Gymnastics Tallies Season-High Home Score
February 22, 2015 05:21 PM | General
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A season-high score on floor in the fourth rotation helped push the West Virginia University gymnastics team to a second place, 195.2 showing at the “Wendy M. Roach Invitational” Pink Meet this afternoon at the WVU Coliseum.
Maryland earned 195.35 and finished first, while Rutgers tallied 194.825 and placed third. No. 25 New Hampshire scored 194.1 and finished fourth.
Today’s win over the Wildcats is the Mountaineers’ first of the season against a ranked opponent. Additionally, WVU’s final tally is its third 195.0+ of the year and first scored at the Coliseum.
“We told this team in practice that we can’t accept excuses if we want to accomplish our goals,” said Mountaineer coach Jason Butts. “We had four strong, aggressive days of practice this week, and that helped generate so many positives in today’s meet. We needed this score and this kind of performance in front of a home crowd. It was good to get the win over UNH after losing just two weeks ago. Today is a good confidence boost for this team, too. We counted a fall this week and still scored higher than last week. These gymnasts are beginning to believe in their scoring potential.”
After jumping out to first place through the first two rotations, the Mountaineers plummeted to third place following a 48.3 showing on beam. WVU rallied in the fourth rotation, earning five scores of 9.8 or better on floor for a season-best 49.225 mark, its top floor point total since earning the same mark on March 15, 2013.
“We’ve practiced coming back from adversity each week in Cary Gym – we’re constantly pulling this team together and reminding them to move forward,” explained Butts. “Our practice habits are making our performance habits better, and I’m happy with that. If you always practice to be at 150 percent, then you’ll always be at 100 percent when there’s trouble.”
Three 9.825 scores on vault helped push WVU to a 48.95 score in the first rotation. Sophomore Nicolette Swoboda, freshman Zaakira Muhammad and junior Jaida Lawrence all earned 9.825 marks in consecutive vaults for the event victory. Today is the third vault win of the season for Lawrence, the second for Muhammad and the first for Swoboda. Senior Dayah Haley opened the rotation with a 9.75, and freshman Robyn Bernard followed with a 9.725.
The Mountaineers used six hit routines in the second rotation to power to a season-high 48.725 showing on bars. A trio of 9.775 marks helped WVU to its team score, with junior Audrey Tolbert earning the mark in her Mountaineer career debut. Junior Lindsey Litten and Muhammad also hit for 9.775, and the trio tied for fifth place. Swoboda and Haley matched their season highs of 9.725 and 9.675, respectively.
For the third straight week, freshman Jordan Gillette paced the Mountaineers on beam, this time scoring a career-high 9.8 and finishing tied for third place. It was the second consecutive podium finish for the Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, native. Sophomore Alexa Goldberg also scored a career high and finished in eighth place with a 9.775. Additionally, junior Melissa Idell earned a 9.7, and sophomore Brooklyn Doggette posted a career-high 9.675 in the leadoff position. WVU finished with a 48.3 team total.
A combined five season- and career-high marks helped the Mountaineers secure their season-best 49.225 floor score. Idell shone brightest for the team, earning a career-high 9.925 and finishing first overall. The mark is her first career 9.9+ score, and the win is her second in a month. Goldberg finished second with a career-high 9.85, her second straight score of 9.8 or better, while senior Brittney Harris and Haley tied for third with 9.825s; the score is a season high for Harris. Additionally, Swoboda opened the rotation with a career-best 9.8 and tied for sixth place.
“I think we have amazing choreography on floor, and our tumbling difficulty continues to get better and better,” said Butts. “These improvements are definitely paying off for us.”
Of note, UNH’s Meghan Pflieger finished first in the all-around with a 38.925 score. WVU did not compete a gymnast in the all-around today.
Despite the loss, the Mountaineers continue to own a 37-18-1 series advantage over the Terrapins (9-5-1, 3-3 Big Ten). The Mountaineers are now 28-10 against the Wildcats (11-4, 2-0 EAGL) and 56-0 against the Scarlet Knights (8-12, 2-4 Big Ten).
The Mountaineers close out their regular-season road slate at Pitt on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m., at the Fitzgerald Field House. WVU also will compete against North Carolina and Temple.
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