Seawolf sophomores pace solid 192.375 showing at WCGNIC meet

West Chester, Pennsylvania (Mar. 27) - Maribelle Albert led a parade of career highs on vault and fellow sophomore Jordan Grindol powered a season high on balance beam for the Alaska Anchorage gymnastics team Friday in the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics National Invitational Championship team preliminaries at Hollinger Field House.

The Seawolves produced their second-best team total of the season at 192.375, but did not reach Saturday's team finals, finishing behind Southeast Missouri (194.350) and Bridgeport (193.250) in the session.

UAA excelled on beam behind Grindol's career-high 9.825 as the Louisianan led the 10th-best total in program history at 48.675. Junior Claudia Lessig scored 9.8 to reach that plateau for the fourth straight meet, while freshman Alexandra Karkowski (9.775), senior Breeann Spain (9.65) and junior Jada Niles (9.625) rounded out the scoring.

"I'm very proud of our efforts today," said UAA head coach Marie-Sophie Boggasch. "Of course we're sad that we didn't advance to day two, but overall it was another great meet on par with our second half of the season. The team showed its competitiveness, especially on beam, which can be the hardest event under this much pressure. It was a big improvement from last year's WCGNIC, including our career highs on vault."

The Seawolves finished strong on vault as the final three in the order all produced career bests, boosting a 48.100 total. Competing in her home state, Albert bettered her previous career high by 0.125 with a 9.85 score, tying the eight-best vault in UAA history. Junior Jamilia Duffus topped her previous best by a tenth as well at 9.8, and Niles popped a personal-best 9.7.

Grindol also tied sophomore Maria Jose Prieto for team-high honors on floor at 9.625, while senior Ariana DeSouza earned 9.6 to forge at 47.750 total.

Lessig, Niles and Duffus all produced 9.675s on uneven bars as UAA scored 47.850 on that apparatus.

The Seawolves conclude the 2026 campaign with the WCGNIC individual events finals Sunday at 9 a.m. ADT. Albert and Duffus will compete on vault, Niles Duffus and Lessig on bars, and Grindol on beam. Follow the action live with links at GoSeawolves.com.