Gymnastics: WVU Set for Pitt, Kent State
January 15, 2010 04:04 PM | General
January 15, 2010
WVU at Pitt with Kent State Notes
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| Amy Bieski |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 25 West Virginia University gymnastics team will continue its season-opening road trip tomorrow, Jan. 16, at Pitt with Kent State at 7 p.m., at the Fitzgerald Field House.
Saturday’s tri-meet will serve as Pitt and Kent State’s season opener. The Mountaineers enter the meet with a 1-2 record, having defeated Western Michigan (191.225-189.525) and lost to Michigan State (193.925-191.225) and Penn State (193.3-191.225) in East Lansing, Mich., on Jan. 8.
“I think the whole team is ready to step-up to the challenge this weekend,” 36-year coach Linda Burdette-Good says. “The team is excited for more competition. The opportunity is there to improve our scores from last week, and each girl that will compete has the ability to hit.”
Additionally, the meeting between the Panthers and the Mountaineers opens both squads’ East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) schedule.
“We’re anxious to compete against Pitt and get an early glance at where we stand in the league,” Burdette-Good says. “Though it’s still early in the season, we should be able to gain a better perspective after this weekend.”
The Mountaineers own a winning record over both teams; WVU is 47-12-2 all-time against Pitt and 20-9 against KSU.
WVU went 2-0 against Pitt last season. The Mountaineers defeated the Panthers on Jan. 23 in a dual meet, 194.775-192.7, at the WVU Coliseum, and at the 2009 EAGL Championship when they finished second overall (195.5) and Pitt finished fourth (194.675).
The Mountaineers and Golden Flashes have not met since 2007, when WVU downed KSU, 194.625-192.275.
WVU enters Saturday’s meet with Top 25 national rankings on floor (No. 12) and vault (No. 24). Through one week of competition, the Mountaineers rank first overall in the EAGL and are tops in each event but vault (No. 2) and beam (No. 4).
Juniors Amy Bieski and Naja Johnson respectively will compete as the reigning EAGL Gymnast and Specialist of the Week.
Bieski, a Nanticoke, Pa., native, earned the award after finishing fifth overall last Friday with a score of 38.275 points. She also crossed the 1,000-point threshold, and her career point total now stands at 1,007.825.
Johnson’s honor followed her first-place, 9.85 showing on bars; the mark matched a career high set last season. She also tied Bieski for fourth on floor with a 9.825 score.
Overall, the Mountaineers finished second on floor (48.875), third on vault (48.325) and bars (47.725) and fourth on beam (46.3).
Fans can follow the Mountaineers on Saturday by visiting www.MSNsportsNET.com for live stats.
