Photo by: Steven Prunty
Mountaineers Hold First Official Practice
September 21, 2017 10:45 AM | Gymnastics
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team officially opens its 2018 season this afternoon with the team's first organized practice at Cary Gym.
The Mountaineers have spent the four previous weeks partaking in open gym sessions. The squad's first competition will be in January, and a complete 2018 competition schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
Twelve Mountaineers return this season, and the squad will be led by seniors Robyn Bernard, Jordan Gillette and Zaakira Muhammad. For the first time in program history, two All-Americans return to compete for WVU, as Muhammad (2017 NCAA Second Team, floor) and junior Kirah Koshinski (2016 and 2017 NACGC/W Second Team, vault) both collected honors one year ago.
"We're building off the success of the last two seasons, and the excitement is up for everyone inside the program," Mountaineer coach Jason Butts said. "The gymnasts really put in a lot of work during open gym and their strength and conditioning sessions. They're all ready to go. They've been asking for assignments since August, and I'm excited to finally give them to them. They're hungry, and they're ready to start the march toward the season. The talk in the gym is about how close we were in 2017, and they're ready to finish the job in 2018. This is probably the happiest and most united team I've ever coached."
The reigning Team MVP, Muhammad also is the top returning point earner, having competed in 14 meets as a junior, including the NCAA Championships as an individual all-around qualifier, and earning 478.8875 points. The Pennsauken, New Jersey, native shows 1,143.4125 career points.
Four Mountaineer freshmen join the program this season: Jessie Bastardi, McKenna Linnen, Sydney Marler and Michelle Waldron. Also joining the squad is first-year assistant coach Shea Anderson.
"Our new staff is clicking already," Butts added. "Top to bottom, we're all ready to go. The outlook is positive, and I'm excited to get the season going.
The Mountaineers finished the 2017 season with a 13-10 record, including a 3-3 showing in Big 12 Conference action. Seeded fifth, the team finished in third place at the 2017 NCAA Morgantown Regional Championships with a program-regional record score of 196.325.
WVU was ranked No. 20 in the final 2017 Road to Nationals Rankings, the team's highest position in the final rankings since 2007 and the program's first postseason ranking since 2012.
The Mountaineers have spent the four previous weeks partaking in open gym sessions. The squad's first competition will be in January, and a complete 2018 competition schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
Twelve Mountaineers return this season, and the squad will be led by seniors Robyn Bernard, Jordan Gillette and Zaakira Muhammad. For the first time in program history, two All-Americans return to compete for WVU, as Muhammad (2017 NCAA Second Team, floor) and junior Kirah Koshinski (2016 and 2017 NACGC/W Second Team, vault) both collected honors one year ago.
"We're building off the success of the last two seasons, and the excitement is up for everyone inside the program," Mountaineer coach Jason Butts said. "The gymnasts really put in a lot of work during open gym and their strength and conditioning sessions. They're all ready to go. They've been asking for assignments since August, and I'm excited to finally give them to them. They're hungry, and they're ready to start the march toward the season. The talk in the gym is about how close we were in 2017, and they're ready to finish the job in 2018. This is probably the happiest and most united team I've ever coached."
The reigning Team MVP, Muhammad also is the top returning point earner, having competed in 14 meets as a junior, including the NCAA Championships as an individual all-around qualifier, and earning 478.8875 points. The Pennsauken, New Jersey, native shows 1,143.4125 career points.
Four Mountaineer freshmen join the program this season: Jessie Bastardi, McKenna Linnen, Sydney Marler and Michelle Waldron. Also joining the squad is first-year assistant coach Shea Anderson.
"Our new staff is clicking already," Butts added. "Top to bottom, we're all ready to go. The outlook is positive, and I'm excited to get the season going.
The Mountaineers finished the 2017 season with a 13-10 record, including a 3-3 showing in Big 12 Conference action. Seeded fifth, the team finished in third place at the 2017 NCAA Morgantown Regional Championships with a program-regional record score of 196.325.
WVU was ranked No. 20 in the final 2017 Road to Nationals Rankings, the team's highest position in the final rankings since 2007 and the program's first postseason ranking since 2012.
Players Mentioned
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ GymnasticsGYM: Florida Quad Recap
Tuesday, January 13
Assistant Coach Kaylyn Millick | Intro
Tuesday, September 09
Assistant Coach Jessica Yamzon | Intro
Tuesday, September 09
Associate Head Coach Travis Doak | Intro
Tuesday, September 09
