2011-12 Gymnastics Slate Revealed
September 26, 2011 04:08 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University Director of Athletics Oliver Luck announced today the 2011-12 gymnastics schedule.
The Mountaineers’ slate is one of their most challenging in recent history, as the team will face seven teams that finished the 2011 season ranked in the top 25, including three squads from the Southeastern Conference, two NCAA Championships participants and one Super Six squad.
“The WVU gymnastics team has a proud tradition of competing against the nation’s top programs, and this year’s schedule certainly puts that philosophy at the forefront,” says Luck. “I am excited to watch coach Jason Butts lead his first Mountaineer team throughout the 2012 season.”
WVU’s schedule features 11 regular-season meets, including five at the WVU Coliseum, and a unique preseason intrasquad at Pitt in December. In total, the Mountaineers will face 18 teams, including 2011 NCAA Championships participants Michigan and Arkansas; the Wolverines advanced to the Super Six Championships and finished in sixth place.
“This schedule is difficult on purpose – I believe the team is only as good as its competition, and this competition is some of the best we have faced over the last 10 years,” says first-year Mountaineer coach Butts. “I am excited to raise the bar for this team. I believe this schedule provides us with an opportunity to highlight the changes that have been made within Cary Gym. I am excited for the challenges that are ahead, and I know the team welcomes the change and is anxious to rise to the occasion.
“I’m especially happy to have the opportunity to compete against multiple Southeastern Conference members this year. WVU’s proximity to the SEC gives us a great advantage to compete against some of the best competition in gymnastics. These programs have rich histories, and my staff is hoping to pattern the future of Mountaineer gymnastics after their successes.”
The Mountaineers open 2012 with back-to-back home meets, as they play host to East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) foe Maryland and Penn State, the Big Ten runner-up, on Jan. 8, at the WVU Coliseum; the Nittany Lions just missed qualifying for the 2011 NCAA Championships and finished the season ranked No. 14. The squad will then welcome EAGL member Rutgers on Jan. 15.
WVU will welcome four squads ranked in the final top 25 from 2011, including Ohio State, Auburn and Arkansas, the NCAA North Central Regional champion and a national championships contender. Also visiting the WVU Coliseum this season are George Washington, Towson and Ball State.
“Bringing high-level teams into the Coliseum to entertain the Mountaineer faithful is a no-brainer,” Butts explains. “We strive to give our loyal fans a great show each time we complete, and I believe we’re in store for a memorable home season this year.”
WVU opens its road schedule at Bowling Green on Jan. 21. In total, WVU makes six road trips before the EAGL Championship, including visits to Michigan, Maryland, New Hampshire, Denver and LSU; the Pioneers ended the season ranked No. 17, while the Tigers were No. 20.
Three of the host teams finished the 2011 season ranked in the top 15 in attendance, with LSU at No. 9 (2,990 average), Michigan at No. 10 (2,762 average) and Denver at No. 15 (1,911 average).
The Mountaineers open their postseason with the EAGL Championship on March 24 in Pittsburgh. The championship will be WVU’s only meeting this year with North Carolina, the two-time defending league champions, NC State and Pitt. WVU has won six league championships since the EAGL’s inception in 1996, including the 2008 title, the team’s last; the Mountaineers have never gone more than four years without winning an EAGL championship.
Butts, the Mountaineers’ associate head coach last season, inherits a team that finished 13-10 in 2011 with a fourth-place finish at the EAGL Championship and a sixth-place showing at the NCAA Southeast Regional.
“I’m really excited to get into the competition arena with this team and to show off all of the hard work they have already put into the 2012 season,” adds Butts. “We’re bringing in great schools and making some exceptional road trips. I expect nothing short of an exciting and promising first season as head coach.”
Nine Mountaineers return this season, including senior all-EAGL honorees Tina Maloney and Nicole Roach. Also returning is sophomore Hope Sloanhoffer, a three-time first team all-EAGL honoree, six-time EAGL Rookie of the Week and the league championship’s vault and beam runner-up.
Eight newcomers are set for their WVU debuts this season, including sophomore transfer Erica Smith, a former junior international elite gymnast.
