Gymnastics: WVU Struggles In Season Opener
January 16, 2005 04:37 PM | General
January 16, 2005
KENT, Ohio – The West Virginia University gymnastics team struggled in its 2005 season opener at Kent State Sunday at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center in Kent, Ohio. The No. 23-ranked Mountaineers scored their lowest team total since the 2002 season opener in their 190.875-190.525 upset loss at the hands of the unranked Golden Flashes.
In addition to the poor performance by West Virginia, the lower scores were compounded by the redefined and more stingier judging system new for this season. The previous low score was 189.925 at Michigan State in 2002.
West Virginia outscored Kent State on the vault, 48.225-47.225, led by three Mountaineers in the top three. Sophomore Janáe Cox won the event with a 9.8 score marking her fifth career first-place finish on the vault. Freshman Jaime Gold made her college debut with the first of two second-place finishes on the day with a 9.75, while senior Kari Williams placed third with 9.7.
Carri Nagle began her senior year with a second-place score of 9.775 on the uneven bars, but the Mountaineers struggled on the event with a 47.225 team score — a showing 1.325 points less than their lowest score last year. Cox was the only other Mountaineer in the top five with a 9.65. The Golden Flashes countered with 48.225 points on the bars led by senior Erika Linnerstein's first-place routine of 9.825.
The Mountaineers absorbed a low score on the floor exercise, as well. Sophomore Tynisha Dennis notched her first career win with a 9.725, followed by Gold's second-place routine of 9.7. Five of the next six best scores on the floor belong to Golden Flashes, led by Jill Kowalski's 9.675 which gave Kent State a 47.65 team score and the win on the floor for its final rotation.
West Virginia trailed by 0.375 going into the final rotation, which saw Nagle and sophomore Cheryl Goldenfield earning high marks on the balance beam. They tied for the win with scores of 9.775. Kent State (1-0), however, owned the next four highest beam scores winning the event 48.1-47.75.
Kent State's April Zentko won the all-around with a 38.525. Cox, whose lowest career all-around score is 39.025 in her first college meet last year, struggled in the meet with 37.8, while senior Jessica Bartgis scored 37.325.
West Virginia (0-1) returns to action Saturday at 7 p.m. for its East Atlantic Gymnastics League opener at Pitt.
WEST VIRGINIA (190.525)
VAULT (48.425) –– Janáe Cox 9.8, Jaime Gold 9.75, Kari Williams 9.7, Tynisha Dennis 9.6, Cheryl Goldenfield 9.575, Jessica Bartgis 9.525.
UNEVEN BARS (47.225) — Carri Nagle 9.775, Janáe Cox 9.65, Jessica Bartgis 9.450, Alyssa DeSantis 9.2, Jaime Gold 9.15, Kara Weaver 9.075
BALANCE BEAM (47.750) — Cheryl Goldenfield 9.775, Carri Nagle 9.775, Tynisha Dennis 9.625, Jessica Bartgis 9.4, Janáe Cox 9.075, Aimee Brown 9.1,
FLOOR EXERCISE (47.2) — Tynisha Dennis 9.725, Jaime Gold 9.7, Cheryl Goldenfield 9.55, Janáe Cox 9.275, Jessica Bartgis 8.95, Carri Nagle 8.7.
ALL-AROUND – Janáe Cox 37.8, Jessica Bartgis 37.325.
