MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team returns to the WVU Coliseum after a month-long absence and plays host to No. 22 Kentucky in the fourth-annual Wendy M. Roach Pink Meet Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m. EST.
Named in honor of former Mountaineer gymnast Nicole Roach’s (2009-12) mother, fans are encouraged to wear pink Sunday afternoon to promote awareness to fight breast cancer. The first 1,000 fans in the door will receive a free WVU Cancer Institute pink rally towel.
Fans also can donate $10 by texting WVU Cares to 85944 (carrier billed option). Additionally, the Mountaineers will accept sundry item gifts, such as scarves, nail polish, books, body lotion, candy and socks, for donation to Morgantown’s Betty Puskar Breast Care Center. The donation table will be located just inside the Coliseum Blue Gate.
Mr. Twister, a balloon artist, will be on the main concourse prior to the meet and will provide balloon art and face painting for kids in attendance.
Tickets are on sale now at WVUGAME.com and also will be on sale at the Blue Gate on Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for youths and senior citizens and $2 for groups of 10 or more. WVU students are admitted for free with a valid WVU Student I.D.
“The team is thrilled to be back in Morgantown this weekend and competing in front of the fans,” Mountaineer coach Jason Butts said. “I hope we have a huge crowd Sunday afternoon. We love the pink meet – it’s our chance each year to honor Wendy and her family. Many members of the Roach family will be in attendance, and we’re looking forward to welcoming them back to Morgantown and competing in their honor.”
Sunday is the Mountaineers’ (2-5, 0-3) first home meet since a 195.8-190.075 victory over William & Mary on Jan. 24, 2015. WVU has tallied a season-high 195.8 in both home meets this season and has scored 195.0 or better in the last five straight contests, marking the first time since 2004, and only the second time in program history, the squad has scored 195.0+ in five of its first six meets.
WVU is 15-7 all-time against the Wildcats (5-4, 1-4 SEC). Sunday is UK’s first regular-season visit to Morgantown since a 195.425-194.65 Mountaineer victory on March 1, 2009. The Wildcats tallied a win in the teams’ last meeting, a 195.0-193.7 decision at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky, on Jan. 10, 2014.
Statistically, UK boasts a season average of 195.375 while WVU shows a 195.158 average. The Mountaineers own the highest event ranking, as the team sits at No. 12 (49.029 avg.) in this week’s vault chart. The Wildcats are a team-best No. 18 (48.875 avg.) on balance beam.
“Kentucky is a great team to compete against, and we’re ready. I anticipate a lot of energy from our squad Sunday and a great competition atmosphere,” Butts explained.
Freshman Kirah Koshinski is the highest-ranked gymnast competing Sunday, as she ranks No. 14 on vault with a 9.871 average. Junior Alexa Goldberg paces WVU on bars (9.854 avg.) and floor (9.838) and ranks No. 22 and No. 63 in the events, respectively. Sophomore Zaakira Muhammad ranks No. 19 (39.325 avg.) in the all-around, while freshman Carly Galpin ranks a team-best No. 31 (9.825 avg.) on beam.
The Mountaineers return to the Coliseum following three straight road meets, including a 197.375-195.25 defeat at No. 4 Alabama on Feb. 14. The squad was solid on vault, bars and floor, scoring 48.875 or better on the three events, including a season-high 49.225 on vault. The mark was the team’s best showing since earning 49.25 in 2013.
Muhammad paced the vault lineup with a winning 9.9 mark, matching her career high, and sophomore Robyn Bernard added a career-best 9.875 score. Muhammad and Goldberg also paced the team on bars and floor, finishing third on both events with matching 9.85 scores. Senior Audrey Tolbert hit for a career-best 9.8 on beam for the second straight week and finished in sixth place.
“We’re going to switch up our lineups a bit for this meet,” Butts added. “We have a few holes to fill, and we worked through pressure situations all week in Cary Gym.”
The Wildcats tallied four victories last weekend, defeating No. 15 Missouri, 196.05-194.675, on Feb. 12, at Memorial Coliseum, before finishing first at Ball State’s Think Pink Meet on Feb. 14 with a 195.8 mark. The Wildcats’ score against the Tigers was a season high, while the team’s score at Ball State was a season-best road mark. Freshman Katie Stuart claimed the all-around title at both meets, scoring 39.075 in the weekend finale.