The complete 2011-12 gymnastics schedule can be found HERE.
The Mountaineers’ slate is one of their most challenging in recent history, as the team will face seven teams that finished the 2011 season ranked in the top 25, including three squads from the Southeastern Conference, two NCAA Championships participants and one Super Six squad.
“The WVU gymnastics team has a proud tradition of competing against the nation’s top programs, and this year’s schedule certainly puts that philosophy at the forefront,” says Luck. “I am excited to watch coach Jason Butts lead his first Mountaineer team throughout the 2012 season.”
WVU’s schedule features 11 regular-season meets, including five at the WVU Coliseum, and a unique preseason intrasquad at Pitt in December. In total, the Mountaineers will face 18 teams, including 2011 NCAA Championships participants Michigan and Arkansas; the Wolverines advanced to the Super Six Championships and finished in sixth place.
“This schedule is difficult on purpose – I believe the team is only as good as its competition, and this competition is some of the best we have faced over the last 10 years,” says first-year Mountaineer coach Butts. “I am excited to raise the bar for this team. I believe this schedule provides us with an opportunity to highlight the changes that have been made within Cary Gym. I am excited for the challenges that are ahead, and I know the team welcomes the change and is anxious to rise to the occasion.
“I’m especially happy to have the opportunity to compete against multiple Southeastern Conference members this year. WVU’s proximity to the SEC gives us a great advantage to compete against some of the best competition in gymnastics. These programs have rich histories, and my staff is hoping to pattern the future of Mountaineer gymnastics after their successes.”
The Mountaineers open 2012 with back-to-back home meets, as they play host to East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) foe Maryland and Penn State, the Big Ten runner-up, on Jan. 8, at the WVU Coliseum; the Nittany Lions just missed qualifying for the 2011 NCAA Championships and finished the season ranked No. 14. The squad will then welcome EAGL member Rutgers on Jan. 15.
WVU will welcome four squads ranked in the final top 25 from 2011, including Ohio State, Auburn and Arkansas, the NCAA North Central Regional champion and a national championships contender. Also visiting the WVU Coliseum this season are George Washington, Towson and Ball State.
“Bringing high-level teams into the Coliseum to entertain the Mountaineer faithful is a no-brainer,” Butts explains. “We strive to give our loyal fans a great show each time we complete, and I believe we’re in store for a memorable home season this year.”
WVU opens its road schedule at Bowling Green on Jan. 21. In total, WVU makes six road trips before the EAGL Championship, including visits to Michigan, Maryland, New Hampshire, Denver and LSU; the Pioneers ended the season ranked No. 17, while the Tigers were No. 20.
Three of the host teams finished the 2011 season ranked in the top 15 in attendance, with LSU at No. 9 (2,990 average), Michigan at No. 10 (2,762 average) and Denver at No. 15 (1,911 average).
The Mountaineers open their postseason with the EAGL Championship on March 24 in Pittsburgh. The championship will be WVU’s only meeting this year with North Carolina, the two-time defending league champions, NC State and Pitt. WVU has won six league championships since the EAGL’s inception in 1996, including the 2008 title, the team’s last; the Mountaineers have never gone more than four years without winning an EAGL championship.
Butts, the Mountaineers’ associate head coach last season, inherits a team that finished 13-10 in 2011 with a fourth-place finish at the EAGL Championship and a sixth-place showing at the NCAA Southeast Regional.
“I’m really excited to get into the competition arena with this team and to show off all of the hard work they have already put into the 2012 season,” adds Butts. “We’re bringing in great schools and making some exceptional road trips. I expect nothing short of an exciting and promising first season as head coach.”
Nine Mountaineers return this season, including senior all-EAGL honorees Tina Maloney and Nicole Roach. Also returning is sophomore Hope Sloanhoffer, a three-time first team all-EAGL honoree, six-time EAGL Rookie of the Week and the league championship’s vault and beam runner-up.
Eight newcomers are set for their WVU debuts this season, including sophomore transfer Erica Smith, a former junior international elite gymnast.
The complete 2011-12 gymnastics schedule can be found HERE.
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