MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – For the first time in program history, a West Virginia University gymnast has earned four Big 12 Conference weekly honors in one season, as freshman Kirah Koshinski was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week today.

 

The honor is the first for Koshinski since she won three straight from Jan. 12-26. A native of Berwick, Pennsylvania, she is one of two gymnasts to earn the award this year, as Oklahoma’s Nicole Lehrmann has received the distinction the last five weeks.

 

Koshinski finished on the podium twice in the No. 25-ranked Mountaineers’ season best, 196.8 performance in wins over Ohio State (195.975) and Bowling Green (195.725) on March 6, at the WVU Coliseum. She set a career high on floor and tied teammate Melissa Idell for the win with a 9.95 mark. Koshinski previously hit for a high of 9.875 three times this year. The season-best score helped push WVU to a season-high 49.575 team total. The mark is believed to be the third-best floor score in program history. WVU is one of eight teams nationally to score 49.575 or better this season.

 

She also finished tied for third on vault with a 9.825 mark. Koshinski has scored 9.825 or better on vault in all nine career meets and has finished on the event podium in all but one meet this year.

 

Koshinski owns six career victories – four on vault and two on floor – and has scored 9.8 or better in all but seven career routines. She ranks third on the team with 245.4 points. Currently, she sits at No. 20 nationally, No. 4 in the Big 12, on vault with a 9.875 regional qualifying score (RQS). She also boasts a team-best 9.86 floor RQS and ranks No. 10 in the conference.

 

WVU’s winning score on March 6 ranks seventh in the program record book and is the top score earned under fifth-year coach Jason Butts. In addition to the season-best floor score, the team also tallied season highs on bars (49.15) and beam (49.075).

 

The Mountaineers close their 2016 home season at the WVU Coliseum on Friday, March 11, against Pitt, at 7 p.m. Friday is a “Dollar Night,” and all tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca Colas will be available for $1 each. Additionally, it’s Senior Night, and the Mountaineers will honor seniors Idell, Jaida Lawrence and Audrey Tolbert following the competition.