Gymnastics: Co-Captains Announced
November 09, 2004 02:26 PM | General
November 9, 2004
 Williams |
 Cox |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University gymnastics coach Linda Burdette announced Tuesday the team’s captains for the 2005 season. Sophomore Janáe Cox and senior Kari Williams will serve as co-captains.
Williams, a native of Newark, Del., a returning captain from last year becomes the 22nd WVU gymnast to serve as captain for multiple years. Cox, who hails from Otisco, Ind., becomes only the second Mountaineer sophomore named captain, joining former WVU gymnast Andrea DeFelice who captained the team from 1988-1990.
“The mix of old and new should be a good combination,” Burdette, who enters her 31st year as head coach, said. “A successful teams comes from leadership and it’s important that the captains make this happen.”
Cox, the rookie of the year in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League in 2004, qualified as an individual for the NCAA Championships in the all-around. She was also voted first team all-EAGL in the all-around, vault, balance beam and uneven bars.
“Janáe brings a new perspective being so young,” Burdette said. “She keeps an open mind and has such a good work ethic and is very vocal.”
Williams, one of the top vaulters in school history, enters her fourth year on the team as a reigning second-team all-EAGL selection in the vault. She boasts 12 scores of 9.9 or higher on the vault, including her career high of 9.95 set twice last year.
“Kari brings a lot of experience,” Burdette said. “She did a nice job working with the team and the coaches last year and we are fortunate to have her back.”
The season will begin Jan. 9 when the Mountaineers compete in their annual Blue & Gold intrasquad meet at the WVU Coliseum.
