MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Following the Mountaineers’ season-best showing at No. 4 Alabama on Feb. 14, the West Virginia University gymnastics team’s vault lineup is up three spots and ranks No. 12 nationally in today’s Road to Nationals Poll.

 

The Mountaineers (2-5, 0-3) made their move based on a 49.029 season average. WVU used two career-high scores and one season-best mark to roll to a 49.225 score in a 197.375-195.25 loss to the Crimson Tide yesterday. The mark was the team’s best score since earning 49.25 at the WVU Coliseum on Feb. 24, 2013.

 

Individually, three gymnasts combine for five national rankings. Freshman Kirah Koshinski is the highest-ranked Mountaineer and checks in at No. 14 (9.871 avg.) on vault. Sophomore Zaakira Muhammad closely follows at No. 19 (39.325 avg.). Muhammad also sits at No. 19 (9.863 avg.) in the all-around chart. Additionally, junior Alexa Goldberg ranks No. 14 (9.854 avg.) on bars and No. 39 (39.108 avg.) in the all-around.

 

Today’s rankings are based on season average. Starting next week, rankings will be based on regional qualifying scores (RQS).

 

Regionally, WVU ranks No. 4 in the Southeast with a 195.158 average. The squad sits at No. 3 on vault, No. 4 on bars (48.717 avg.) and floor (48.904 avg.), and No. 5 on beam (48.508 avg.).

 

Four gymnasts are regionally ranked on beam and floor. Freshman Carly Galpin paces the beam lineup and checks in at No. 9 with a 9.792 average. Koshinski follows at No. 15 (9.76 avg.), while senior Audrey Tolbert ranks No. 23 (9.729 avg.) and Muhammad ranks No. 24 (9.725 avg.).

 

Goldberg is the top-ranked Mountaineer on floor and sits at No. 9 with a 9.838 average. Koshinski ranks No. 12 (9.808 avg.), and Muhammad and senior Melissa Idell follow at No. 14 (9.796 avg.) and No. 23 (9.758 avg.), respectively.

 

Goldberg and Muhammad also boast bars and all-around rankings. Goldberg ranks No. 6 on bars and No. 7 in the all-around, while Muhammad ranks No. 13 and No. 5 in the respective events. The Pennsauken, New Jersey, native also ranks No. 6 on vault. Koshinski ranks a team-best No. 6 on vault, and senior Jaida Lawrence checks in at No. 13 (9.808 avg.).

 

The Mountaineers rank No. 3 overall in the Big 12 Conference. The team is up one spot to No. 2 on vault and also ranks No. 3 on bars and beam and No. 4 on floor.

 

Koshinski checks in at No. 3 on vault, with Muhammad following at No. 5. Muhammad also ranks No. 5 in the all-around and No. 10 on bars, and Koshinski sits at No. 10 on beam.

 

Goldberg ranks No. 5 on bars, No. 6 in the all-around and No. 7 on floor. Galpin ranks a team-best No. 7 on beam.

 

After two weeks away from Morgantown, the Mountaineers return to the WVU Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 21, for the fourth annual Wendy M. Roach Pink Meet Invitational against No. 25 Kentucky, at 2 p.m. All fans are encouraged to wear pink Sunday afternoon to promote breast cancer awareness. The Mountaineers will accept sundry item donations, such as scarves, nail polish, books, body lotion and socks, for donation to Morgantown’s Betty Puskar Breast Care Center. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a pink rally towel, courtesy of WVU Medicine. Additionally, Mr. Twister also will be in attendance.