Gymnastics: Sloanhoffer Named MVP
April 27, 2011 05:02 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Freshman Hope Sloanhoffer earned the inaugural Linda Burdette-Good Award as the Most Valuable Player of the West Virginia University gymnastics team at the squad’s 2011 season banquet, held tonight at the Erickson Alumni Center.
Sloanhoffer, a Cornwall, N.Y., native, is the first rookie MVP since Amy Bieski shared the honor with Mehgan Morris in 2008. The award is voted upon by gymnastics team members.
Other award winners were seniors Bieski (Joseph Medrick Award – top all-around gymnast) and Emily Kerwin (John Quackenbush Award for Mountaineer Spirit), and freshman Bethany Yurko (Sally Medrick Award – most improved gymnast). All but the Joseph Medrick Award are based on a team vote.
“It is a huge honor to receive an award based on your teammates’ votes,” says newly-appointed coach Jason Butts. “I think each of these honors is deserved for all four gymnasts, and the team did a great job selecting the recipients.”
Sloanhoffer hit 40 out of 40 routines this season and scored 9.8 or better 30 times. She earned the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Specialist and Rookie of the Week honors a combined nine times and finished second on beam at the league championship with a career-best 9.9 score. She also scored career bests of 9.95 on vault, 9.875 on floor, 9.6 on bars and 38.875 in the all-around.
Also honored this evening were the six Mountaineer seniors – Bieski, Kerwin, Naja Johnson, Stephanie Keaton, Faye Meaden and Alysha Pretzello.
The Mountaineers finished the season with a 13-10 overall record. The team placed fourth at the 2011 EAGL Championship and advanced to the 2011 NCAA Southeast Regional Championships, the squad’s 28th regional appearance since 1983.
Sloanhoffer, a Cornwall, N.Y., native, is the first rookie MVP since Amy Bieski shared the honor with Mehgan Morris in 2008. The award is voted upon by gymnastics team members.
Other award winners were seniors Bieski (Joseph Medrick Award – top all-around gymnast) and Emily Kerwin (John Quackenbush Award for Mountaineer Spirit), and freshman Bethany Yurko (Sally Medrick Award – most improved gymnast). All but the Joseph Medrick Award are based on a team vote.
“It is a huge honor to receive an award based on your teammates’ votes,” says newly-appointed coach Jason Butts. “I think each of these honors is deserved for all four gymnasts, and the team did a great job selecting the recipients.”
Sloanhoffer hit 40 out of 40 routines this season and scored 9.8 or better 30 times. She earned the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Specialist and Rookie of the Week honors a combined nine times and finished second on beam at the league championship with a career-best 9.9 score. She also scored career bests of 9.95 on vault, 9.875 on floor, 9.6 on bars and 38.875 in the all-around.
Also honored this evening were the six Mountaineer seniors – Bieski, Kerwin, Naja Johnson, Stephanie Keaton, Faye Meaden and Alysha Pretzello.
The Mountaineers finished the season with a 13-10 overall record. The team placed fourth at the 2011 EAGL Championship and advanced to the 2011 NCAA Southeast Regional Championships, the squad’s 28th regional appearance since 1983.
Gold-Blue Spring Festival Fan Recap
Sunday, April 19
John Neider | April 18
Saturday, April 18
Coach Zac Alley | April 18
Saturday, April 18
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 18
Saturday, April 18
