Brockport, NY – Nationally-ranked No. 1 Brockport gymnastics returns home on Saturday, February 5, at 7 p.m. to host Rhode Island College for Senior Day. The meet was originally scheduled to begin at 1p.m. but was moved to 7 p.m. due to travel conditions. 

The Golden Eagles are soaring into Senior Day, coming off a dominating 192.275 point performance in Ithaca last week. Led by a program-record tying performance by junior Gabbi Gare, the Green & Gold set a program record on the uneven bars, scoring a 48.425. Senior Lexi Castellaneta continued her impressive season, tying her career high on the beam, and finishing tied for first on the vault and beam.

Spectator Policy: Due to COVID-19 capacity protocols, Brockport is limiting the number of spectators inside the gymnastics facility to individuals who are on the guest list. All other spectators will be able to watch from the upper level.

Live Video: Live video for all home athletic events will be available at www.gobrockport.com/watch.

Vault: The Golden Eagles have been flying high on the vault. Led by senior Lexi Castellaneta (9.725) who is the top ranked vaulter in the nation, and sophomore Emma Grace Sargent (9.625) who ranks fifth nationally, Brockport is the top ranked team in the nation on the event, scoring an average of 47.875.

Uneven Bars: A record-setting showing on the bars flew the Golden Eagles into fourth nationally and first in the east, averaging 46.508. Sophomore's Sydney Schumaker (9.467) and Taylor Bushey (9.375) lead the team in season average score on bars, while junior Gabbi Gare had a career day last week, tying the program record with a 9.775. Sophomore Emma Grace Sargent scored a 9.700 in the team's record setting performance at Ithaca.

Beam: Brockport has been cruising on beam all season. Sophomore Natalie Galioto and senior Lexi Castellaneta lead the team that ranks second nationally, and first in the east. The green and gold are coming off a season high 47.950 against Ithaca.
Floor: The green and gold are soaring on the floor. Led by senior Lexi Castellaneta, the Golden Eagles are ranked No. 1 in the nation on the event, averaging 47.892. Castellaneta ranks second in the nation, while sophomores Naimah Muhammad and Kirsten Paultre are each ranked in the top 15 nationally.

Bport Alumna Going into the NCGA Hall of Fame: Brockport gymnastics alumna Jordan Christiano Mihalik '06 was recently announced as a 2022 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Hall of Fame inductee. She was a 2003 NCGA National Champion in the floor exercise and she was a five time All-American for the Golden Eagles.  In 2003, she was an all-american on the vault, floor and all-around.  In 2004 she was an all-american on the floor and in the all-around while helping Head Coach John Feeney earn national coach of the year honors. She ranks fourth all-time at Brockport with five All-American honors behind Sarah Bulka (11), Lauren Gildemeyer (8) and Carrie Santore (6). She is the third NCGA Hall of Fame inductee in program-history, joining Santore (2013 inductee) and Bulka (2014 inductee).  She is one of 15 individual national champions in program-history and one of just four total floor exercise national champions in program-history. She was also an academic all-american as a senior in 2005. She captained the Golden Eagles for four years and is also a member of the Brockport Athletics Hall of Fame.  She led the team to eighth-place (2003), third-place (2004) and second-place (2005) finishes at nationals. In 2006, she earned her undergraduate degree form Brockport in health education and a master's from D'Youville in 2009 in childhood education & special education.
Senior Day: Following Saturday's meet, Brockport will honor the programs six seniors.

Over the course of the last four seasons, this group has played a part in 36 dual meet victories, including a perfect 12-0 dual record right here at the Tuttle North Gymnastics Center. In 2019 the Golden Eagles won 13 duals, went 4-0 at home, won the NCGA Regional Championship and the NCGA National Title!  This group has helped to continue to lay the groundwork for one of the most successful gymnastics programs in the NCGA. 

• Lexi Castellaneta: Graduating in May, Lexi will be getting a degree in Psychology. She plans on continuing her education and hopes to become a preschool special education teacher. She was a member of the 2019 National Champion team, was rookie of the year in 2019, won the East Region Floor event in 2019, was All-American on the floor, has been the Gymnast of the Week multiple times, and made Dean's List in the Fall of 2021.
• Aliya Conlon: Graduating in May, Aliya will be getting a degree in Accounting. She plans on returning to Brockport to complete a one-year master's program in accounting, before sitting for the CPA exam. Aliya has been on the Dean's List in the Fall of 2020, Spring 2021, and Fall 2021.
• Kelly Rose Devine: Kelly will graduate from Brockport in 2023 with a degree in Nursing. She then hopes to become a neonatal nurse. Kelly was a part of the 2019 National Championship team, and has made the Dean's List.
• Nicole Jackson: Graduating in May, Nicole will be getting a degree in Exercise Science. She plans on entering a Respiratory Therapy program to become a Respiratory Therapist. Nicole was a part of the 2019 National Championship team, holds the program record on vault (9.825), is a two-time All-American on the vault, and made the Dean's List in 2021.
• Jensen Todd: Graduating in May, Jensen will be getting a degree in Healthcare Administration. She plans on going to Utica College for graduate school before pursuing a career as an administrator in a Long-Term Care Facility. Jensen was a member of the 2019 National Championship team, was on the All-Championship team in 2019 on the beam, and has made the Dean's List with honors.
• Dorothy Wernick: Graduating in May, Dorothy will be getting a degree in Athletic Training. She plans on continuing her education at PennWest in a Sports Psychology masters program, and pursuing a career in athletic training. Dorothy was a member of the 2019 National Championship team and has made the Dean's List.

Comments from Coach Lyst: These seniors are a special group of young women. Since I first met them, I was impressed with their engagement and investment in this program. I have really been able to rely on them to teach me so much about the program and Brockport. They are all performing their best gymnastics as seniors, and I appreciate their passion and work ethic every day. Most importantly, they all have a clear path of their next steps. I am in awe of their maturity and confidence. They represent the best of college athletics, and I am so proud to be their coach.

About Rhode Island College: This is the second time Brockport will see the Rhode Island College Anchorwomen. Brockport won their last meeting 188.400-181.900, however RIC got some attention as they broke a total of four program records during the meet. Junior Kelsey Gates is currently the top floor gymnast in the national ranking, averaging a 9.800. Sophomore Olivia Keys ranks fourth nationally on the beam.

Up Next: Brockport will head to Cornell next weekend for a quad meet against the Big Red, Cortland, and Ithaca. That meet is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday.