Gymnastics Travels West for Dual Meet with Denver

LEADING OFF: The George Washington gymnastics team is set to make its second and final trip out West when it visits the University of Denver for a dual meet on Sunday at 2 p.m. MT. The Pioneers broke into the top-four last season, finishing 2019 ranked fourth in the country (197.545 RQS). This year, Denver ranks fifth in the nation with a 196.992 average and 197.425 high.

LAST TIME OUT: The Colonials continued their three-meet road swing on Saturday evening, finishing third in quad-meet action at New Hampshire with a score of 192.900. The host Wildcats topped the field with a season-high 195.850, finishing ahead of No. 26 West Virginia (195.075). Brown rounded out the field with a 191.400.

WILD WEST: The Buff and Blue previously made their way westward for a quad-meet at UC Davis, topping the field with a then-season high score of 194.350. GW finished steadily ahead of the host Aggies, who came in second with a 192.975. Sacramento State took third with 192.675, while Alaska finished fourth with 189.600.

CONFIDENCE IN COHEN: Since returning from injury, Hannah Cohen has boosted the Colonials' lineup on beam, topping the team in each of the three meets in which she has seen action. The Dix Hills, N.Y., native, made her 2020 debut in dominant fashion at GW's Pink Meet, earning a career-high 9.900 on beam to finish second on the podium. Later that week, the junior posted a 9.825 at Kent State to share the beam title with Olivia Zona. At New Hampshire on Saturday evening, she paced the squad with a 9.775. Last season, Cohen earned 10 straight scores of 9.800 or above, and 11 total, on beam to qualify as an individual at NCAA Regionals. She also garnered 2019 ALL-EAGL Second Team honors on beam and was named to the 2019 EAGL All-Tournament First Team.

CYD KEEPS SHINING: Co-captain Cydney Crasa continues to shine in her senior season and posted a team-high 9.850 on floor at New Hampshire to finish third. The 9.850 marked her fourth score above a 9.800 on floor this season. The Stony Brook, N.Y., native, boasts season-high scores of 9.850 on vault, 9.800 on beam, and 9.875 on floor, a score that also matches her career high and tops the team this season. In addition, Crasa is one of two gymnasts on the squad to post at least a 9.800 in all events in which she has competed.

RAISE (career) HIGH: Eleven of the 12 gymnasts that have seen action in 2020 have either matched or set career-highs. Most notably, GW's quartet of sophomores has raised the bar in their second season in the Buff and Blue. Simone Banen posted a career-high 9.875 on uneven bars at GW's Pink Meet, besting her previous personal best by .025. Coming back from a season-ending injury in 2019, Deja Chambliss has earned a career-high 9.875 on vault twice this season. She has also added a 9.800 on bars and 9.650 on beam in 2020. Olivia Raymond matched her career-high 9.800 on beam, while Olivia Zona posted a career-high 9.850 on beam to finish at the top of the podium at the season-opening Little Boston Invitational.

BUFF & BLUE, THROUGH & THROUGH: Head coach Margie Foster-Cunningham begins her 36th year at GW and her 35th season at the helm of the program in 2019-20. As the longest tenured head coach at GW, Foster-Cunningham leads the Colonials into their 16th season as a member of EAGL. She is joined by assistant coaches Stephanie Stoicovy Worrell (5th season) and Chelsea Raineri (2nd season), who both competed for Foster-Cunningham. Stoicovy, who graduated in 2013, was one of GW's most consistent gymnasts in program history and twice competed at NCAA Regionals as an individual performer (2012, 2013). Raineri also had a decorated career in the Buff and Blue, helping GW to a pair of EAGL titles. She was just the third gymnast in program history to reach the NCAA Championship as an individual qualifier when she competed at the national meet on vault. She also made history as GW's first-ever NCAA Regional Champion when she tied for first place on vault with a 9.875 at the NCAA Morgantown Regional in 2017.

ISN'T IT SWEET: Following their trip to Denver, the Colonials will return home to host NC State, NIU, and Temple for their Sweet Meet (Brownie & Girl Scout Day) on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. The meet will be contested on podium, an elevated competition floor as seen at the NCAA Gymnastics National Championship, for the first time in GW program history.

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Simone Banen

Deja Chambliss

Hannah Cohen

Cydney Crasa

Chelsea Raineri

Olivia Raymond

Olivia Zona

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