ITHACA, N.Y. -- An emotional final home meet of the season turned into a historic one for the Cornell gymnastics team on Sunday, as the team earned a 195.025 - 188.225 victory over Centenary College from Newman Arena. Alongside the victory, its score bested the previous program record (195.000) from the 2018 USAG Collegiate National Semifinals held in Denton, Texas and the highest team score of the season for the Big Red.

Cornell kicked off its first rotation with a 48.725 on vault. Sydney Beers led the way for the Big Red, earning first overall with a 9.875 as the anchor in the lineup. The junior was followed closely by a 9.725 each from sophomore Michaela DeFrancisco and freshman Avery Byun to tie a tie for silver. Addy Rothstein and Cami Whitaker closed out the qualifying scorers for the Big Red, earning a 9.700 to earn a tie for fourth. Calista Brady also exhibitioned in her final career home meet for Cornell, scoring 9.125.

Shifting to the second rotation, the Big Red were ahead by 1.100. But Cornell would turn up the heat on uneven bars, tying its season-best in the event (48.600). Multiple season and career bests happened throughout the rotation. Freshman Natalia Tehrani set the standard in the event, taking home the individual title with a career-high 9.800. Beers followed right behind Tehrani, notching a season-best 9.775 to earn a tie for second with Centenary's Sophie Schmitz. Melanie Stone also pulled out all the stops in the final home meet of her Big Red career with a career-high 9.750 to finish fourth overall. Morgen Shambo (9.700) and Moylan (9.550) closed the qualifying scores for the Big Red, finishing fifth and seventh. Cornell also extended its team lead, jumping ahead 145.950 - 141.275 heading into the third rotation.

With a 4.675 cushion, Cornell looked to continue to feed off the crowd rolling onto beam. And the team delivered, netting a 48.625 for its eighth team score of 48.000 or better. Sophomore Mikayla Burton continued to make moves, besting her previous career best set at the Empire State Collegiate Championships by putting together a 9.900 to grab the individual crown. Alongside the career mark, Burton now sits second with Kaitlin Green and Melanie Standridge for the highest beam score in program history. Burton would not be alone on the podium, as senior captain Regina Walton grabbed second overall (9.775), and Beers earned a tie for third with Centenary's Rylie Molina. Natalia Tehrani (9.725) and Alexandra Quiana (9.475) closed out the rotation scores for the Big Red. Eva Phair also exhibitioned on beam for the final time in Newman Arena, scoring a 9.350. 

Sliding into the final rotation on floor, a score of 49.055 or better would be the mark it needed to set a new program standard. Rothstein started the rotation with a career-best 9.800, followed by another 9.800 from Whitaker. Moylan and Quiana hit the floor next, using the roar of the Big Red crowd to score 9.825 and 9.750. Beers continued her trend of top scores with her 9.875 to snag the individual title as the fifth gymnast to go. Caitlyn Walsh closed out the rotation for the Big Red with her seventh score of 9.700 or better in her final meet in Newman Arena (9.775). Two seniors also exhibitioned in their final floor routine in Ithaca in Calista Brady (9.675) and Adabelle Wright (9.000).

With the scorers hanging in the balance, Cornell honored its eight seniors and their four years of dedication inside the classroom and in the gym. And with the anticipation at an all-time high, the crowd roared in approval when the scores flashed as the Big Red clinched a new program record and a victory in its final home meet of the 2024 season.

UP NEXT
The Big Red will close out its dual meet schedule with a road trip to West Chester, Pa., battling the Golden Rams on Friday, March 15, at 11 a.m. It will also be the last tune-up for Cornell before the 2024 Gymnastics East Conference Championships hosted by Yale on Saturday, March 23