Briona Carswell Shines in Women’s Gymnastics Opener

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Air Force posted a 188.650 team score for a third-place finish in the season-opening tri-meet with No. 19 Iowa and Ball State, hosted by the Hawkeyes, Saturday evening in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Air Force freshman Briona Carswell led the Falcons with a first place-finish on the beam, scoring 9.850 in the event in her collegiate debut.

Air Force posted its best team score on the floor exercise, tallying a 48.425 and a second-place team finish, highlighted by a second-place individual finish from returning USAG All-American Tyler Davis, who scored a 9.875in the event. Senior co-team captain Anna Salamone landed a fifth-place tying finish, posting a 9.825 in her floor exercise debut. Sophomore gymnast Pixie Brock posted a new career-high with a 9.725 and 10th-place finish. Other Falcons to garner scores in the event were Brooke Bruder (16^th, 9.525), Natalie Meyer (17^th, 9.475) and Cameo Stapleton (T-18^th, 9.450).

The Falcons' second best result came on the vault where the team scored a 47.725 on the event. Senior co-team captain Heidi Sand posted Air Force's top score in the event, finishing in a three-way tie for 10^th place with a 9.675 mark. Six other Falcons recorded scores in the event; Daija Stevenson (14^th, 9.625), Amber Boll (15^th, 9.575), Grace Bardes and Chloe Camello (T-16^th, 9.450), Davis (19th, 9.400) and Salamone finished 20^th with a 9.075.

Air Force concluded the uneven parallel bars with a 46.450 team score led by the Academy's record-holder in the event, Anna Salamone, who scored a 9.700 for a two-way tie for eighth place. Stevenson posted the Falcons' second-best score in the event, tallying a 9.650 for a two-way tie for 10^th place. Other Air Force gymnasts to record scores in the event were Boll (14^th, 9.500), Davis, (15^th, 9.375), Bardes (19^th, 8.825), Brock (20^th, 8.775) and Jessica Kirkpatrick (21^st, 8.750).

Carswell was a spectacle for Air Force on the beam, helping the squad to a 46.050 team in the event, while scoring a meet-high 9.850. Sand posted Air Force's next-best score, finishing the event with a 9.300 and 15^th-place finish. Other Air Force competitors in the event were Davis (16^th, 9.200), Boll (18^th, 8.975), Stevenson (19^th, 8.725), Stapleton (20^th, 8.650) and Val Smith (21^st, 8.450).

Davis was the only Falcon to compete for an all-around score, posting a 37.850 for a fifth-place finish.

FINAL STANDINGS
Place     Team                     Score
1              Iowa 195.550
2              Ball State             192.775
3              Air Force              188.650

FROM THE COACH
"I'm proud of the grit this team showed tonight," said interim head coach Jen Langley. "We had a rough go with weather travelling to Iowa and had to make some adjustments but the team didn't let it get them down and we had some strong performances. We saw a lot of gymnasts compete in multiple events and our freshmen showed a lot of potential as they stepped up to fill out our lineup. Overall I see that the potential is there and I'm excited to see where this team goes in the upcoming season."

UP NEXT
Air Force travels to Seattle, Washington, for a dual meet with MPSF counterpart, Seattle Pacific, Friday, January 17. The meet is slated for a 7 p.m. PT/ 8 MT start.

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