Gymnastics: Solid Win Over Southern Utah
February 04, 2005 11:12 PM | General
February 4, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A remarkable 20 individual season highs were either tied or established for the West Virginia University gymnastics team in the Mountaineers’ solid 195.875-194.7 win over nationally-ranked Southern Utah Friday night at the WVU Coliseum. The total of 20 did not include three first-timers on events.
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| Sophomore Tynisha Dennis performs her routine on the balance beam during West Virginia's meet Friday against Southern Utah.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
The Mountaineers, evening their record to 2-2 on the season, toppled the No. 17-rated Thunderbirds (1-3) with team season highs on all their events, as well, and a new season-best team score.
“We were much more confident,” said head coach Linda Burdette. “We didn’t force anything and we just made it happen. Southern Utah is a good team and it was a fun meet. It’s fun when you win.”
Sophomore Janáe Cox won the all-around for West Virginia with a season-high 39.35, followed by senior Jessica Bartgis’ 2005-best 39.225. The score of at 39.0 or higher is the 12th of Cox’ career and the 13th for Bartgis ranking them fourth and a tied for fifth, respectively, in school history.
The Mountaineers won three of four events with scores of 49.2 on vault, 38.8 on uneven bars, and 49.075 on balance beam. The Thunderbirds, with their No. 8 nationally-ranked floor team, edged WVU, 48.9-48.8, on the floor exercise led by event-winner Sheena Shaw’s 9.875.
West Virginia set the tone in the first rotation with its No. 24-nationally ranked vault team as all six competitors landed season highs led by senior Kari Williams’ 9.925, her 14th career vault score of at least 9.9 placing her fourth in school history on the vault in that category and ninth overall. Sophomore Janáe Cox (9.875), senior Jessica Bartgis (9.825), freshman Jaime Gold (9.825) and sophomore Tynisha Dennis (9.75) all posted season highs, while sophomore Cheryl Goldenfield’s 9.6 season best was dropped.
Bartgis graded the highest on bars with a 9.825, while Cox and senior Carri Nagle tied season highs with a pair of 9.775s. Freshman Katie McGregor scored a career mark of 9.725, while sophomore Sabrina Noonan (9.7) and Williams (9.625) saw their first action of the season on the event.
Cox won the beam with a 9.875, while Goldenfield tabbed a 9.825 and Dennis and Bartgis 9.8s. Cox’ second-place sum of 9.825 led the Mountaineers on the floor along with Bartgis with a season-best 9.775 as well as Goldenfield’s 9.75.
West Virginia returns to action Sunday, Feb. 13, at 1 p.m. when the Mountaineers host Penn State and Ball State at the WVU Coliseum.
