Panthers Open Season with Three Wins at Next Level Podium Challenge

Saturday, January 11

Battle Creek, MI

7 PM

Pitt

195.575

194.375

George Washington

Panthers Open Season with Three Wins at Next Level Podium Challenge

1/11/2025 10:16:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

RESULTS Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2 Photo Gallery 3

Bedminster, Cesarone & Ewing Take Event Titles; Pitt Claims 10 Podium Finishes

BATTLE CREEK, MI – Pitt Gymnastics (3-0-0, 0-0-0 ACC) opened the season with wins over Illinois State, George Washington, and Western Michigan as Jah'Liyah Bedminster (bars), Elizabeth Cesarone (vault), and Jordyn Ewing (floor) claimed event titles at the Next Level Podium Challenge. The Panthers had 10 podium finishes and posted a team score of 195.575 to out pace Illinois State (195.100), George Washington (194.375), and host Western Michigan (192.850) Saturday evening at Kellogg Arena.

The Panthers powered their way to the victory with a 49.025 on the uneven bars in the final rotation of the night. Bedminster claimed the top spot with a 9.850, while Emily Todd and Jaime Pratt finished tied for second with matching 9.825s. Hallie Copperwheat posted a 9.800 to reach the podium with a tie for third finish.

Pitt took two of the top three spots on floor as Ewing (9.900) and Bedminster (9.850) delivered strong performances on the floor to pace Pitt to a 49.000. Ewing posted the top score in the event for her 11th career individual title and the fifth first place finish in floor exercise of her career.

Cesarone, making her Pitt debut, posted an impressive 9.850, while Kennedy Duke added a 9.800 on the vault as the Panthers scored a 48.875. Cesarone tied for first to claim her fifth career first place finish in the vault, while Duke was tied for third overall. Lila Pileggi (9.775) and Pratt (9.750) also delivered strong performances on the vault in their Pitt debuts.

The Panthers recorded a 48.675 on the beam with Todd posting a team-best 9.775 to tie for third overall.

Meika Lee finished second in the all-around with a total of 38.400 to reach the podium in her first collegiate meet. She posted a 9.750 on the balance beam for her top scoring event of the night.

Balance Beam

Illinois State (48.825), Pitt (48.675), George Washington (48.600), Western Michigan (46.475)

Emily Todd (9.775), Hallie Copperwheat (9.750), Meika Lee (9.750), Kennedy Duke (9.725), Reyna Garvey (9.675), Olivia Giunta (9.600), Darbi Simcox (9.550), Camryn Chiu (8.775)