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Mountaineers Return to National Rankings
January 23, 2017 03:27 PM | Gymnastics
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Following a one-week absence, the West Virginia University gymnastics team returns to the Road to Nationals Rankings today and sits at No. 25.
The Mountaineers (1-2, 0-1) move up three spots thanks to a 194.608 season average. WVU also is nationally ranked No. 19 on vault (48.908) and No. 25 on balance beam (48.567).
Individually, sophomore Kirah Koshinski is nationally ranked on two events. The Berwick, Pennsylvania, native moved up 13 spots this week to No. 13 on floor with a 9.892 average. She also ranks No. 18 on vault (9.875). Junior Zaakira Muhammad follows in the vault rankings and sits at No. 29 (9.85).
Oklahoma remains at the top of the rankings with a 197.9 average. LSU (197.625) follows at No. 2, while Florida (197.342) ranks No. 3, Utah (197.05) ranks No. 4 and Alabama (197.008) sits at No. 5.
Kentucky (196.375) checks in at No. 6, and Denver (196.367), one of the Mountaineers’ next opponents, ranks No. 7. UCLA (196.263) ranks No. 8, and Southern Utah (196.15) and Michigan (196.1) round out the top 10.
Regionally, the Mountaineers rank No. 5 in the Southeast Region. The squad also ranks No. 4 on vault and beam, No. 5 on floor exercise (48.783) and No. 7 on uneven bars (48.35).
Four Mountaineers are regionally ranked on floor, including Koshinski, who sits at No. 2. Muhammad follows at No. 13 (9.817), while freshman Kassidy Cumber ranks No. 19 (9.787) and junior Robyn Bernard follows at No. 21 (9.775).
Koshinski also ranks No. 6 on vault. Muhammad ranks No. 9, and freshman Julia Merwin ranks No. 24 (9.758).
Junior Jordan Gillette returned to the balance beam lineup this week and continues to pace WVU, as she ranks No. 13 with a 9.813 average. Sophomore Carly Galpin follows at No. 14 (9.8). On bars, sophomore Tiara Wright ranks a team-best No. 12 (9.792), and senior Alexa Goldberg ranks No. 16 (9.775). Goldberg also ranks No. 16 in the all-around (38.025).
The Mountaineers did not move in the Big 12 Conference rankings this week, as the team continues to rank No. 3 overall and on vault, beam and floor, and No. 4 on bars.
Koshinski ranks a team-high No. 4 in the Big 12 on floor. She also sits at No. 5 on vault and is followed by Muhammad, who ranks No. 7.
Gillette and Galpin rank No. 7 and No. 9, respectively, on beam, and Wright sits at No. 10 on bars. Additionally, Goldberg ranks No. 8 in the all-around.
The Mountaineers opened their 2017 home season at the WVU Coliseum on Jan. 21 with a 197.925-195.55 loss to the Sooners. WVU’s total was a season high. Koshinski’s second place, career-best 9.95 showing on floor fueled the Mountaineers to a season-best 49.2 team mark. WVU also earned a season-high 48.8 on bars.
WVU stays at home next weekend and plays host to No. 7 Denver, Temple and Towson on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. It’s “Teacher Appreciation Day,” and WVU faculty and staff members, as well as all teachers at any level, will be admitted free with a valid employee ID. Fans who bring books and school supplies for a donation also will receive free admission, and the first 150 youth gymnasts inside the Coliseum Sunday afternoon will receive a free WVU gymnastics t-shirt. Additionally, Mr. Twister will be in attendance to make balloon creations and offer face painting.
Tickets for Sunday’s meet are on sale now at WVUGAME.com. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for youths and senior citizens and $2 for groups of 10 or more.
The Mountaineer Ticket Office continues to offer a Varsity Sports Flex Plan, a bargain for families who plan on attending a WVU varsity sporting event. Flex plan packages are available for just $20. A package provides 10 vouchers redeemable for single-game tickets to gymnastics and wrestling. To order, visit WVUGAME.com, call 1-800-WVU-GAME or stop by the Mountaineer Ticket Office in the WVU Coliseum.
Fans also can now purchase tickets online in advance for any home match by visiting WVUGAME.com and selecting the Print-At-Home or Mobile Delivery options.
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