Gymnastics: WVU Places Second at EAGL
March 30, 2007 10:10 PM | General
March 30, 2007
MEET RESULTS
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| Janáe Cox |
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team placed second with a season high 195.300 points at the 12th annual East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championship before a crowd of 1,587 on Friday night at the Comcast Center in College Park, Md.
North Carolina State won the meet with a 195.475 while North Carolina placed third with 194.925 points. Pittsburgh (194.150) came in fourth and was followed by George Washington (192.775), Rutgers, (192.600), New Hampshire (191.525) and host Maryland (191.175).
By finishing ahead of six teams, WVU improved its season record to 28-9 and 17-2 in the EAGL. The 28 wins is the most in school history.
NC State picked up its third (1999, 2000) EAGL team championship.
EAGL Gymnast of the Year Janáe Cox took second in the all-around by tying her season-high of 39.325 points. North Carolina’s Christine Robella claimed the all-around with a 39.350.
After each team had completed one event, West Virginia stood alone at the top of the standings thanks to 48.850 points on bars. The Mountaineers got consistent routines from all six athletes in the lineup. Junior Jaime Gold swung one of her top career scores with a 9.7 in the second spot of the lineup. Cox and sophomore Erica Watson hit their routines to each score 9.825 and Mehgan Morris finished the group with a team-high 9.875. Morris’ score would take second at the meet and was her 11th score above 9.8 on bars this season. Pitt vaulted for 48.775 points to claim second and North Carolina vaulted into third with 48.725 points through the first two rotations.
WVU stepped onto the beam and could not stay in the lead as the Mountaineers were forced to count one fall toward the team’s score of 48.175. Amie Bouchier, Tynisha Dennis and Kara Weaver all hit for 9.7s and Cox posted the team’s high score on the event with a 9.775. WVU fell to fourth though, with a team score of 97.025 as NC State held the high mark of 97.600 after two events.
West Virginia battled back to get in second place and cut the deficit to 146.375-146.200 after scoring a meet-high 49.175 on floor. Shelly Purkat (9.8), Gold (9.825), and Morris (9.875) all hit their floor routines and Cox rounded out the lineup with a 9.9 to tie her season high. Cox tied for second at the meet on the floor.
NC State went 49.100 on bars to compile a 195.475 team score during the seventh rotation (WVU had a bye), meaning WVU would have to score 49.3 points on vault to win its sixth EAGL title in school history.
Dennis couldn’t have gotten WVU off to a better start on vault with a career high 9.875 at the top of the lineup. Chelsi Tabor followed with a 9.8 before Cox scored a 9.825 and Gold vaulted a 9.85 to give the Mountaineers a strong finish. But WVU’s 49.100 vault score wasn’t enough to move past the Wolfpack as WVU claimed second with the season high score of 195.300. Dennis had the meet’s second highest vault score.
WVU is now 58-19-1 all-time at the EAGL Championship and the Mountaineers await their postseason destination to be announced on Monday, April 2.
