main-seniorday-3417.jpg
Mountaineers Return to Coliseum Sunday
March 04, 2017 03:00 PM | Gymnastics
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team returns to the WVU Coliseum on Sunday, March 5, for its second competition of the weekend, a quad meet against No. 16 George Washington, No. 24 Eastern Michigan and Pitt, at 2 p.m.
Sunday is the Mountaineers’ home regular-season finale. It is Senior Day, and the team will honor Brooklyn Doggette, Alexa Goldberg and Mackenzie Myers prior to the award ceremony.
Tickets are on sale now at WVUGAME.com. It’s a “Dollar Day,” and all tickets, as well as select concessions, are available for $1 each. WVU students will be admitted free with a valid WVU Student I.D.
Sunday also is Mountaineer Kids Club Day, and all youths are encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero or princess. The first 200 youths inside the WVU Coliseum will receive a free t-shirt.
“Sunday is going to be a special meet, especially for our three seniors,” Mountaineer coach Jason Butts said. “They have been through so much adversity on many different levels, and they have fought back every time. They are true Mountaineers all the way through, and they each want to see is this program be successful.
“I want our fans to come out Sunday afternoon and help me honor these three student-athletes. I’m so very proud of them – they have done an incredible job.”
The Mountaineers (11-5, 2-1) are 5-1 at the WVU Coliseum this season. The squad returns to its home venue following a 195.7 showing in wins against the Panthers (195.375), Michigan State (194.6) and Towson (194.4) on March 3 in Pittsburgh.
Sunday is WVU’s third meet in four consecutive outings against a ranked opponent. The Mountaineers are 2-2 against ranked teams this season, most recently defeating No. 24 Iowa State, 195.95-195.725, at the WVU Coliseum on Feb. 26.
The Mountaineers own winning marks against all three opponents. WVU is 58-13-2 against Pitt (8-11, 1-5 EAGL), 46-3 against GW (19-4, 6-0 EAGL) and 4-0 against EMU (8-3, 4-1 MAC). Sunday is the Mountaineers’ first meeting against the Colonials since a pair of defeats in January 2015. WVU has not competed against the Eagles since 2005. Of note, assistant coach Kaylyn Millick competed for MSU in 2010 before transferring to WVU.
In its wins last evening at Pitt, WVU finished first on each event but floor. The Mountaineers clinched their sweep with a 48.975 showing on balance beam, the team’s second-best score of the season, and overcame a one-rotation deficit with a solid 49.15 mark on vault. Sophomore Kirah Koshinski won vault with a career-high 9.95 score and tied for the floor win with a 9.85. Junior Zaakira Muhammad finished first in the all-around with a 39.375 total and earned the bars win with a career-best matching score of 9.9.
Ranked nationally on all four events, the Colonials sit as high as No. 13 on balance beam with a 49.155 regional qualifying score (RQS). GW is coming off a season-high 196.725 showing in wins over Kent State (196.125) and NC State (195.55) on Feb. 25, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Junior Jillian Winstanley matched her career high of 39.55 and finished first overall. She also won vault (9.925) and bars (9.875) en route to EAGL Gymnast of the Week accolades.
EMU boasts the top national ranking of the field, as the Eagles rank No. 10 (49.175) on bars. The team has posted its top marks of the season in consecutive meets, scoring a season-high 196.0 against Towson (193.075) on Feb. 20 and 195.95 in a home win against Ball State (194.225) on Feb. 24.
The Panthers earned the team win on floor on Friday night, scoring 49.025. Senior Tracey Pearson tied Koshinski for the event win with a 9.85 score.
GYM: Florida Quad Recap
Tuesday, January 13
Assistant Coach Kaylyn Millick | Intro
Tuesday, September 09
Assistant Coach Jessica Yamzon | Intro
Tuesday, September 09
Associate Head Coach Travis Doak | Intro
Tuesday, September 09
