Arlotta leads Pitt past visiting Rhode Island

The Panther gymnastics squad defeated Rhode Island 188.5 to 185.575 in their season home… The Panther gymnastics squad defeated Rhode Island 188.5 to 185.575 in their season home opener, pulling away from the Rams in a very pink Fitzgerald Field House on Saturday evening, improving their record to 2-1.

From the people in the stands to the ribbons the gymnasts wore in their hair, everyone was showing their support for breast cancer awareness in honor of “Think Pink: Target a Cure” day.

The Panthers may want to hold on to those pink ribbons, as they performed at the top of their game, dominating Rhode Island in every event.

“It was good to compete with Rhode Island because they don’t get out here that much. All in all I feel that our team did great for our first home match, especially on the vault,” junior Robyn Marszalek said.

The vault was the first event of the evening, one in which Pitt finished ahead of the Rams with a score of 48.775. Team captain Andrea Arlotta placed first, matching her career-best 9.875 score. Amanda Rushton came in second with a personal best of 9.85. More personal bests came from freshmen Victoria McGuigan-Carl at 9.825 and Kaitlin Harrison at 9.6, who, along with Nicole Drane, tied two of the Rams for fifth. The Rams fell short in the vault by one point.

Next, the Panthers and the Rams chalked up and battled it out in the uneven bars. Once again, Arlotta pulled through for the Panthers and claimed her second event title of the evening with a score of 9.625. Rhode Island’s Emily Heaney came in second with a 9.6 and Emily Rinaldo followed in third with a 9.550. In fourth was Pitt’s Lindsay Swan with a score of 9.475. Pitt finished the event with a score of 46.775 and Rhode Island turned in a score of 46.025.

Both teams had some difficulty staying on the balance beam in the third event of the night. But that wasn’t enough to prevent the Panthers from taking first place, this time thanks to Samantha DeBone, who scored a 9.6. Rhode Island’s Kelly Gurney and Melissa Todd tied for second with a 9.3. Drane scored a 9.250, claiming fourth place. The final results on the beam were Pittsburgh with 46.250 and the Rams with 45.9.

The night concluded with Pitt dominating the floor exercise, an event in which the Panthers claimed the top three places because of some very precise and creative routines set to music that had the crowd clapping along.

Marszalek claimed first place with a noteworthy performance and a score of 9.625. Arlotta delivered for Pitt yet again, coming in second with a 9.550. In third was junior Jessica Garber, who was named Eastern Athletic Gymnastics League Specialist of the Week after her success in Michigan last weekend, turning in a 9.5. The floor exercise ended with Pitt turning in a score of 46.7 and the Rams falling behind at 45.875.

“In meets I enjoy the floor routines the most because it’s exciting and you can have fun with it, especially when the crowd gets into it,” Arlotta said.

Arlotta dominated the meet, taking first place for the second week in a row in the all-around competition, ending the night with a 38.2.

“I feel good about my performance but I realize there is always room for improvement,” Arlotta commented.

Rhode Island’s Rinaldo followed her in the all-around competition with a 37.550 and Gurney placed third with a 37.325.

Pitt will next travel to Durham, N.H., to take on New Hampshire this Sunday. The panthers will return home the following weekend when they host Rutgers on Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.