WVU Rides Career Highs to Big Score

Sunday, March 11

Washington, D.C

1:00 PM

West Virginia University

196.425

196.875

George Washington

Photo by: Ken Inness

March 11, 2018 04:07 PM | Gymnastics

Results

By: Shannon McNamara

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team tallied its best team score since 2016 and finished second overall with a season-high 196.425 this afternoon at George Washington's tri meet inside the Charles E. Smith Center.

The No. 18-ranked Colonials scored 196.875 and finished first overall, while Pitt placed third with a 195.5.

The Mountaineers' score is the 14th-highest in program history and the team's top mark since earning a 196.8 over Bowling Green and Ohio State at the WVU Coliseum in 2016. It also is the team's top mark away from Morgantown since earning 196.475 in their win at the 2012 East Atlantic Gymnastic League (EAGL) Championship at Pitt.

"Fantastic scores and fantastic execution today," Mountaineer associate head coach Travis Doak said. "We always want to peak toward the end of the year, and we're seeing this team do just that. We're building on each meet, and I don't think there's a ceiling on this team. Also – I have to give a shout out to our West Virginia fan support today. It was incredible, and we fed off their energy throughout the meet."

WVU (9-10, 0-3) opened and closed the meet with season-best marks on balance beam and uneven bars en route to its big showing. The Mountaineers finished second on each event today, scoring 49.15 on bars, 49.125 on beam and 49.075 on vault and floor.

The Mountaineers opened the meet with their best beam rotation of the season, as all five counting gymnasts scored 9.775 or better and WVU earned a season-high 49.125. Making her first career appearance in the lineup, junior Jaquie Tun anchored with a 9.875, matching the team's best individual score of the year and tying for second place. Junior Carly Galpin preceeded Tun in the lineup and finished fifth overall with a 9.85, while senior Jordan Gillette scored a season-high 9.825 and tied for seventh place. The first gymnast to compete today, freshman McKenna Linnen matched her career high of 9.8 and placed 10th overall, and junior Kirah Koshinski chipped in a 9.775 score.

"That beam rotation set the tone today," Doak said. "Starting on beam can always be a challenge, and this team handled it perfectly again."

GW's Alexandra Zois finished first on beam with a 9.9.

An electric floor rotation produced big scores for the Mountaineers in the second rotation and moved WVU into second place for good, as its 49.075 total pushed its running score to 98.2. Koshinski anchored the lineup with a career-high matching 9.95 and won the event outright. Today marks the first time this season she has earned the score and the fourth time in her career. Senior Zaakira Muhammad and sophomore Abby Kaufman scored 9.825 and tied for eighth place. Sophomore Erica Fontaine opened the rotation with a 9.775 mark, and Tun added a 9.7 score.

"Kirah has been a statement-making routine in our floor lineup for the last three years, and today we saw execution and showmanship that was incredible," Doak enthused. "I honestly think she could have scored higher."

WVU continues to excel on vault, as the team tallied 49.075 on the event in the third rotation. Koshinski anchored the lineup and tied for the win with a 9.9 mark, her sixth-best 9.9+ vault score of the season. Senior Robyn Bernard tied for third place with a 9.875 score, giving her marks of 9.875 or better in the last three meets. Sophomore Julia Merwin placed 10th with a 9.8, and Muhammad finished 11th with a 9.75. Tun added a 9.725 score.

Three Mountaineers hit season-high marks on bars in the fourth rotation to push WVU to its 49.15 mark. Sophomore Chloe Cluchey won the event outright with a career-best 9.925 score, 0.125 points better than her previous career-best mark. The score also is the team's top individual bars score this season. Tun and Muhammad tied for second place with season-best 9.875s, also a career-high matching mark for Tun. Bernard opened the rotation with a 9.725, and Gillette scored 9.7.

"I'm so happy to see our confidence growing on bars," Doak said. "These girls have been working so hard in the gym, and it showed today. We executed our landings, and Chloe's routine was beautiful."

In her career all-around debut, Tun finished fourth overall with a 39.175 score. GW's Camille Drouin-Allaire finished first with a 39.475.

"I was so happy to see Jaquie step up in her career all-around debut. She did an incredible job in her first career beam – that was huge from her today," Doak said.

With today's result, WVU finishes the 2018 season 2-1 against the Panthers (6-13, 3-2 EAGL) and moves its series advantage to 61-14-2. The Mountaineers continue to own a 46-7 series edge over the Colonials (17-5, 5-0 EAGL).

The Mountaineers conclude their 2018 regular-season on Sunday, March 18, with a meet at Towson, alongside No. 24 NC State, Cornell and William & Mary, at 2 p.m.