Gymnastics Preview
January 02, 2003 02:18 PM | General
January 2, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- At the very least, West Virginia University gymnastics coach Linda Burdette should have an honorary degree from WVU’s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.
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| Senior Dinorh Boyd is looking to bounce back after an injury-plagued 2002 campaign. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
She knows all about chemistry – team chemistry that is.
So it’s only fitting that the veteran coach, entering her 29th year at the helm of the Mountaineer gymnastics program, puts on her lab coat and safety glasses as she buckles down and prepares for the 2003 season.
A mix of talented upperclassmen, sprinkled with a plethora of youth and two new assistant coaches are the ingredients that Burdette has at her fingertips and will look to mold together this season if the Mountaineers are to continue their East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) and NCAA dominance.
"We will have a successful season if our senior and junior classes continue to do what they’re capable of and provide leadership and if our freshmen class can accept gymnastics responsibility and perform as a team,” Burdette says. “The sooner they do that the sooner we’ll be successful."
While WVU will have to rely on its youth movement more so than usual, one of WVU’s most talented senior classes in the 30-year history of the program will lead the Mountaineers this year.
"In the preseason, they were great leaders," Burdette says of her five seniors. "I’m hoping they will continue that leadership as far as team unity and work ethic into the season. I expect them to be my best performers on the floor also. I’m anticipating big things from them.
"From top to bottom it’s the best class leadership we’ve ever had. Everyone has taken a part in leading. The whole senior class feels responsible for the success of this team," she added.
Leading the Mountaineer charge this year will be senior TeShawne Jackson. The Summerville, S.C., native is coming off the best season of her career and one of the best in the program’s history.
"Athletically, she’s one of the strongest gymnasts that has ever come through this program," Burdette says. "She’s able to do it all. She loves the sport and performing. She likes to see herself and her teammates compete well."
Last year, Jackson did exactly that after capturing her second consecutive EAGL all around championship with a meet record 39.575, the second best all around score in WVU history. The school’s career 10.0 record holder with six, Jackson was WVU’s lone qualifier for the NCAA Championship, setting a WVU NCAA record with a 9.85 beam score. She was also a first team all EAGL performer on vault, floor and
On the year, the team co captain tallied seven 39.0 or better all around scores, including four straight to finish the season, and enters this year with 34 career 9.9 or better scores in all events. That is just one behind the record held by former Mountaineer great Kristin Quackenbush.
Fellow senior Amanda Halovanic had a breakout season last year. The two time co captain tallied four 39.0 or better all around scores and was an all EAGL second team performer on floor. The three time all EAGL academic team member competed in 11 of 12 meets as an all arounder and scored a career best 39.425 in the all around against Michigan and at the EAGL Championships. The Grove City, Pa., native also tied for first on beam with a 9.875 at the conference championship.
"Amanda is the poster child for a perfect student athlete," Burdette says. "She does big tricks, is clean, hits but isn’t really noticed all the time. Once she added more personality into her routines last year and everyone started taking notice. She’s probably the most powerful gymnast I’ve ever had. She doesn’t have a weak event. She’s worked quite a bit on that. She’s just a well rounded person. She’s a strength and academic All American. I hope she becomes a gymnastics All American this season, too."
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| Senior TeShawne Jackson qualified for nationals last season. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
Senior Dinorh Boyd, a Mt. Holly, N.J., native is one of WVU’s most consistent all around performers but struggled last year with bothersome injuries that limited her to compete as an all arounder in just six meets. Still, she managed a career best 39.525 all around score against Pitt and Rutgers and three 39.0 or better all around scores on the year. The 2001 EAGL gymnast of the year looks to bounce back this season.
"She’s trained hard and is coming off some nagging little injuries from last year," Burdette adds. "She has all the elements like TeShawne. I expect her to push TeShawne and break some records this season."
Rounding out the senior class is co captain Melissa Mascaro and Erin Signoracci. Mascaro, an East Longmeadow, Mass., native saw her first collegiate action last season and is a beam and floor specialist. Her leadership is essential to the team.
Burdette is expecting Signoracci to be an all around performer this season after she was limited last season after breaking her right ankle in last year’s preseason Gold and Blue meet.
