CORTLAND, N.Y. -  The Ursinus gymnastics team opened the 2023 campaign on a high note by defeating Cortland in a season-opening dual meet on Sunday morning.
 
 
 
The Bears posted a total team score of 185.80 in their 2023 debut meet behind a 47.375 on the vault, 44.725 on the bars, 47.025 on the beam, and 46.675 on the floor exercise. Meanwhile, the Red Dragons recorded a total team score of 184.50 behind a 47.250 on the vault, 45.100 on the bars, 45.425 on the beam, and a 46.725 on the floor.
 
 
 
Ursinus got started on the bars and sophomore Adison Tanguay led the way with a team-high score of 9.150 which placed third overall for the event. Sophomore Kyleigh Pierce followed right behind with a 9.100 while fellow classmates Isabella Scarpetti and Megan Matteucci recorded scores of 9.050 and 9.025, respectively to round out a run of Bears finishing from third to sixth.
 
 
 
The Bears took charge of the meet in its next event on the vault by matching its highest team score for the event from last season. Sophomore Erin Stubbs impressed in her first collegiate action by recording a score of 9.575 to lead the Bears and finish second overall. Senior Taylor Cusick posted a score of 9.525 to place second among the Bears and fourth overall while junior Ashley Cromer set a new career best with a 9.500. First-year Sidney Schreiber recorded a score of 9.475 in her collegiate debut on the vault.
 
 
 
On the floor, Schreiber paced the Bears with her score of 9.550 to cap off her strong collegiate debut and finished second overall for the event. Senior Alyssa DeLorme finished fourth overall and second among Bears gymnasts on the floor with her score of 9.425 and Scarpetti tied for fifth overall behind her career best score of 9.375. Senior Kasey Ricci posted a 9.300 in her season debut to finish fourth on the team and seventh overall.
 
 
Senior Lindsey Thornton made a statement in her first action since injuring her Achilles at West Chester last January by leading Ursinus and finishing second overall on the beam with her career best score of 9.550. Scarpetti and Cromer were in a three-way tie for third with a 9.375, which was career-highs for both, and DeLorme finished seventh overall with her score of 9.350.
 
 
 
Scarpetti defeated Cortland's Gianna Mirigliano in All-Around Scores 37.200 to 37.100. It was the first time Scarpetti competed for an all-around score in her collegiate career.
 
 
 
The Bears return to action on Sunday, January 22nd as they will host Brockport and Ithaca for a tri-meet at 1 p.m.