Purple Knights Take 2012 ECAC Division II Gymnastics Title

New Haven, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport women's gymnastics team won its fourth consecutive ECAC Division II title on Saturday afternoon as the Purple Knights posted a team score of 195.475 to best second place Southern Connecticut State (191.175 points) and third place West Chester University (188.775 points).  Saturday's title also marks the 15th time in school history that UB has won the ECAC Division II crown.

As a team, Bridgeport won all four events at the 2012 ECAC Division II Championship, as a Purple Knight took first place individually in each competition, and Bridgeport had at least three of top finishers in those events.

Junior Monica Mesalles Sallares (Barcelona, Spain) continued her top-notch 2012 season on Saturday, as she won the All-Around with a score of 39.250.  Monica won the vault with a score of 9.990, and she was part of a four-way tie for first place in the floor exercise (9.990).  On the bars, Mesalles took second place (9.725), plus she tied for third on the beam at 9.725.

Freshman Sasha Tsikhanovich (Marysville, Ohio) won the beam with a score of 9.990, and she took third on the bars at 9.650.

Sophomore Emily Turik (Crystal Lake, Ill.) grabbed first place on the bars with a score of 9.775.

Joining Mesalles Sallares in the four-way tie for first place in the floor exercise at 9.990 were senior Emily Repko (Gilbertsville, Pa.) and freshman Caitlin Perry (N. Kingston, R.I.).

Repko also took second place on the beam with a score of 9.800.

On the vault, UB took the top four places as following Mesalles Sallares' first place finish were sophomore Kamri Riles (Ellenwood, Ga.) in second (9.825), junior Natalie Saimeri (East Longmeadow, Mass.) in third and Caitlin Perry in fourth (9.775).

The following members of the Bridgeport gymnastics team received individual awards at the conclusion of the meet:

Gymnast of the Year:  Monica Mesalles Sallares
Rookie of the Year:  Sasha Tsikhanovich