Gymnastics: WVU Splits at Michigan St.
February 28, 2004 09:12 PM | General
February 28, 2004
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EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The West Virginia University gymnastics team defeated Ohio State 195.975-194.8, but fell to No. 22 Michigan State (which scored a school-record 196.775) on Saturday night in a tri-meet at MSU’s Jenison Field House.
Opening the meet on the balance beam, West Virginia (10-4-1) totaled a 48.95 and was paced by freshman Janáe Cox’s 9.85. Fellow freshman Amie Bouchier had a career-best performance, landing a 9.825.
On floor in the night’s second rotation, the Mountaineers were once again led by Cox. This time, the Otisco, Ind., native, scored a team-high 9.875. Both senior Jessica Bartgis and sophomore Gretchen Richter also landed a 9.8 or higher mark, scoring a 9.85 and a 9.825, respectively. Overall, WVU scored a 49.025 on the apparatus to take a second place standing into the third rotation.
Junior Kari Williams scored a career-best 9.95 on vault to lead West Virginia to a 49.3 team score. Both Cox and Bartgis scored 9.875s while Richter added a career-high tying 9.85.
West Virginia entered the fourth and final rotation trailing Michigan State by a tenth of a point, but was forced to count a fall on bars and as a result maintained their second place position. The night’s performance on the apparatus was highlighted by Cox’s career-best 9.9 mark. With that score, she has now registered a 9.9 or higher on every event in her rookie season.
Cox won the all-around with a 39.5 mark and Bartgis finished second with a 39.4.
Head coach Linda Burdette now boasts 497 wins, making her three victories shy of becoming only the third coach in WVU history to win 500 contests.
The Mountaineers are next in action on Friday, March 5, when they travel to EAGL foe N.C. State for a 7 p.m., quad meet with the Wolfpack, North Carolina and Ball State.