The junior class also brings some experience for Burdette to work with this season. Emily Duryea gained valuable experience last season on floor, competing in six meets last season, scoring a career best 9.775 against Michigan. The Cheswick, Pa., native worked hard in the preseason polishing her skills and looks to make a bigger impact this season with hopes of cracking the bars and beam lineups.
Junior Julie Mazzant saw her first career collegiate action last year on vault and looks to continue improving in every event this season. The Beaver Falls, Pa., native scored a career best 9.6 on vault at the Nebraska Master’s Classic.
Junior Jessica Bartgis did not compete for the Mountaineers last season but looks to make an immediate impact on the all around lineup this season. She was easily Burdette’s biggest surprise coming out of the fall season.
"Jess has made the most turnaround," Burdette says. "She didn’t compete at all last year and did some exhibitions as a freshman. She really has a chance to compete in the all around for us this year. She’s extremely talented. She doesn’t really have a weak event."
The sophomore class is led by the talented all around capabilities of Carri Nagle and the vaulting expertise of Kari Williams.
Williams, a Newark, Del., native, was an all EAGL first team performer on vault after competing in every meet on that event. She was second on the team and third in the EAGL with a 9.865 vault RQS. She won vault once and tallied eight top five finishes.
Nagle, a Whitehall, Pa., native competed in four meets last season with a career best 9.725 on bars against Michigan and a 9.4 on floor at Penn State. Burdette is expecting big things from the for USA Gymnastics Elite national team member.
Rounding out the sophomores is Moon Township, Pa., native Ashley Scalercio who didn’t see action at all last season due to shoulder and knee injuries. A solid beam competitor, Burdette expects her to see her compete this season.
Six newcomers will don the Old Gold and Blue leotards for the first time this year.
"They have a lot of talent," Burdette says of this year’s rookie class. "It’s a matter of how fast they can learn the difference between club gymnastics and collegiate gymnastics because in age group they’re not used to the mindset of a team. They have to realize that mistakes will hurt the team, not just themselves like in club. As soon as they learn that the better they will be.
"That said this class is very comparable to our current senior class. It’s one of the stronger freshmen classes that we’ve ever brought in. They certainly have the talent to bring us to another level," she continued.
Shani Andrews, a Clarence, N.Y., native excels in bars and is a three time New York State level 10 all around champion. Kristen Bonner, a Middleburg, Fla., native, is a top notch bar and floor performer with excellent experience.
Invited walk on Melissa Cerasi, a Broadview Heights, Ohio, native, will most likely sit out this season due to an ankle injury, but is an excellent vaulter with a bright future. Casey DePerro, from Marlton, N.J., also excels on vault and was the 2000 New Jersey state floor and vaulting champion.
Alyssa DeSantis, a Steubenville, Ohio, native, has the best shot of any newcomer to crack the all around. A four time national qualifier, she was the 2000, 2002 level 10 regional beam champion and the 2002 level 10 state vault and floor champion.
Gretchen Richter from Madisonville, Texas, rounds out the class and provides excellent all around potential and good form on all events. She is a three time level 10 Region III Junior Olympic team member.
In addition to a mix of youth and veteran talent, two new assistant coaches join the Mountaineer program this season.
Joanna Parrett, a Huntington, Ind., native, and Danny Warbutton, a Belle Vernon, Pa., native, both bring a wealth of coaching experience to the Mountaineers.
"It’s been exciting having new assistants around with new ideas," Burdette says of the new assistant coaches in the gym. "Danny did a great job and has coached national level competitors. He’s very experienced and has an easy going personality.
"Joanna is an excellent coach with lots of experience. It’s been a very nice transition. My team was shocked at first about the turnover but they turned it around and used that as motivation to prove to the new coaches that they are good enough and make them work harder and not be complacent."
Being complacent is the last thing the Mountaineers can afford to do this year with the schedule that WVU faces this year.
"You compete at the level of the teams that you go against," Burdette says. "It helps you rise to that occasion. Competing against a schedule like this will help us prepare for that level. That makes you tougher and it helps you understand what bar you have to cross before you reach that national level of competition."
So with a blend of seasoned veterans, talented newcomers, new assistants and a top notch schedule, Burdette has her hands full as she mixes and matches lineups and guides the Mountaineers to their 25th consecutive regional (NCAA and AIAW included) and their consistent top 20 national ranking.
