The gymnastics team jumped out to a quick start over break but could not sustain the success on a West Coast trip.
On Jan. 13, the team hosted Rhode Island College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in its opening competition of the season. Bruno edged out MIT 178.075-175.100, while RIC finished a distant third with a combined team score of 161.200.
The Bears performed well in all events and distinguished themselves on the bars, sweeping the event. Victoria Zanelli '11 led the charge in her first collegiate competition, posting a score of 9.5. She was followed closely by fellow first-year Vida Rivera '11 and captain Hannah Goldstein '08.
Jennifer Sobuta '09 and Stephanie Albert '10 did double duty, placing second and third on the vault, respectively, and third and second in the floor exercise, respectively.
The team then traveled to Fullerton, Calif., the next weekend to compete against California State University - Fullerton, the University of California - Los Angeles and Wisconsin University - Eau Claire. The Bears finished with a score of 183.025, good for third behind UCLA (196.125) and Cal State - Fullerton (191.025) and in front of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
Again it was Zanelli who had Brown's highest finish in a non-all-around event, with a score of 9.475 on the bars, netting her a team-best ninth place. Sobuta picked up tenth on the balance beam, and Chelsey Binkley '11, Zanelli and Sobuta finished fifth, sixth and seventh in the all-around.
After a return home, the team will be back in action this weekend. Brown will host Bowling Green State University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Bridgeport and West Chester University at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Pizzitola Center.
