Chris Hogan's Inner Thoughts: UB Gymnastics National Championship Recap

By: Chris Hogan

On Friday night, the University of Bridgeport gymnastics team won their fourth consecutive USGA National Championship at Webster Bank Arena. The Purple Knights produced the highest team score of 195.575, followed by second place Texas Women's University [193.700], third place University of Pennsylvania [193.475] and Air Force Academy [191.075]. This is the 16th championship in program history and UB recorded the highest scores in all four sessions.

Junior Adriana Panades Erra thoughts on tonight:

On the Team's mindset going into tonight." We knew we had to do our job like we do in every meet and how we practice and it obviously worked [for us tonight],"

On Monica Mesalles Sallares performance tonight: "I think Moni is just amazing and did well tonight in vault and on the floor. She is the best."

On Goals for Next Year: "We want to work for it [winning another championship. It's out goal every year to compete and win."

Sophomore Emily Turik reaction from tonight:

Thoughts on winning the USAG National Championship: "Amazing. I can't even begin to describe [how I feel]. I am so excited how this season ended and me transferring, I couldn't ask for a better ending to the season."

On Team's mindset going in: "We had a mindset to win. We known we have worked our butts off [in order to make it this far]."

On Team's effort tonight: "Our effort was as best as we could do and go 24 for 24 tonight and we did it. I couldn't have asked for a better meet."

On Monica Mesalles Sallares performance tonight: "She is phenomenal and really lifted us tonight"

Thoughts on team going forward: "We can only get better from here. Today, we had our minds at stake but their is still next year to improve."

Sophomore Lissette La Fex thoughts from Friday:

On winning it all: "It was awesome. We were expecting to win but the errors got to us but we channeled it and focused and remember what Byron [Knox] always tells us."

Team mindset: "It was to told nothing back and go out with a bang."

On team's performance tonight: "Everyone's performance was feeding off one another and when one person does good, it makes you want to do good or if not better. The positive energy really worked for us tonight."

On personally winning the National Championship:"This is probably one of the most memorable moments of my life. The whole college experience to be apart of a team and a unit that has one dream and goal which is to win."

On expectations for next year. "This team is going to repeat. We have the dynamics and depth. We are loosing four seniors that are a big part of our scores but I think we have the depth to keep it going."

Once again, a big congratulations to the University of Bridgeport Gymnastics team for winning it all. You all should be very proud of yourselves. Job well done.