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No. 19 Mountaineers Prepped for Pitt Trip
January 12, 2017 02:56 PM | Gymnastics
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 19-ranked West Virginia University gymnastics team continues its season-opening road trip with a meet at Pitt on Friday, Jan. 13, at 6:30 p.m., inside Fitzgerald Field House, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Friday’s meet will be streamed on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
The Mountaineers (1-0) return to Pittsburgh after sweeping the Panthers in their two 2016 meetings. Former foes in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL), WVU owns a 57-12-2 all-time series edge over Pitt (0-1).
“Pitt is an easy road trip. The team knows this venue, and they’ll be familiar,” Mountaineer coach Jason Butts said. “We’re looking for a great road victory.”
WVU continues its season after opening the campaign on Jan. 8 with a 194.4-193.95 win at Maryland. The Mountaineers’ score was the 19th-best mark earned nationally last weekend, and the team received its highest national ranking since sitting at No. 16 on Feb. 25, 2013.
The squad is nationally ranked on three events and as high as No. 10 on vault (48.975 avg.). WVU also ranks No. 22 on balance beam (48.675) and No. 25 on uneven bars (48.45).
“Being ranked No. 19 is good, but it’s not good enough,” Butts added. “We have to keep climbing higher, but it’s great for these gymnasts’ confidence. We’re legitimately a top-25 team, but our goal is to get into the top 18.”
Sophomore Kirah Koshinski was strong in the season opener, earning three podium finishes, including two event wins, and matching two career-high marks. Ranked No. 4 nationally on vault and No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference, Koshinski, a Berwick, Pennsylvania, native, won the event at UMD with a career-best 9.925 showing. She also finished first on floor with a 9.85 score and tied for second place on balance beam with a career-best 9.8.
Junior Jordan Gillette clinched the beam victory at Maryland with a career-high 9.9 showing. The mark, her first career 9.9 score on any event, ranks her No. 5 nationally and No. 1 in the Big 12.
Freshman Chloe Cluchey paced the team on bars in the opener, scoring 9.775 in her first collegiate routine and earning second place.
“I loved this team’s fight,” Butts said of Sunday’s meet. “We had several mistakes that we weren’t expecting, and they were shocked when they messed up. That’s the reaction I want.
The focus in practice this week has been to fix our warmups and preparation. I think that will lead to a better performance Friday night when we start the competition.”
The 2016 EAGL champions, Pitt opened its 2017 campaign with a 194.375-192.8 loss to Ohio State on Jan. 7, at Fitzgerald Field House. Fifteen Panther gymnasts saw time against OSU. The team is nationally ranked on floor, having scored 48.9 against the Buckeyes.
Senior Tracey Pearson ranks No. 37 nationally in the all-around and finished second against OSU with a 38.9 mark. She and freshman Alecia Petrikis, the reigning EAGL Rookie of the Week, rank No. 46 on floor with 9.85 averages.
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