DENVER, Colo. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team opens its 2016 season at No. 16 Denver, with No. 24 Southern Utah, on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 8 pm. EST, inside Hamilton Gymnasium.
Saturday’s tri-meet also is the season opener for the Pioneers and the Thunderbirds. Additionally, it also will serve as the Big 12 Conference opener for WVU and DU, as Denver joined the league as an affiliate member this season.
“We’ve been talking about this season for so long now, and the team is ready to get out there and start competing,” fifth-year Mountaineer coach Jason Butts said. “Everyone is very calm and cool right now – I don’t sense any anxiety. Everyone is ready to go.”
WVU is 4-4 all-time against the Pioneers. The squads meet for the fourth time in five seasons on Saturday, with DU earning a 2-1 advantage in that span. In their last meeting, WVU suffered a 195.425-194.6 loss to then-No. 18 Denver on Feb. 13, 2015, inside the WVU Coliseum. The Mountaineers were outscored by the Pioneers on all four events. Junior Alexa Goldberg finished first on the uneven bars (9.875), and graduate Dayah Haley tied DU’s fifth-year senior Nina McGee for the floor win (9.875).
Saturday is the second neutral-site meeting between WVU and SUU in four years. The Mountaineers earned the win in their last meeting, as they defeated the then-No. 20 Thunderbirds, 192.125-191.05, at Utah on Jan. 19, 2013.
“There’s no better way to start a season then against two ranked opponents – we’ll really get a sense of where we stand competitively early in the year,” Butts said. “Every tenth counts, and that’s what we’ll be focused on this weekend.”
Ten gymnasts return for the Mountaineers following a 14-9-1 (1-1-1) showing in 2015. WVU also earned a program-best second place finish at the Big 12 Gymnastics Championship and placed fifth at the NCAA Morgantown Regional Championships with a 195.65 mark, the program’s second-best score at a regional.
Three seniors will lead the Mountaineers this year – Melissa Idell, Jaida Lawrence and Audrey Tolbert. Lawrence paced the team on vault last season, earning a 9.827 season average. Idell ranked No. 2 on the team on floor with a 9.84 season average. Goldberg was the team’s top bars worker (9.825 avg.), and sophomore Jordan Gillette paced on balance beam (9.763 avg.). Lawrence and Goldberg each show a team-best 13 career event wins.
Six freshmen join the team this season: Carly Galpin, Kirah Koshinski, Sarah Moore, Kelsey Sorrenson, Jaquie Tun and Tiara Wright. The Mountaineers are expected to debut seven new routines Saturday night, with Koshinski is slotted to compete on vault, beam and floor.
“I think our newcomers are very ready to compete,” Butts explained. “This group has a lot of competitive experience and is familiar with pressure-filled situations. Even though college is a different atmosphere, they’re ready. Their competitive edge will serve them well.”
Denver is led by 18-year coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart. The Pioneers previously competed in the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference and placed third at the championship in 2015 with a 196.075 mark. The squad also finished third at the NCAA Ames Regional Championships with a 195.95 score and ended the season with a 16-6-1 record.
The Pioneers return 10 gymnasts from 2015, including two-time All-American McGee, the 2015 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Gymnast of the Year. McGee tied for second on floor and 11th in the all-around at the 2015 NCAA National Championships.
Let by 21-year coach Scott Bauman, the Thunderbirds finished the 2015 season at 14-5 and placed second at the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Championship with a 196.275 score. SUU also placed third at the NCAA Norman Regional Championships with a 196.275 mark.
