The Lady Flames finished first in the team competition with 108.95 points, well in front of the second-place Naval Academy.
Gymnasts sharpen routines, maintain high scores at Cherry Blossom Invitational
2/25/2025 6:29:00 PM | Gymnastics
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Freshman Malaika Campbell won the individual All-Around with first-place finishes in the vault, floor, and beam routines to lift the Lady Flames over Navy, the only other complete team in the field.
Freshman Malaika Campbell's All-Around title boosted Liberty University's women's gymnastics team to a 108.95 total and first-place finish at Sunday's NAIGC Cherry Blossom Invitational hosted by George Washington University at Dynamic Gymnastics in Bailey's Crossroads, Va.
The Lady Flames were one of only two full teams in the Level 9 division, the highest in NAIGC gymnastics, and they were barely challenged by the Naval Academy (92.25), and a few other teams with individual competitors.
"Overall, the team did really well," Liberty Head Coach Jessie Lowe said. "Though the team is still working through some consistency issues, especially on beam and bars, I'm really encouraged by the team's energy. This is one of the most cohesive Liberty teams I've ever been a part of, and the girls do an incredible job encouraging one another, keeping the energy high even when mistakes happen, and celebrating each other's victories no matter how small."
She said the scoring at this meet was more critical than in Duke Dog Classic at JMU, where the Lady Flames finished runner-up to the host Dukes with a team record total of 110.
"It felt closer to what we will see at nationals," Lowe said of the NAIGC National Championships April 2-5 in Pittsburgh. "That was encouraging to see as we still posted just short of a 109, which is really strong for our team only being at the halfway point in the season. In previous seasons, we've been in the 105-107 range at our earlier meets, and we still have room to improve."
Campbell recorded the highest scores on the vault (9.6), floor exercise (9.55), and balance beam (9.0), as well as second-place finish on the uneven bars (9.2). Junior Izzy Sierra tied with Campbell for first place on the beam (9.0).
The Lady Flames were also led by junior co-captain Annabella James, who finished second in the All-Around standings with a 34.85 total on the strength of her third-place showings on vault (9.0), beam (8.7), and bars (8.15). Freshman Kelsey Bailis placed third All-Around after finishing fourth on vault (8.5) and bars (7.45).
"Mali (Campbell) still had a dominant meet despite counting a fall on both beam and bars, thanks to a really strong day on floor and vault," Lowe said. "Annabella hit all four events and is proving her consistency as a leader."
Sophomore co-captain Sarah Dyk won the bars with her 9.4 score, but did not compete in the vault, which lowered her All-Around finish to seventh (26.25), behind freshman teammate Kate Haluck (fifth, 31.05), whose best event showing was sixth on the floor (9.05). Freshman Kaylee Ockerman placed second on both the floor (9.2) and the vault (9.1). Complete results are available online.
"Sarah (Dyk) brushed off a couple of errors in her last two meets on bars where she is normally really strong to hit big for us this weekend," Lowe said. "Kaylee has been consistently delivering big routines on floor and vault at every meet."
She said that atmosphere of encouragement has produced positive vibes and results.
"They are very team-minded, and though we have some talented athletes, none of them make their successes about themselves, but only how they can benefit the team the most," Lowe said. "And you can tell they just have the most fun together. We've been working really hard at setting small team goals in practice and at meets, and we are seeing it pay off in how they set their mentalities to compete for each other."
Liberty will next compete in the second session of its second annual Flipping Flames Invitational at the LaHaye Multipurpose Center on March 22 starting at 1 p.m.
The Lady Flames swept the podium in most of the events at Sunday's Cherry Blossom Invitational hosted by George Washington.
