© Bridgeport Athletics

BRIDGEPORT, Conn., April 14, 2012 – Monica Mesalles Sallares of the University of Bridgeport, who won the all-around earlier in the competition, won three individual event titles at the 2012 USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate National Championships, held at the University of Bridgeport (Conn.). Courtney Cochefski of Texas Woman’s University won the uneven bar title.

Sallares, who also helped Bridgeport win the team crown, claimed the gold medal for the vault, balance beam and floor exercise.

On vault, Sallares posted a 9.9250 to take the title. Bethany Larimer of Texas Woman’s University was second at 9.9125, followed by McKenna Archer of Cornell University at 9.8875 in third.

For the uneven bars, Cochefski took the top honor with her 9.8500. Lissette La Fex of the University of Bridgeport and Dana Bonincontri of the University of Pennsylvania tied for second at 9.8250.

Sallares scored a 9.8750 on the balance beam for first place. Cornell’s Melanie Standridge landed in second place at 9.8500, and Bridgeport’s Emily Repko took third at 9.8250.

Sallares earned the day’s highest score for any event at 9.9000 to win the floor exercise title. Kristin Edwards of TWU scored a 9.8500, and Sasha Tsikhanovich of Bridgeport and Sherah Veron of Seattle Pacific University tied for third at 9.8250.

The USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships is for Division I, II and III schools with less than seven-and-a-half full scholarships.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics, and group gymnastics (also known as Gymnastics for All). For more information, log on to www.usagym.org.

USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate National Championships
Bridgeport, Conn.
April 14, 2012
Individual event finals

Vault
1. Monica Mesalles Sallares, University of Bridgeport, 9.9250
2. Bethany Larimer, Texas Woman’s University, 9.9125
3. McKenna Archer, Cornell University, 9.8875

Uneven bars
1. Courtney Cochefski, Texas Woman’s University, 9.850
2. Lissette La Fex, University of Bridgeport, 9.8250
2. Dana Bonincontri, University of Pennsylvania, 9.8250

Balance beam
1. Monica Mesalles Sallares, University of Bridgeport, 9.8750
2. Melanie Standridge, Cornell University, 9.8500
3. Emily Repko, University of Bridgeport, 9.8250

Floor exercise
1. Monica Mesalles Sallares, University of Bridgeport, 9.9000
2. Kristin Edwards, Texas Woman’s University, 9.8500
3. Sasha Tsikhanovich, University of Bridgeport, 9.8250
3. Sherah Veron, Seattle Pacific University, 9.8250