Gymnastics: Burdette Goes for 600th Win
January 30, 2009 03:40 PM | General
January 30, 2009
WVU vs. GW, UM and RU Notes
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| Mehgan Morris |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Coach Linda Burdette goes for win No. 600 as the No. 19 West Virginia University gymnastics team welcomes EAGL foes George Washington, Rutgers and Maryland on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m., to the WVU Coliseum.
The evening is a designated Alumni Meet and will celebrate Burdette’s 35 years with the Mountaineers and the rich tradition of the WVU program. Entering Saturday’s meet, Burdette (599-239-4) is one victory short of reaching the 600-win plateau. She already is the winningest coach with a WVU team.
The Mountaineers (2-3 overall, 1-0 EAGL) enter their only home quad-meet of the season on the heels of winning their home and conference season opener, a 194.775-192.700 victory over Pitt on Jan. 23.
Sophomore Amy Bieski, the reigning EAGL Gymnast of the Week, paced the squad with a 39.175 all-around win, her first of the season and third career 39.000-plus score. Bieski also won the vault with a personal best 9.90 score.
Senior Mehgan Morris completed the Mountaineers’ come-from-behind victory over the Panthers with a meet best 9.925 floor score. The Belle, W.Va., native also won the uneven bars with 9.850 points.
Junior Shelly Purkat returned to WVU’s lineup and finished first overall on the balance beam with a season best 9.750 score.
The Mountaineers scored season-best marks on the vault (49.050), bars (48.925) and floor (49.175). Through three weeks of competition, WVU is nationally ranked No. 15, No. 15 and No. 13, respectively, on those events.
Morris leads a trio of Mountaineers with individual national rankings, as she holds down the No. 22 spot on bars (9.842 avg.) and No. 24 spot on floor (9.842 avg.). Bieski ranks No. 21 on the floor (9.850 avg.), while junior Chelsi Tabor is No. 25 on vault (9.850 avg.).
WVU currently holds the top spot in the EAGL standings (194.183 avg.), while GW ranks No. 4 (7-1 record, 192.262 avg.), UM is No. 5 (3-1 record, 192.142 avg.) and RU is No. 8 (2-6 record, 186.858 avg.).
Fans can follow the Mountaineers in action by watching a live stream at www.MSNsportsNET.com or by clicking HERE for live stats.
