Saturday, January 11
University Park, Pa.
4:00 p.m.
West Virginia University
195.325
at
195.75
Penn State
Photo by: Brian Persinger / WVU Photograph
Mountaineers Set Program-Best Opening Score
January 11, 2020 09:10 PM | Gymnastics
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Despite recording its highest season-opening meet score in program history and posting a trio of first-place event finishes on the day, the West Virginia University gymnastics team started its 2020 season with a 195.750-195.325 loss to No. 17 Penn State on Saturday afternoon, inside Rec Hall, in University Park, Pennsylvania.
The Mountaineers (0-1) hit 22-for-24 routines and earned a 48.900-48.750 edge over the Nittany Lions (1-3) on vault and a 48.750-48.675 win on floor. PSU claimed the balance beam (49.025-48.925) and uneven bars (49.300-48.750) victories.
Additionally, freshman Abbie Pierson posted a pair of 9.9 scores in her Mountaineer debut. For her efforts, the New Kensington, Pennsylvania, native finished first overall on vault and balance beam. Senior Chloe Cluchey also made her return on floor, notching a 9.850 score to place first.
"I was really happy with our performance today," ninth-year coach Jason Butts said. "Obviously, we faced a little bit of adversity on bars with Sydney (Marler) falling, but we are just happy that she walked away without any injuries. We also had a little bit of adversity on beam, but overall, we came out with a 195 and hit 22-of-24 routines. We easily have a point and a half that we can improve on, but a lot of positives can come from today. Even the things that we need to fix; we can still look at it in a positive way. I'm really happy with today's results."
The Mountaineers excelled on vault, a lineup that consisted of four freshmen, in the second rotation. Pierson was the standout in the anchor position, as she tallied 9.900 and finished first overall. In her collegiate debut, freshman Kianna Yancey opened the rotation with a 9.775 score and tied for fourth overall with senior Chloe Cluchey. Freshman Kayla Yancey competed in the No. 5 lineup position and posted a 9.750 to tie for sixth place. Junior Michelle Waldron and freshman Maya Kraus added marks of 9.700 and 9.575, respectively.
"The freshman hit everything today," Butts said. "That's a lot of pressure to put them under. For them to handle that pressure and put up some of the scores that they did, it's absolutely amazing. It's a testament to (associate head coach) Travis (Doak) and his recruiting. He is in charge of that, and obviously, he did a good job with this class."
Cluchey paced the Mountaineers on floor, scoring 9.850 in the No. 5 lineup position to finish first overall. Senior Erica Fontaine followed in the anchor position and finished in a tie for third with a 9.800 showing. Pierson tied Penn State's Melissa Astarita with a 9.750 mark. Sophomore Kendra Combs and senior Abby Kaufman added scores of 9.725 and 9.625, respectively, and in the leadoff position, junior McKenna Linnen tallied 9.500.
Pierson posted her second event victory of the day on balance beam, winning the event outright with a 9.9 score. Linnen and Kaufman finished in a three-way tie for fourth with 9.8 marks. Sophomore Esperanza Abarca opened the rotation with a 9.775 score to finish seventh overall, while sophomore Taylor Sell posted a 9.650 total in the anchor slot. Combs had a slight miscue and finished with a 9.100 mark.
The Mountaineers opened the meet on uneven bars, as Kianna paced WVU with a 9.850 score in a tie for third. Cluchey finished in seventh, scoring 9.750, and Combs and Kayla tied for eighth with matching 9.725s. Abarca and Marler added marks of 9.700 and 8.675, respectively.
Penn State's Cassidy Rushlow's scored 9.925 and finished first overall in the event.
Today's result drops the Mountaineers' all-time record against the Nittany Lions to 8-40.
"We're building momentum," Butts said. "They are excited. You want to hit 24-of-24 routines, but at the end of the day, it's our season opener. We know what we need to fix, and we have three practices heading into Iowa State to do that. To be able to do this on the road, it's incredible."
Looking ahead, West Virginia remains on the road, flying west to Ames, Iowa, for its first Big 12 Conference meet of the season against Iowa State on Friday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Mountaineers (0-1) hit 22-for-24 routines and earned a 48.900-48.750 edge over the Nittany Lions (1-3) on vault and a 48.750-48.675 win on floor. PSU claimed the balance beam (49.025-48.925) and uneven bars (49.300-48.750) victories.
Additionally, freshman Abbie Pierson posted a pair of 9.9 scores in her Mountaineer debut. For her efforts, the New Kensington, Pennsylvania, native finished first overall on vault and balance beam. Senior Chloe Cluchey also made her return on floor, notching a 9.850 score to place first.
"I was really happy with our performance today," ninth-year coach Jason Butts said. "Obviously, we faced a little bit of adversity on bars with Sydney (Marler) falling, but we are just happy that she walked away without any injuries. We also had a little bit of adversity on beam, but overall, we came out with a 195 and hit 22-of-24 routines. We easily have a point and a half that we can improve on, but a lot of positives can come from today. Even the things that we need to fix; we can still look at it in a positive way. I'm really happy with today's results."
The Mountaineers excelled on vault, a lineup that consisted of four freshmen, in the second rotation. Pierson was the standout in the anchor position, as she tallied 9.900 and finished first overall. In her collegiate debut, freshman Kianna Yancey opened the rotation with a 9.775 score and tied for fourth overall with senior Chloe Cluchey. Freshman Kayla Yancey competed in the No. 5 lineup position and posted a 9.750 to tie for sixth place. Junior Michelle Waldron and freshman Maya Kraus added marks of 9.700 and 9.575, respectively.
"The freshman hit everything today," Butts said. "That's a lot of pressure to put them under. For them to handle that pressure and put up some of the scores that they did, it's absolutely amazing. It's a testament to (associate head coach) Travis (Doak) and his recruiting. He is in charge of that, and obviously, he did a good job with this class."
Cluchey paced the Mountaineers on floor, scoring 9.850 in the No. 5 lineup position to finish first overall. Senior Erica Fontaine followed in the anchor position and finished in a tie for third with a 9.800 showing. Pierson tied Penn State's Melissa Astarita with a 9.750 mark. Sophomore Kendra Combs and senior Abby Kaufman added scores of 9.725 and 9.625, respectively, and in the leadoff position, junior McKenna Linnen tallied 9.500.
Pierson posted her second event victory of the day on balance beam, winning the event outright with a 9.9 score. Linnen and Kaufman finished in a three-way tie for fourth with 9.8 marks. Sophomore Esperanza Abarca opened the rotation with a 9.775 score to finish seventh overall, while sophomore Taylor Sell posted a 9.650 total in the anchor slot. Combs had a slight miscue and finished with a 9.100 mark.
The Mountaineers opened the meet on uneven bars, as Kianna paced WVU with a 9.850 score in a tie for third. Cluchey finished in seventh, scoring 9.750, and Combs and Kayla tied for eighth with matching 9.725s. Abarca and Marler added marks of 9.700 and 8.675, respectively.
Penn State's Cassidy Rushlow's scored 9.925 and finished first overall in the event.
Today's result drops the Mountaineers' all-time record against the Nittany Lions to 8-40.
"We're building momentum," Butts said. "They are excited. You want to hit 24-of-24 routines, but at the end of the day, it's our season opener. We know what we need to fix, and we have three practices heading into Iowa State to do that. To be able to do this on the road, it's incredible."
Looking ahead, West Virginia remains on the road, flying west to Ames, Iowa, for its first Big 12 Conference meet of the season against Iowa State on Friday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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