Results (PDF)
 
ITHACA, N.Y. – The fifth-ranked Ithaca College gymnastics team hit the mid-point of its regular season on Saturday afternoon when the squad made the short trip across town to Cornell University's East Hill for the Big Red Invitational. Although the Bombers turned in the third-highest score in the three-team event, they finished the day with new season high for team score with 189.375 points. The mark shattered the team's previous high of 187.000 recorded during the season opener at Rhode Island College.
 
Division I Cornell posted the high score on the day, as the Big Red celebrated on Senior Day with a 194.000. Cornell registered the high score in three of the four rotations, earning high team marks on vault, uneven bars, and balance beam. Brockport finished second in the team standings, posting a 192.575. The Golden Eagles earned the high mark of the day on floor exercise with a 49.175 as a team. While IC was unable to keep pace with the Big Red and Golden Eagles, Saturday was another encouraging positive step for the Bombers. Ithaca registered new season highs in all four rotations, tallying a 47.350 on vault, 46.825 on bars, 47.125 on balance beam, and 48.075 on floor exercise.
 
Ithaca finished the day with nine Top-10 finishes across the four rotations. Vault featured performances by sophomore Marin Sheridan and junior Baylie Trammell. Sophomore Lauren Hansen, Trammell and sophomore Savannah Gigandet notched the strong performances on bars. Senior Nina Bustamante, as well as juniors Cassidy Marquette and Paige Landes turned in the Top-10 finishes on beam, while senior Victoria Gery paced the Bombers on floor exercise.
 
Ithaca got its day started on the balance beam and for the second straight week set a new season high. Bustamante headlined the afternoon for the Bombers with a new personal high and a season high score for the team. She posted a 9.800 that tied Cornell's Malia Mackey for first-place in the event on the day. The score shattered Bustamante's former career best of 9.750 from last year's Rumble & Tumble Meet against Cortland.
 
Behind the IC senior, Marquette and Landes also marked Top-10 finishes. Marquette improved upon her personal best for a fourth straight performance, registering a 9.675 this time out to place sixth. Landes also marked her season high on the beam, posting a 9.625 to tie for eighth place. Rounding out IC's routines on beam were senior Rachel Lee, sophomore Katie Holcomb, and junior Emily Szembrot. Lee marked a 9.075, Holcomb tallied an 8.950, and Szembrot registered an 8.700 in her season debut.
 
Ithaca jumped into floor exercise in the second rotation and continued to turn in excellent results in the event. The Bombers eclipsed 48.000 for the third time in four competitions this season. Gery was the highlight performer for IC in the event, as she tallied a season-best 9.750 in a 10^th-place finish.
 
Ithaca posted four additional scores of 9.450-or-better. First-year Mackenzie Kennedy and sophomore Alexis Griffin each registered 9.650 scores to tie for 13^th. Trammell posted a 9.575 to tie for 15^th place, while Marquette marked a 9.450 in a 17^th-place effort. Senior Carolyn Nichols posted a 9.050 to finish 18^th.
 
Two Top-10 marks led the way for Ithaca when it wrapped back around to the vault for the third rotation. Sheridan set a new career high with a 9.675 to come in eighth place. Trammell also posted a season high with a 9.625 to finish right behind Sheridan in ninth place.
 
The scoring group in the event behind the two scores above was made up by sophomore Courtney Christoforo, Gery, Marquette and Nichols. Christoforo bounced back from a tough outing last Saturday, carding a career-best 9.500 to finish in 13^th. Gery posted a 9.425 in her first appearance in the vault lineup this season. Marquette and Nichols tied for 17^th, both posting scores of 9.125.
 
Ithaca capped the day on the uneven bars and again received three Top-10 finishes to lead the way. Hansen led the way for IC with a career high 9.625 to tie for fifth-place. Trammell and Gigandet tied for ninth with both gymnasts scoring 9.475 on the afternoon. It was a season-best score for Trammell, while it was a strong debut for Gigandet in her first appearance in the lineup this season.
 
Christoforo, Holcomb and Lee also competed in the event for Ithaca. Christoforo posted a 9.150 to place 14^th. Holcomb registered a 9.100 to come in 15^th, while Lee rounded out the group with an 8.875 to come in 16^th.
 
Ithaca returns to action on Wednesday, February 13, when the team head to SUNY Cortland for a mid-week clash in the third annual Rumble & Tumble Meet in conjunction with both institutions' varsity wrestling programs. Start time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.