Gymnastics: WVU Set to Compete at Master’s Classic
February 27, 2010 12:33 PM | General
By Shannon McNamara for MSNsportsNET.com
February 27, 2010
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| Chelsi Tabor |
No. 11 Nebraska will play host to the meet, which also features No. 18 Denver and No. 20 Arizona, at the Devaney Center.
Sunday’s quad-meet, the Mountaineers’ (11-4, 6-0 EAGL) first since they swept the Maryland quad on Jan. 30, is WVU’s first meet with NU (10-2) and UofA (2-5). The Mountaineers and the then-No. 16 Pioneers (14-3) met four weeks ago in College Park, Md., with WVU earning a 194.6-192.85 victory.
The Mountaineers lead their series with the Wildcats (2-1) and the Pioneers (3-1), and trail the Cornhuskers (1-8). In their last meeting, NU outscored WVU, 194.45-194.225, at the 2009 NCAA Southeast Regional, while WVU defeated UofA, 194.4-193.6, in 2003.
“We’re very excited for this weekend,” says 36-year coach Linda Burdette-Good. “The Masters Classic is a very big meet and Nebraska does a great job hosting it. It’s more like a conference championship and it is an exciting time for the spectators and the athletes.”
WVU enters Sunday’s meet with a 194.085 regional qualifying score (RQS). The Mountaineers are nationally ranked No. 19 on floor (48.81 RQS) and No. 24 on beam (48.195 RQS).
“Our biggest hurdle this weekend will be maintaining our focus with all of the good competition we will face,” Burdette-Good explains. “We need to do what we have done so far this season. Our goal isn’t to conquer the world – we just want to hit our routines. Our goal is to hit 24-for-24 and try to continue the consistency we have built.”
Senior Chelsi Tabor and freshman Chelsea Goldschrafe enter this weekend’s meet as the reigning East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Specialist and Rookie of the Week.
Tabor, a Beckley, W.Va., native, earned her honor after a strong performance at Penn State on Feb. 20 in which she tied for second place on vault with 9.825 points, and tied for third place on beam with a career-best 9.8 score.
Goldschrafe, a Franklin Lakes, N.J., native, earned her recognition following a career-best 9.85 beam showing at PSU. She finished second overall, her first career top three finish.
Tabor broke onto the national vault rankings this week at No. 47 (9.81 RQS). The RQS ranks sixth in the southeast region and first in the EAGL. Goldschrafe currently ranks 23rd on beam in the southeast region with a 9.385 RQS.
Junior Amy Bieski enters Sunday’s meet nationally ranked 25th in the all-around with a 38.895 RQS. The Nanticoke, Pa., native is also ranked 32nd on floor (9.815 RQS). Having scored 39.0-plus points in each of the last three meets, Bieski looks to continue her streak and earn her fifth 39.0-plus score of the season this weekend.
Additionally, junior Naja Johnson, out since Jan. 24 with an injury, will make her return to the bars lineup Sunday.
The Mountaineers recently lost at then-No. 13 Penn State, 195.95-194.925, on Feb. 20. WVU was outscored on each event but beam, where the Mountaineers defeated the Nittany Lions, 48.475-48.2. The squad scored 48.85 on vault, 48.7 on bars and 48.9 on floor. Bieski paced the Mountaineers and finished third overall with 39.25 points.
Fans can follow the Mountaineers Sunday by clicking HERE for live stats.
