Gymnastics: WVU Welcomes Bridgeport
March 18, 2010 04:35 PM | General
March 18, 2010
 |
||
| Amy Bieski |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University’s gymnastics team concludes its regular season against Bridgeport on Friday, March 19, at 7 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum.
The Mountaineers (13-7, 7-0 EAGL) and the Purple Knights (25-8) will meet for the third time in five years; WVU owns a 2-0 series advantage.
WVU enters Friday’s contest on a two-meet win-streak, having earned victories against Bowling Green (194.725-191.55) on March 6, and at North Carolina (193.775-193.0) on March 13.
Though the Mountaineers stand outside the nation’s top 25, their regional qualifying score (RQS) of 194.5 ranks first in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) and third in the Southeast region. WVU averages 193.878 points per meet.
Junior Amy Bieski, the nation’s 36th-best all-arounder with a 39.08 RQS, looks to break onto the WVU all-time scoring list tomorrow evening. With 1,357.85 career points to her name, the Nanticoke, Pa., native stands 19.5 points short of tying Susie Pierce (1989-91) for 19th place.
Bieski, the reigning EAGL Gymnast of the Week and a four-time honoree this season, has scored 39.0-plus points in six of the last eight meets. Her career total stands at 13, the seventh-best mark in program history.
Senior Chelsi Tabor returns to the WVU Coliseum hoping to duplicate the same success she had two weeks ago. The Beckley, W.Va., native destroyed a two-year personal-best mark of 9.925 and vaulted to a 9.95 score against the Falcons. Tabor, ranked fifth in the league with a 9.835 RQS, owns six career 9.9 scores and ranks sixth on the vault all-time list.
The Mountaineers needed a comeback effort against the Tar Heels last week after falling behind, 48.9-47.725, through one rotation. Bieski led WVU to the win with a first place, 39.125 all-around showing. She tied Tabor and sophomore Tina Maloney for first place on vault (9.825), and also tied sophomore Nicole Roach for second place on bars (9.75). Additionally, Bieski tallied 9.85 points on floor, the meet’s second-best score, and finished in third place overall. Senior Shelly Purkat paced the Mountaineers on beam with a third-place, 9.725 effort.
Friday’s meet will be the last home dual meet for seniors Kiersten Spoerke, Ashley Wilson, Tabor and Purkat. The quartet, along with senior student athletic trainer Kate Goeler, will be recognized at the contest’s conclusion.
Additionally, Friday is a Chick-fil-A at Morgantown Mall Coloring Sheet Night. All kids who bring a completed coloring sheet from the Chick-fil-A at the Morgantown Mall will receive free admission to the meet. CLICK HERE to download a Chick-fil-A coloring sheet.
Fans can follow the Mountaineers Friday by clicking HERE for live stats.
