COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus gymnastics team opened the 2026 season in a big way, defeating Cortland, 186.200-185.850, on Sunday afternoon inside Helfferich Hall.
 
 
Ursinus posted a 47.350 on the floor, a 47.075 on vault, 46.525 on beam, and a 45.250 on bars. The Bears finished just shy of their season-opening score from last year (186.825), which marked the highest total in head coach Kim Valenti's career when Ursinus defeated Cortland, Springfield and Rhode Island College in a quad meet.
 
 
Ursinus got things rolling on vault, outscoring Cortland 47.075-46.925 in the event. Sophomore Michaela Duffy and junior Erin Roe tied for second overall with scores of 9.550. Senior Schreiber (9.450) and first-year Lily Stewart (9.375) rounded out the Bears' lineup with top-seven finishes.
 
 
The Bears moved to bars in their second rotation and finished with a team score of 45.250. Junior LeeLee Sanders won the event with a score of 9.475, while classmate Lauren Coleman tied for second with a 9.435. Roe placed sixth with a 9.000, and junior Lucy Warburton took eighth with an 8.750.
 
 
Junior Arianna Ellis shined on beam, tying for second overall with a score of 9.500. Roe (9.475), Warburton (9.350) and Schreiber (9.200) rounded out the Bears' lineup by finishing fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
 
 
Ursinus closed out the meet on floor, where Schreiber earned a career-high 9.850 to place first overall. Warburton tied her career best with a 9.700 to finish tied for third, while Roe recorded a career-high 9.675 to place fifth. Duffy posted an 8.750 in her collegiate debut while competing on both the floor and beam events.
 
 
The Bears return to action Sunday, Jan. 18, when they travel to Ithaca College for a dual meet beginning at 1 p.m.