Gymnastics: WVU Retains No. 20 Ranking
March 02, 2009 01:11 PM | General
March 2, 2009
 |
||
| Amy Bieski |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team retained its No. 20 ranking in today’s GymInfo Poll for the second straight week.
The ranking follows the Mountaineers’ fourth straight 195.000-plus score, as WVU (8-6 overall, 4-1 EAGL) defeated Kentucky, 195.425-194.650, on March 1 at the WVU Coliseum. WVU’s latest score improved its RQS to 194.930. Through 10 meets, the team holds a 194.741 average.
The point total is the 46th-best in program history and the team’s second-best of the season.
Despite its strong marks overall, the team dropped in ranking on each apparatus – No. 18 on vault (48.975 RQS) and floor (48.905 RQS), No. 21 on bars (48.760 RQS) and No. 35 on beam (48.260 RQS).
Senior Mehgan Morris and junior Chelsi Tabor continue to hold national rankings. Morris, who earned her third 9.950 floor score of the season against the Wildcats, is ranked No. 20 in the event with a 9.860 RQS, while Tabor is No. 22 on the vault with a 9.860 RQS.
Regionally, the Mountaineers continue to rank No. 3 behind No. 1 Georgia (197.035 RQS) and No. 2 Florida (196.465 RQS).
Morris holds three regional top 20 rankings. The Belle, W.Va., native is ranked No. 4 on floor, No. 6 in all-around (39.010 RQS) and No. 8 on bars (9.845 RQS).
Sophomore Amy Bieski is ranked in the top 20 on four of the five events, including: No. 7 floor (9.850 RQS), No. 9 all-around (38.930 RQS), No. 10 vault (9.825 RQS) and No. 19 bars (9.760 RQS).
Three Mountaineers join Bieski in the vault rankings, as Tabor is No. 6, while freshman Tina Maloney and sophomore Emily Kerwin are both ranked No. 18 (9.790 RQS).
Sophomore Naja Johnson continues to hold a regional ranking on the bars (No. 17, 9.785 RQS).
WVU has a pair of juniors ranked on the beam. Kiersten Spoerke registers at No. 12 (9.760 RQS), while Shelly Purkat is No. 14 (9.735 RQS).
The Mountaineers continue to reign supreme in the EAGL Conference, as they are ranked No. 1. The team has held the top spot since Jan. 12. Additionally, the squad is No. 1 on the bars and floor, No. 2 on vault and No. 5 on beam.
Morris is the lone Mountaineer with a No. 1 conference ranking, as she holds the top spot on the bars. Both Bieski and Johnson join Morris in the top 10, as they rank No. 7 and No. 9, respectively.
No. 2 Tabor and No. 8 Bieski hold spots on the vault top 10 rankings, while Spoerke is No. 7 on the beam.
Additionally, Morris and Bieski are also ranked on the floor and in the all-around. Morris is No. 2 on each, while Bieski is No. 3 on the floor and No. 5 in the all-around.
The Mountaineers conclude their home season this Sunday, March 8, and welcome No. 19 Penn State to the WVU Coliseum for a 1 p.m. meet. WVU will honor its three seniors – Morris, Heather Izer and Erica Watson – in the home finale.
