Gymnastics Splits Season Opener
January 09, 2015 09:20 PM | General
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COLLEGE PARK, Maryland – The West Virginia University gymnastics team hit 23-for-24 routines and scored 193.5 in its season-opening meet, finishing in second place tonight at Maryland’s XFINITY Center.
George Washington scored 194.325 and finished first overall, while the host Terrapins tallied 193.025 and finished third.
“The goal tonight was to come into this arena and not count a fall, so mission accomplished,” said fourth-year coach Jason Butts. “I think tonight was a great start for the year. I’m honestly not focused on the score – we didn’t count a fall, and we can’t say we did that on the road last year. This team proved tonight it can go into a different environment and hit its routines, and we can only grow from here.”
Despite the loss, the Mountaineers (1-1) continue to own a 46-2 record over the Colonials (2-0). Tonight’s win against the Terrapins (0-2) is WVU’s first since 2013 and pushes the team’s series advantage to 37-17-1.
Sophomore Alexa Goldberg shone brightest for the Mountaineers, scoring 9.85 in the second-to-last uneven bars routine of the night and winning the event outright. The Ivyland, Pennsylvania, native earned a 9.9 from one judge.
“What a beautiful routine from Alexa,” said Butts. “That was huge for the team and for Alexa.”
The Mountaineers could not have opened the meet any better, hitting six-for-six on the balance beam and scoring 48.1. Senior Beth Deal anchored the lineup with a solid, reworked routine and scored 9.775, good enough for fourth place. Junior Melissa Idell matched her career high of 9.7 and tied for seventh place, while classmate Lindsey Litten tallied 9.675 in her beam career debut and tied for ninth. Of note, tonight also was the beam career debut for sophomores Mackenzie Myers and Brooklyn Doggette, and freshman Robyn Bernard.
“Beam was great tonight – the fact that we stayed on in the first rotation played a big role in our success,” Butts explained.
WVU went five-for-six on floor in the second rotation and tallied a 48.3 score, pushing its two-rotation mark to 96.35. Senior Dayah Haley anchored the lineup with a team-best 9.725 score, placing her ninth overall. Sophomore Alexa Goldberg tallied 9.7 and finished 11th. Idell competed in between the duo and scored 9.65.
“I thought floor was exciting tonight,” said Butts. “The scores didn’t reflect that, but that’s OK – we can work on that.”
Three 9.8 scores on vault helped push the Mountaineers to a 48.825 tally, giving the team 145.275 after three rotations. Haley opened the lineup with a 9.8, 0.025 short of her career high. Freshman Zaakira Muhammad and junior Jaida Lawrence also added 9.8s, and the trio finished third overall. Additionally, sophomore Nicolette Swoboda tallied 9.725, and classmate Emma Lasker scored 9.7.
The Mountaineers closed the meet with a six-for-six showing on the uneven bars, giving the team a 48.275 tally. In addition to Goldberg’s winning 9.85 score, four Mountaineers tallied 9.625 – Bernard, Litten, Haley and Muhammad - good enough for eighth place.
WVU did not have a gymnast compete in the all-around tonight. GW’s Jillian Winstanley won the event with a 39.0 score.
The Mountaineers continue their season-opening road trip next weekend with a tri-meet at No. 18 Ohio State, with No. 8 Michigan, on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 4 p.m.
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