MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - For the first time in more than two years, the West Virginia University gymnastics team is nationally ranked, as the Mountaineers sit at No. 22 in today’s Road to Nationals Rankings.

 

The Mountaineers (2-2, 0-1) jumped four positions following back-to-back 195.8 performances at the WVU Coliseum, including a 195.8-190.175 victory over William & Mary on Jan. 24. The team boasts a 195.083 season average following three weeks of competition.  

 

WVU is nationally ranked for the first time since the squad was ranked No. 25 in the March 18, 2013 GymInfo Poll. The Mountaineers were ranked for six weeks that season and reached as high as No. 16.

 

The Mountaineers made their biggest move in the floor rankings this week, as the team moved seven spots to No. 23 (48.917 avg.) following its season-best 49.3 showing on Sunday. WVU also is up six spots to No. 33 on balance beam (48.442 avg.) and up two spots to No. 22 on uneven bars (48.767 avg.). The team also ranks No. 15 nationally on vault (48.958 avg.).

 

Individually, two Mountaineers own two national rankings. Junior Alexa Goldberg is ranked No. 10 on bars (9.875 avg.) and No. 30 in the all-around (39.108 avg.), while sophomore Zaakira Muhammad ranks No. 12 in the all-around (39.325 avg.) and No. 34 on vault (9.842 avg.). Additionally, freshmen Kirah Koshinski and Carly Galpin rank No. 9 on vault (9.892 avg.) and No. 31 on beam (9.825 avg.), respectively.

 

This week’s rankings are based on season average.

 

WVU ranks No. 4 in the Southeast Region for the second straight week. The squad also ranks No. 3 on vault and No. 4 on bars, beam and floor.

 

Muhammad owns five regional rankings, including a No. 5 ranking in the all-around. She also ranks No. 9 on vault, No. 16 on bars (9.808 avg.), No. 21 on floor (9.758 avg.) and No. 23 on beam (9.725 avg.).

 

Goldberg is regionally ranked No. 4 on bars, No. 8 in the all-around, No. 9 on floor (9.833 avg.) and No. 23 on beam (9.725 avg.). Koshinski also owns multiple regional rankings and checks in at No. 3 on vault, No. 12 on floor (9.808 avg.) and No. 15 on beam (9.783 avg.).

 

In total, five Mountaineers are regionally ranked on floor, as freshman Jaquie Tun ranks No. 14 (9.787 avg.) and senior Melissa Idell checks in at No. 21 (9.758 avg.).

 

Senior Jaida Lawrence and sophomore Amanda Bowman rank No. 13 (9.8 avg.) and No. 16 (9.775 avg.), respectively, on vault, while Galpin paces the Mountaineers at No. 7 on beam.

 

The Mountaineers continue to rank No. 3 in the Big 12 Conference. The squad also ranks No. 3 on each event but floor, where WVU checks in at No. 4.

 

Koshinski and Goldberg are the team’s top-ranked gymnasts, as the duo checks in at No. 2 on vault and bars, respectively. Goldberg also ranks No. 5 in the all-around and on floor, and No. 9 on beam, and Koshinski ranks No. 5 on beam and No. 8 on floor.

 

Muhammad owns four conference rankings and is as high as No. 3 in the all-around. She also ranks No. 7 on vault and No. 9 on bars and beam.

 

Galpin ranks a team-best No. 4 on beam.

 

Following their strong showings at the WVU Coliseum, the Mountaineers break from competition before embarking on a two-meet Big 12 Conference road trip. WVU opens the road swing at Iowa State on Friday, Feb. 5, with a 7:30 p.m. ET start time. The squad will then travel to No. 2-ranked Oklahoma for a 2:45 p.m. ET meet on Sunday, Feb. 7.