WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Mar. 12) –
Claudia Lessig delivered a strong all-around, including a historic performance on balance beam, to lead the Alaska Anchorage gymnastics to a season-high 192.275 total in a dual meet Thursday at Kaplan Arena.
The Seawolves (4-7) also got individual victories – two ties, two outright – on each of the four events, despite trailing host William & Mary's 193.875 total.
A junior from Spring, Texas, Lessig scored a 9.9 on balance beam, tying the No. 2 score in program history and joining Sophia Hyderally, Isabelle Fox and current assistant coach Kendra (Daniels) McPheters as the only Seawolves to achieve 9.9 or higher on beam. She also scored a career-high 9.8 on uneven bars as UAA's 48.800 team total was seventh-best in program history on that apparatus.
Lessig's 38.650 all-around was a UAA season high as well, bettering her own 38.000 score from the season opener Jan. 11.
"It was a night filled with highlights, from placing or tying for first on each event to multiple career highs," said UAA head coach
Marie-Sophie Boggasch. "We're thrilled to see the hard work pay off and shine through in tonight's results."
The Seawolves started well on bars behind junior
Jada Niles, whose 9.85 equaled the No. 7 score in UAA history and earned her fourth career individual title. She was joined on the podium by Lessig and junior
Jamilia Duffus (9.75), while freshman
Tessa Richardson continued her recent hot stretch with a 9.725.
Richardson also took top honors on vault, tying William & Mary's Hannah Burke atop the podium with a UAA season-best 9.75. Duffus earned 9.65 and sophomore
Jordan Grindol 9.65 to lift UAA to its second-best vault total of the season at 47.950.
The Seawolves took a 96.750-96.350 lead into the third rotation, where senior
Ariana DeSouza and a pair of Tribe gymnasts tied for first with 9.775 on floor exercise. UAA totaled 47.775 on floor, with senior
Breeann Spain notching a 9.6.
UAA finished on beam as Lessig boosted a 47.750 total, alongside a 9.725 from Grindol and 9.675 from Niles.
The Seawolves complete the regular season Saturday at 10 a.m. ADT with a rematch against the Tribe. Find live links at GoSeawolves.com.
