Gymnastics: WVU Seeks Seventh EAGL Title
March 26, 2010 01:45 PM | General
March 26, 2010
 |
||
| Amy Bieski |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team looks for its second league title in three years as it competes at the 2010 East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championship Saturday, March 27, at 2 p.m., at Lundholm Gymnasium in Durham, N.H.
The six-time champion Mountaineers (14-7, 7-0 EAGL) enter tomorrow’s championship ranked third in the league with a 194.55 regional qualifying score (RQS). The team is also ranked third on bars (48.565) and third on beam (48.475).
Defending-champion NC State enters the championship as the No.1-ranked team with a 194.725 RQS. Maryland is ranked second (194.64), while host New Hampshire is ranked fourth (194.39) and North Carolina is fifth (193.855).
“I think this weekend’s championship is unique and will be difficult because there isn’t a clear-cut frontrunner,” says 36-year coach Linda Burdette-Good. “Winning this title is going to come down to whichever team hits on Saturday. There are about four or five teams that can win.
“We just need to do our best. If we can hit and do the routines just like we practice them, I think we have a chance.”
Tomorrow’s championship will be the first meeting this season between WVU and UNH. The Mountaineers have breezed through league competition this year and have defeated each league opponent, with the exception of the Wildcats, at least once.
In addition to the EAGL crown, WVU will also be competing for its second undefeated EAGL season in three years. The Mountaineers went 16-0 en route to their sixth league title in 2008. All time, WVU owns a 234-58-3 (.798) record against current conference foes. Additionally, WVU owns a winning record against each EAGL squad and their six titles are a league-best mark.
“We’re going into this meet looking to hit 24-for-24,” Burdette-Good explains. “That mentality has been working for us all season. Hitting tomorrow gives us a chance for the win.”
 |
||
| Tina Maloney |
Senior Chelsi Tabor leads a trio of Mountaineers looking to defend individual titles. Tabor, a Beckley, W.Va., native, has spent the last three seasons at the top of the EAGL vault rankings and currently ranks 41st in the nation, second in the league, with a 9.855 RQS. After securing her first league vault title in 2009, the two-time all-EAGL first team vault honoree looks to build on her career-best 9.95 routine, first achieved on March 6, and secure her second-straight vault crown.
“Chelsi likes the fight of competition and likes to go after prizes,” Burdette-Good says. “Defending her vault title is going to work in her advantage tomorrow.”
Sophomore Tina Maloney also looks for her second-straight vault title, as the Hanover, Ind., native tied Tabor at last year’s championship with a career-best 9.9 vault. Currently third on the team with a 9.727 average, Maloney vaulted in each meet this season and tallied a high of 9.285 on March 13.
Senior Shelly Purkat is the third Mountaineer looking for her second-straight EAGL win. The Edina, Minn., native tied for the 2009 beam crown with a career-best 9.875 score. Hampered by injury throughout her last season, Purkat has persevered and currently rank eighth in the EAGL, 17th in the Southeast region, with a 9.75 RQS. She most-recently scored a season-best 9.85 on March 19.
Junior Amy Bieski will join a slew of gymnasts in pursuit of the EAGL all-around crown. Ranked near the top of the pack throughout the season, the Nanticoke, Pa., native enters the championship ranked 44th in the nation, second in the league, with a 39.08 RQS.
Bieski has emerged as one of WVU’s most consistent gymnasts this season. The Mountaineers’ lone all-arounder, she has scored 427.15 points in 11 meets. Her 38.85, first-place showing on March 13 pushed her onto the Mountaineers’ all-time career points list. She currently ranks 18th with 1,396.7 points and needs 2.3 points to jump Nikki West (1996-99) for 17th place. Additionally, with seven 39.0-plus scores this season, Bieski has pushed her career total to 13 and ranks sixth on the WVU all-time list.
Though the Mountaineers rank just outside the EAGL top four on floor, they sport one of the deepest lineups. Currently owning a 48.88 RQS, WVU has scored 49.0-plus twice this season, including a 49.025 showing against Bridgeport last Friday.
Seniors Kiersten Spoerke and Shelly Purkat will open the squad’s rotation, with freshman Chelsea Goldschrafe competing in the third position. Tabor follows at No. 4, and Maloney and Bieski will round out the rotation. Maloney ranks 18th (9.795), while Bieski ranks seventh in the league, 10th in the region, with a 9.84 RQS.
WVU narrowly fell to NC State at last year’s championship, 195.7-195.5. Despite the defeat, the Mountaineers put forth one of their best championship showings in recent history. In addition to the aforementioned league champions, current volunteer assistant Mehgan Morris, the 2009 EAGL Outstanding Senior Gymnast, finished first on bars, floor and all-around. The six individual titles were a meet-best mark and matched a program-high previously achieved in 1998.
With seven wins up for grabs tomorrow, the Mountaineers have a chance to finish the season with 21 victories. Burdette-Good has guided 14 teams to 20-win seasons. WVU’s 2008 squad was the last to record 20 wins in one year and ended the season at 23-8.
Fans can follow the Mountaineers tomorrow, as live stats will be available at www.unhwildcats.com.
