ECAC Announces Women's Weekly Gymnastics Awards 3/4/2020 12:01:01 AM DANBURY, CONN – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) announces it’s weekly awards for Women’s Gymnastics for the week ending March 1. Division I Gymnast of the Week Ariana Castrence – Temple University, So., Waldorf, MD Ariana Castrence was outstanding on Sunday afternoon in Maryland’s Terrapin Invitational. The sophomore competed all four events for the Cherry and White, earning a spot on the podium on vault, floor and in the all-around. The Waldorf, Md. native tied her career-high on vault with a 9.875 to earn second place on the event, posted a 9.825 on bars, a 9.7 on beam and tied her career-best on floor with a 9.85 to earn a share of second place. Castrence took the all-around crown, her fourth title of the season, with a 39.25. Her superb vault was instrumental in helping the Owls set a new program record on the event (49.15). Specialist of the Week Emma Firmstone – Yale University, Sr., Honesdale, PA Captain Emma has been integral to success all season, but especially this past weekend in Maryland. Emma competed on Beam and Floor and delivered very high scores on both events. On Beam, Emma stuck her routine for a score of 9.85, which won her the beam title. Following that, Emma got a season high floor score of 9.8, which directly contributed to tying the teams season high floor score, as well as setting a season high team total. Rookie of the Week Emma Wiley – William & Mary, Fr., Cary, NC Emma Wiley broke in to the bar line-up for the first time this season to set her season and career-high score of a 9.625. She has also been in every vault line up this season. Coaches Choice Charlotte Cooperman – Yale University, Jr., Southborough, MA Charlotte contributed three very strong scores to our line ups in Maryland, which led the team to tie season highs on Vault, and Floor, as well as a season high team score. On beam, Charlotte once again began the line up with a hit routine that scored a solid 9.725. On floor, Charlotte showed off her powerful and clean tumbling for another 9.725. Lastly, Charlotte set a new career and season high vault score with a gorgeous yurchenko full, that scored 9.8. Division II Gymnast of the Week Maya Reimers – University of Bridgeport, Sr., NY, NY Reimers posted three solid scores for the Knights in their 5 team meet at SCSU. Maya had just received terrible news of a loss from home the evening before the competition, and even though her heart was heavy, she still competed with pride and kept her head held high. Maya took the title on floor with her 9.925 and a sky high double layout. Her 9.825 beam score was the highest on the floor for the Knights and she ended her day with a sky high layout full on vault. Specialist of the Week Melanie Wojewda – West Chester University, Jr., Amelia, OH Melanie tied WCU individual uneven bar record earning a three way tie for 1st place on that event. She then went to beam and hit an impressive routine for a 9.65. Rookie of the Week Bianca Leon -- Southern Connecticut State University, Fr., Miami, FL In the Owls home meet against Bridgeport, Brown, Rhode Island College and West Chester, Bianca Leon won the balance beam event with a score of 9.825. On the bars, Leon scored a 9.750 for a tie of sixth place which is the second-best score of the event for the season and the fourth-best of the year for Southern Connecticut. Coaches Choice Jackie Kutcher – Southern Connecticut State University, Sr., West Newbury, MA Senior Jackie Kutcher posted a 9.650 on the bars for her second-best score of the season in her signature event which was good for 13th place in the five-team meet against Bridgeport, Brown, Rhode Island College and West Chester. Kutcher spent all of last season coming back from injury and only competed in the bars. This season, she has competed in all three events five times, including her last four competitions. ABOUT THE ECAC The ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) is an eighty-two-year-old organization with well over 200 member schools across all three NCAA Divisions - I, II and III. The ECAC exists to enhance the experience of student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics and provides great value for universities and colleges by sponsoring championships, leagues, bowl games, tournaments and other competitions throughout the Northeast. The ECAC's esports platform is growing and now totals more than sixty colleges and universities and is expanding the geographic footprint for the conference nationally. The ECAC is also sponsoring competitions and leagues involving other varsity and club sports that do not fall under the umbrella of the NCAA. STAY CONNECTED Stay updated on the latest news, championships and more by connecting with the ECAC on Facebook (ECACSports), Twitter (@ECACSports) and Instagram (@ECACSports).