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GW Gymnastics 2018 season in review

The George Washington gymnastics team has stormed into the national conversation as one of the most dangerous teams in both the Southeast Region and the national picture, and this season was no exception. The Colonials capped 2018 by returning to the national stage for the fourth consecutive year, and 14th time in program history, to compete at the NCAA Raleigh Regional on April 7. Along with their regionals appearance, the Buff and Blue hit new milestones, broke program records, and boasted top ranks in both the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) and NCAA. Scroll down for a closer look at the Colonials’ successful season of competition.

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In front of a sold out crowd, the Colonials opened their season at the University of Kentucky, where senior co-captain Cami Drouin-Allaire kick started her final year at the top of the all-around podium with a score of 39.100. The Shoreham, New York, native went on to grab her first EAGL Gymnast of the Week honor of the season and went on to win four of the conference’s top weekly honor by the end of 2018.

GW then opened its home slate on January 14 and captured its sixth consecutive title at the 11th Annual Lindsey Ferris Invitational behind strong team performances on all four events. The Colonials finished first in each event while also capturing every individual title to propel them to victory in their home opener.

After a stellar performance at the Lindsey Ferris Invitational, senior co-captain Jillian Winstanley was tabbed as the EAGL Gymnast of the Week. The finance major went on to win three EAGL Gymnast of the Week honors in 2018, after surpassing her season-high score in the all-around and later setting the bar in EAGL with a then-league-high 39.525 at GW’s Annual Pink meet.

Jillian Winstanley

The Buff and Blue continued on their upward trajectory in January, posting back-to-back wins at West Virginia (195.575) and UNH (196.175). At West Virginia, senior Alex Zois broke the 39.000 threshold in the all-around for the first time in her career (39.125), while fellow-senior Sara Mermelstein tied for third on floor with a season-high 9.850. Senior Brooke Bray also posted a personal-best at West Virginia, finishing with a 9.775 on balance beam.

Alex Zois (top), Sara Mermelstein (bottom left), Brook Bray (bottom right)

GW went on to crack the 196.000 threshold for the second consecutive meet with a first place finish at its annual Pink Meet on February 4. The Colonials totaled a then-season-high 196.525 to top Kent State (195.325), William & Mary (193.255), and UW-Oshkosh (190.975). Winstanley finished the day atop the all-around podium with a season-high 39.525, while freshman Rachel Kaplan reached her own milestone with a season-high 9.800 on uneven bars.

After finishing first in four consecutive meets, the Colonials put their success to the test when they began their season-long stretch of four straight road meets, starting with Winterfest Weekend at Denver. Against then-No. 12 Denver and then-No.27 West Virginia, GW totaled 195.900 to finish the day in second place. Drouin-Allaire and Winstanley took second and third place in the all-around, respectively, while Zois surpassed her season-high in the all-around for the second week in a row, topping her previous score of 39.200 by .025.

Alex Zois

GW continued its road trip the next weekend by competing at the Gym Quarters Invitational in St. Charles, Missouri. The meet featured top-ranked LSU, Arkansas, and Mizzou and was contested on podium, an elevated competition floor similar to that seen at the NCAA Gymnastics National Championships. The Colonials went on to upset then No. 8-Arkansas with a 195.650. GW had its best event of the night on vault, posting a season-high score of 49.250. Drouin-Allaire scored a team-high 9.925, Winstanley followed closely behind with a 9.900, Liz Pfeiler posted a 9.875, and Zois earned a 9.825.

Cami Drouin-Allaire

The Colonials wrapped up their road swing with back-to-back wins at Penn State (196.150) and Towson (196.300). At Penn State, a trio of seniors hit season-highs, with Drouin-Allaire earning a 9.950 on floor, Pfeiler scoring a 9.925 on balance beam, and Winstanley finishing with a 9.875 on floor. In her bars debut at Towson, freshman Hannah Cohen earned a 9.825, while Winstanley posted a personal-best 9.925 on vault.

Liz Pfeiler (top), Hannah Cohen (bottom)

In its return to the Charles E. Smith Center for the first time in over a month, GW hit season-highs on bars (49.175) and beam (49.275) to finish first (196.825) at its Brownie & Girl Scout meet. In the all-around, Drouin-Allaire broke her career-high for the third-straight meet with a conference-high 39.600, an all-around score that ranks second in program history. The Shoreham, New York, native finished the day on the podium in all four events.

Cohen, junior Julia McLaughlin, and freshman Anna Warhol also had strong days for the Buff and Blue on bars, with Cohen earning a season-high 9.775, McLaughlin posting a career-high 9.800, and Warhol scoring a personal-best 9.800 in her bars debut.

