National Prominence
When the NCAA began sponsoring gymnastics, the Tigers qualified for the Division II nationals in 1986 and finished eighth in the nation. Since joining NCAA Division I in 1987, the Tigers have been a regular among the nation's Top 20 programs and have qualified for NCAA Regional competition 13 times.
On four different occasions, the Tigers finished third in the seven-team regional meet - 1988, 1990, 1992 and 2000. In 1990, the Tigers’ third place finish enabled them to qualify for the NCAA Division I National Championship Meet at Oregon State.
As the 11th seed, the Tiger gymnasts (right) turned in a very impressive ninth place finish with a total score of 187.975, beating Florida, Arizona and Ohio State while earning national recognition for the program.
All-Americans
In the 45-year history of Tiger gymnastics, five gymnasts have earned All-American honors – two AIAW All-Americans, one NCAA Division II All-American and two NCAA Division I All-Americans.
In 1979, Candi Normile became Towson’s first All-American as she was honored by the AIAW. Wendy Foerster was also honored as an AIAW All-American in 1981, and in 1986, Lisa Larson earned NCAA Division II All-American honors on floor exercise and the all-around.
In 1997, Erin Shanley became Towson’s first NCAA Division I All-American when she earned second team notice on the uneven bars. Gabi Weller (right) followed in Shanley's footsteps in 2000, earning NCAA Division I first team All-American honors on vault.
Conference Championships
From the moment Towson joined the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) for gymnastics 1987, they have been the team to beat.
Towson has competed in 16 ECAC Championship Meets since 1987 and the Tigers have won a remarkable 14 titles. From 1987 to 1993, the Tigers won seven consecutive ECAC titles, and also won the 1995 championship.
After an eight-year run in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) from 1996 to 2004, Towson returned to the ECAC in 2005, winning another six consecutive ECAC championships through 2010.
Towson returns to the EAGL for the 2013 season.
Individual Success
Gabby Linarducci and Christina Ghani (right) lead all Tiger gymnasts with five individual titles each, including an ECAC all-around title for Linarducci in 1991 and ECAC all-around titles for Ghani in 2005 and 2006. More recently, Alise McDonald also won four ECAC individual titles from 2008 to 2010.
The Tigers have also earned plenty of individual awards on the conference level, beginning with head coach Vicki Chliszczyk being named ECAC Coach of the Year in her first season at the helm in 2011 and receiving the honor again in 2012. Former head coach Dick Filbert was named ECAC Coach of the Year five times in his career, while five different Tigers have been honored as ECAC Gymnast of the Year. Wendy Weaver was the first Tiger to earn the award in 1992. Lindarducci followed in 1993. Ghani is the only Tiger gymnast to be given that distinction twice in her career, earning the award in 2005 and 2006. Decelia Willacy followed Ghani's reign, earning the award in 2007.
Stacy Catanzaro was named the 2012 ECAC Gymnast of the Year. She was one of three Tigers to compete as individuals at the 2012 NCAA Southeast Regional Meet, where she earned NCAA Southeast Regional Gymnast of the Year honors.
During Towson's stint in the EAGL, Kristen Presutti was named EAGL Gymnast of the Year twice (2002, 2003).
Through the years, the Tigers' high level of achievement has carried over to the classroom as well, as five different Towson gymnasts have earned the ECAC Scholar-Athlete Award. Towson's Jackie Schweitzer earned the award in 2010, followed by Megan Wooden (below) in 2011.
In 2012, the Towson gymnasts finished sixth in the nation as a team in competition for the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches for Women (NACGCW) Scholastic All-America Team awards. Nine Tigers won individual Scholastic All-America honors.
Perfection
In the rich history of Towson's gymnastics program there have been four perfect 10.0 scores, earned by three different gymnasts.
On March 10, 2000 at the Towson Center, Gabi Weller earned the first perfect score when she received a 10.0 on bars. Less than an hour later, senior Heather Hanson earned a 10.0 score on floor exercise.
On March 6, 2002, Kristen Presutti was awarded a perfect 10.0 score on vault in a meet at William and Mary. Just over one year later, Presutti earned a 10.0 score on floor exercise in a meet against Maryland.
