WVU Begins 2023 with Second-Place Finish at Florida

Friday, January 6

Gainesville, Fla.

6:45 p.m.

West Virginia University

194.925

197.750

#2 Florida

Photo by: Chloe Paugh

January 06, 2023 10:49 PM | Gymnastics

Results (PDF)

By: Olivia Sneed

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team earned a second-place finish in its season-opening quad meet at No. 2 Florida with Ball State and Lindenwood at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Florida, on Friday night.

The host Gators took first place with a score of 197.750, while the Mountaineers followed with a 194.925. Ball State took third place after posting a 194.100, followed by Lindenwood in fourth with a 193.125. West Virginia didn't have to count a fall in any rotation.

For the second straight season, WVU (2-1) opened the campaign on uneven bars, tallying an event score of 48.5. Senior Emily Holmes-Hackerd paced the rotation, earning a 9.825. Sophomore Anna Leigh followed with a 9.8, while fifth-year senior Kendra Combs added a 9.725. Senior Kianna Yancey and junior Chloe Asper rounded out the lineup with matching 9.575s. Of note, Asper's bars routine marked her career debut on the event.

In the team's second rotation on balance beam, WVU secured another 48.5. Asper continued to shine on her best event, leading the way with a 9.8. Holmes-Hackerd added a 9.775, before classmate Abbie Pierson secure a 9.7. Yancey (9.675) and Leigh (9.55) rounded out West Virginia's scoring on the event.

The Mountaineers went on to floor exercise, showing off on their best event and earning a 49.2. All five scoring gymnasts posted a 9.825 or higher. Junior Kiana Lewis and Leigh earned a pair of 9.825s, before Yancey, Holmes-Hackerd and Pierson finished the lineup with three straight scores of 9.85.

In the final rotation on vault, WVU earned its second-best event score of the night with a 48.725. Pierson paced the squad with a 9.8, before Lewis, sophomore Heidi Hartje and freshman Brooke Irwin tallied three 9.575s. Freshman Carlee Nelson rounded out the Mountaineers' scoring with a 9.65.

Of note, Irwin, Nelson and classmate Emma Wehry made their Mountaineer debuts at Florida on Friday night.

Up next, the Mountaineers prepare to open their home slate, as they welcome Kent State and Maryland to Morgantown, on Friday, Jan 13. West Virginia's first-ever 80's Night inside the WVU Coliseum is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET.

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUGymnastics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.