.500-threshold, in a fifth-place showing. Classmate Emily Szembrot bounced back from a tough debut on the beam this past Saturday with a strong effort on Wednesday. She registered a 9.475 to come in seventh. Senior Nina Bustamante and junior Casside Marquette rounded out the lineup, scoring 9.150 and 8.875, respectively.
 
Ithaca returns to action this coming Sunday, February 17, when the Bombers travel to Springfield College for an 11:00 a.m. meet.