Gym Blog: The Seniors Reflect
March 12, 2015 05:05 PM | General
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Dayah Haley, Beth Deal and Lia Salzano have built their WVU careers on leading the Mountaineers to new heights.
(WVU Photography Photo)
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University gymnastics seniors are a close group. A class of seven when they arrived in Morgantown prior to the 2012 season, only three are left standing in 2015: Beth Deal, Dayah Haley and Lia Salzano.
The trio has been driven by a one goal since early last April – put the Mountaineers pack in a position to qualify for the NCAA Regional Championships. WVU just missed the regional for the first time since 2003, and the rising seniors were going to make sure it did not happen again on their watch.
“It was so disappointing to sit at home last year,” said Haley, a native of Pasadena, Maryland. “We are so competitive, and that didn’t shine through last year’s squad like we knew it could. That’s why, this season, we’ve strived so hard to get this team back to the regional. We’re applying what we practice in Cary Gym in meets, and that’s helping us improve.
“I don’t plan to miss another regional.”
Haley and her classmates helped rejuvenate the WVU gymnastics program four years ago, as their freshman season coincided with coach Jason Butts’ first season. Together, the youthful coach and his eager rookies helped guide the Mountaineers to the 2012 East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) title, the squad’s first conference championship since 2008.
Four seasons later, that win still holds as the trio’s favorite gymnastics memory.
“Honestly, when I think back on my time at WVU, I’m not going to remember a lot of things, but I’m always going to have my EAGL ring to remind me of how hard we worked that season,” Deal, a Parkersburg, West Virginia, native, explained.
“That experience hasn’t been matched,” Haley echoed. “The look on Jason’s face after we won made all the work worth it.”
“The build-up throughout the whole meet was crazy,” said Salzano, a native of Centreville, Virginia. “Jason looked at all of us and said, ‘You’ve made me the happiest man alive.’ I like making him proud.”
Deal and Haley each competed at the championship. The final competitor of the day, Deal sealed the win for the Mountaineers in the last rotation, as she hit a then-career-high 9.9 beam routine and helped WVU defeat No. 20 NC State, 196.475-196.0. She walked away with the beam title.
“That team win set the bar so high for the three of us,” she explained. “Even though we moved into a different conference (Big 12 Conference) the next season, we’ve been chasing another ring each year.”
The Mountaineer seniors will get one last shot at a second conference title next week, as WVU will travel to Norman, Oklahoma, for the Big 12 Conference Championship, set for the Lloyd Noble Center on Saturday, March 21, at 5 p.m. EDT.
“We really look back at that freshman season a lot, and our goal is to repeat everything that worked for the team that year,” Salzano concluded.
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Though coach Butts does not name team captains, he has entrusted his senior trio to guide the Mountaineers throughout the year.
“We have different personalities, but we mesh really well and like each other,” said Haley. “We keep the atmosphere as light as possible, and I think we’re a great group of leaders because we each lead in a different way. It all fits together very nicely.”
So, how exactly do these seniors describe their classmates’ leadership tactics?
“Beth is firm but understanding,” said Haley. “She puts a lot of family values into her leadership. Beth won’t let a teammate cheat herself out of anything. She’s always looking out for people.”
“You need someone as part of your leadership team that’s going to lay down the law, and Beth is that person,” said Salzano. “People respect her.”
“Lia is the ‘silent but deadly’ type,” laughed Deal. “Dayah and I are so outspoken, but Lia is always the one that never quits in her motivational tactics.”
“She points out the little things that Beth and I don’t catch,” echoed Haley. “She’s more logical. She’s very empathetic.”
“Dayah is the perfect mixture of the both of us,” said Deal. “She has a great sense of humor and lightens everything up.”
“She relates to everyone so well,” Salzano expanded. “Dayah is so tough, and she’s constantly leading by example, both in the gym and at meets.”
Needless to say, the Mountaineer gymnasts have been in good hands this season.
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While the seniors have at least one more month with their teammates, they each have already thought about their parting messages.
“I want to remind my teammates that even on the hardest of days, you have to remember everything you love about this amazing sport and the incredible Mountaineer family you have supporting you each step of the way,” said Salzano. “Don’t take any of it for granted. I love you all more than you know. Thank you for being a part of all my fondest memories as a WVU gymnast. Keep climbing!”
“Working hard is something everyone is capable of, but being able to have fun at the same time is a privilege, and that is something this program prides itself on,” Haley said. “Enjoy the ride and embrace every second of it – I love you girls!”
“Cherish every moment, never take a single day for granted and always count your blessings,” Deal said. “Continue to keep the Mountaineer family tradition alive, and never stop climbing. I love you girls so much, and I’ll forever cherish all the memories we made.”
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The Mountaineer seniors will compete in their final regular-season meet this Saturday, March 14, against Penn and Cornell, at 4 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum. In addition to honoring Deal, Haley and Salzano following the competition, the Mountaineers also will welcome back their alumni and celebrate the program’s 700th win, earned with a sweep at Pitt on February 28.
Saturday will not be the seniors’ final time competing in the WVU Coliseum, as the Mountaineers will welcome the NCAA Morgantown Regional Championships on Saturday, April 4. Competition will begin at 4 p.m. All ticket information for the championships can be found HERE.
Let’s go Mountaineers!
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