Julia McLaughin (top), Hannah Cohen (bottom left), Anna Warhol (bottom right)

In its final day of competition in the Smith Center, the Colonials capped their 2018 home slate by tying their program record 196.875 to finish in first place in a celebratory Senior Day Meet. GW’s season-high performance came behind team scores of 49.200 on vault, 49.025 on uneven bars, 49.275 on balance beam, and a season-high 49.375 on floor exercise.

In the all-around, a trio of Colonials seniors swept the podium. Drouin-Allaire finished first with 39.475, Zois took second with a career-high 39.400, and Winstanley finished third with 39.350 to join her classmates on the podium. Mermelstein, Pfeiler, and Seibold also posted season-highs during their last performance in the Smith Center. Mermelstein earned a 9.875 on balance beam, Pfeiler scored a 9.875 on vault, and Madeline Seibold posted a then-career-high 9.900 on floor.

With the Senior Day victory, GW also improved to 40-1 in the Smith Center, dating back to the 2015 season.

In their final meet of the regular season, the Colonials had a season-high matching performance on balance beam (49.275), but finished second at Kent State. In the all-around, Winstanley eclipsed the 39.000 threshold for the 10th time in 2018 with a 39.375, while Seibold surpassed her career-high on floor for the second-straight week with a 9.925 and Pfeiler matched her career-high with a 9.925 on balance beam.

Madeline Seibold (top), Liz Pfeiler (bottom left), Jillian Winstanley (bottom right)

Leading up to EAGL Championships, 14 Colonials were recognized for their academic endeavors outside the gym and were named to the 2018 EAGL Scholastic Team. In order to be honored as an All-EAGL Scholastic Team member, a gymnast must have maintained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or above.

Later that week, six gymnasts were selected to All-EAGL Teams. The senior duo of Winstanley and Drouin-Allaire each earned a team-high five selections apiece with Winstanley earning five First Team nods (vault, uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise, and all-around), one of only two gymnasts in the league to do so.

At EAGL Championships, GW posted a team score of 195.875 to take third-place. Cami Drouin-Allaire scored 9.90 to finish the day as the co-champion on vault, the third conference championship title she has won in her career. Sophomore Cydney Crasa had a career-high day on the championship stage, posting career-highs on both vault (9.825) and floor (9.875). Freshman Katya Karpova also had a personal-best performance on floor, earning a 9.825.

Drouin-Allaire (top), Crasa (bottom left), Karpova (bottom right)

At the conclusion of the championship meet, Drouin-Allaire was named EAGL Gymnast and Senior of the Year. The senior was named EAGL Gymnast of the Week a program-record four times in 2018 and competes in all four events with career-high of 9.900+ on each one. She also holds the top all-around score in EAGL (39.600), a mark that ranks second in program history. She was later recognized as a Second Team All-America on Vault.

Drouin-Allaire caps her career as one of the most decorated Colonials in program history. She was also named an American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) Award finalist. The AAI Award, considered the Heisman Trophy in gymnastics, recognizes the most outstanding senior female gymnast in the country. Every year, college coaches are asked to submit their nominations for this award and then vote to narrow down the nominations to 10 finalist, and ultimately, the winner.

The Colonials' coaching staff was also recognized for their immense contribution to the program at EAGL Championships. Margie Foster-Cunningham was named EAGL Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her career while Stephanie Stoicovy Worrell and Jason Vonk were recognized as the EAGL Assistant Coaches of the Year. Stoicovy Worrell and Vonk were also honored as the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W) Southeast Region Assistant Coaches of the Year at the conclusion of the NCAA Raleigh Regional.

With the regular season behind them, GW turned its attention to NCAA Regionals, where they would make their fourth consecutive appearance and 14th trip in program history to the national stage. On March 26, the Colonials were selected to compete at the NCAA Raleigh Regional against No. 2 LSU, No. 11 Nebraska, No. 14 Oregon State, No. 20 NC State, and No. 31 Maryland.

Once in Raleigh, the Colonials gave it all they had, finishing the day in fifth with a 195.425. Highlighting the regionals competition was Drouin-Allaire, who posted a 39.275 in the all-around to earn a ticket to the NCAA Championship as an individual qualifier. The senior beat out fellow EAGL gymnast Chelsea Knight (NC State) by .025. The nod marks the third time the Shoreham, New York, native, will make the trip to the national stage as an all-around performer by virtue of being one of the top-two all around performers on the day who was not on an advancing team.

Cami Drouin-Allaire

Liz Pfeiler

Hannah Cohen

Sara Mermelstein

Cydney Crasa

Madeline Seibold

Jillian Winstanley

Cami went on to compete at nationals on April 20 and concluded her standout season amongst the elite of collegiate gymnastics on national television. In her program-record third-career appearance at the National Championship meet, she finished the evening with a 38.3125 in the all-around.

Finally, a HUGE thank you to all the families and friends that followed us across the country and from meet-to-meet this season! This season wouldn't have been the same without your incredible support! #RaiseHigh

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Created By
Lauren Shear
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