Three Wishes
July 02, 2009 03:35 PM | General
By Shannon McNamara for MSNsportsNET.com
July 3, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - If West Virginia University rising junior Amy Bieski could have just one wish this summer, it would be to blissfully pass the days by the pool with her friends, idling away her free time with intense sun rays and even better music.
Yet, even while describing this colorful dream, Bieski knows all too well that this wish can only be half-achieved.
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| Amy Bieski is one of the top beam performers in the EAGL.
WVU photo |
“Of course,” the Nanticoke, Pa., native breathlessly added,” a day like that can only happen when we don’t have open gym.”
Open gym – one-third of a collegiate gymnast’s training schedule. The time during the year when each Mountaineer is encouraged to frequent Cary Gym, not only to keep in competitive shape, but more importantly, to work on new routines and skills that will project her to the forefront of the competitive field.
As much as Bieski would like to see her first wish fulfilled, she knows that it must be put on hold in order for her second wish to come to fruition.
“I’d really like to qualify for the NCAA Championship – that is definitely a junior year goal,” Bieski said. “I want the team to qualify first, above anything else, but based on my performance last season, I know I have the potential to qualify.”
Bieski speaks of her sophomore season – a year that saw her not suffer through the clichéd slump, but instead build upon a fantastic freshman campaign and emerge as one of the pillars the Mountaineers now will rely on throughout the next two years.
The spirited all-arounder flourished during her rookie season, garnering 513.4 points in 14 meets, the 11th-best season point total in Mountaineer history. A five time East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Rookie of the Week honoree, Bieski capped off her first year with first team all-EAGL honors on floor and all-around.
“My freshman season went better than I could have expected,” explained the speech pathology and audiology major. “Last year, I didn’t really feel like I had to live up to anything, but I definitely didn’t want to take any steps back.
“I felt like I had to do a lot for the team (last season). Each person plays a very important role, and I never like letting people down, so I always have that thought in the back of my mind.”
Far from a let-down, Bieski continued to grow and develop as a sophomore, ending the season with 456.15 points through 12 meets, 12.95 points behind top Mountaineer point-earner and NCAA Championship competitor, Mehgan Morris.
Bieski’s numbers reflected the Mountaineers’ smaller 2009 schedule, yet when viewed with the larger picture, they paint a fruitful future. With 969.55 points through two seasons, Bieski is on pace to end her Mountaineer career as one of the program’s all-time point earners.
One of Bieski’s biggest supporters on the floor this coming season will be Morris, who will return to Cary Gym this year as a volunteer coach. A mentor to Bieski during her final two years with the Mountaineers, Morris sees the potential in her former teammate to not only take over as the squad’s top point-earner, but to also lead WVU back to nationals.
“I think Amy has yet to reach her full capabilities in the gym,” Morris recently said. “She was extremely successful her first two seasons, but I really think she is going to flourish this season.
“Amy can easily qualify for nationals, whether as an individual or with the team.”
“Losing Mehgan is a big loss for our team this year, not only point-wise, but just as a teammate,” Bieski said.
“Mehgan and I really get along well. We bonded over these last two years, especially because our personalities are very similar. She understands what I go through each meet, since we both competed all-around. Not many people understand the stress that goes in to doing all four events each meet. She knows where I come from, so it will be good to have her along for the trips next season.”
Almost as important as the guidance Morris will provide Bieski next season are the lessons she left the junior from their first two years together.
“Mehgan liked to be really focused before a meet, and that’s how I am before we hit the floor,” Bieski explained. “Our competitive mindsets were very similar, but we were never competitive with each other, which some people always assumed.
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| Bieski hopes to take the torch from Mehgan Morris as WVU's most prominent all-arounder.
WVU photo |
“We had great teammate chemistry; we were always genuinely happy for each other. I hope that I can follow in her footsteps and just keep improving toward my senior season.”
The one Morris accomplishment that Bieski is dead-set on duplicating is her qualification to the national championship.
Bieski put together a solid performance at the 2009 NCAA Southeast Regional, scoring 38.90 points and finishing eighth overall. Though she admits now that it was not her best meet of the season, she is fueled by her brush with national qualification.
“We were up against a lot of awesome teams last year, like (eventual NCAA champion) Georgia and Penn State, and those teams have some amazing all-arounders,” said Bieski. “I did not doubt myself, but I also didn’t go out and compete with the assumption that I could sail through.
“Now I know that I have the potential to qualify. I know I have the potential, I’m just not as competitive as others. But I want to win; I always want to win.”
“Amy is more confident now than she’s ever been. It is especially evident in her summer workouts,” said Morris. “I’m hoping that I can do whatever is possible to help her reach her goals. I would honestly be surprised if she did not qualify her final two seasons.”
With Morris on board to help Bieski achieve her second wish, it would appear that her first wish will continue to rest on the backburner until her collegiate career comes to a close. But if Bieski had her way, a third wish would prevent that from ever happening.
“I can’t believe I only have two more years left at WVU,” an awed Bieski reflected. “It’s scary. At least this isn’t my senior season! I told my mom I wish I could prolong college as long as possible - I never want to leave.”
While Bieski is destined to one day join Morris as a Mountaineer alum, her third wish drives home her desire to make these next two years memorable – and knowing Bieski, she will do everything in her power to see that wish to the end.
