The GW gymnastics team celebrated Senior Night with a victories over the University of North Carolina and Yale University Saturday at the Smith Center. The wins snapped a two-meet losing streak for the Colonials. GW won the team competition with a score of 195.575, followed by North Carolina (192.925) and Yale (190.800).

“We pulled it through big time. It was huge,” senior co-captain Lindsey Ferris said. “It was very exciting, especially with it being Senior Night for Darden and I, it was a great experience.”

Junior Devin McCalla led GW by winning the all-around competition with a score of 39.425. McCalla took first in the bars (9.900) and the beam (9.900). She also took first place on the floor exercise by tying the school record with a score of 9.950.

Senior Darden Wilee took second place in the all-around competition (39.000) in her final regular season competition at the Smith Center. Wilee’s performance was highlighted by a third-place finish on the floor exercise (9.850) and a fourth-place finish on the bars (9.825).

As GW bid farewell to a pair of seniors, fans caught a glimpse of the future of GW gymnastics. Sophomore Kacey Coyne won the vault with a 9.85 while freshman teammate Rachel Mann set a personal best on the floor exercise with a 9.875. Junior Jamie McNally took second place on the vault with a score of 9.750, and last week’s Atlantic 10 Perfomer of the Week Jessica Mantak tied for second on the balance beam with a 9.850.

This win was especially important after GW lost its last two meets on the road to Towson University and the University of West Virginia.

“The last two meets we got a little too comfortable with how we were doing,” Wilee said. “We got too relaxed. We came in tonight wanting to really get back on track.”
The team will travel to Gainesville, Fla., for a March 17 meet with North Carolina and the universities of Utah and Florida. GW will also be hosting the A-10 Championships on March 24.