Gymnastics: WVU Rallies, Defeats No. 13 Missouri
The Mountaineers’ (1-0) team score is the program’s best season-opening mark since scoring 194.8 in 2007. With the win, WVU takes the 3-2 series lead over Mizzou (0-1). After falling behind early, the Mountaineers used a 49.05 beam score to secure their first victory of the 2011 season. Four gymnasts tallied 9.8-plus scores, with senior Amy Bieski matching a career-best mark and finishing first overall with a 9.85 showing. “I’m so happy with this team’s effort tonight, especially on vault and beam,” says 37-year coach Linda Burdette-Good. “I was thrilled that we had a great warm-up and that we competed the same way. There were mistakes, but it’s the first meet of the season and those are to be expected. At the end of the meet, I’m most proud of the way this team stayed focused and persevered for the win.” Bieski finished first overall with a 39.025 all-around score. The score is her 16th career 39.0-plus mark and pushes her career point total to 1,513.925; she now ranks 15th on the all-time career points list. Mizzou’s Alex Gold finished second with 38.15 points, while sophomore transfer Kaylyn Millick made her Mountaineer debut and finished in third place with a 37.95 score. WVU won three events, defeating Mizzou on vault (48.925-48.9), beam (49.05-47.075) and floor (48.6-47.225). The Tigers earned the bars win, 48.375-47.925. The Mountaineers fell behind early, scoring 47.925 points on bars while the Tigers tallied a 48.9 vault mark. Senior Alysha Pretzello opened the Mountaineers’ rotation and paced the squad with a 9.675 score, good enough for third place overall. The Diamondhead, Miss., native’s lineup position is a change from the 2010 season, as she usually served as the anchor. Classmate Emily Kerwin and junior Nicole Roach each scored 9.575 points and finished second on the team. The Mountaineers rebounded in the second rotation with a 48.925 vault mark; the score is the squad’s best since the 2009 season. Mizzou scored 48.375 on bars and maintained its slight lead, 97.275-96.85. Freshman Hope Sloanhoffer, competing her first event in a Mountaineer uniform, paced WVU on vault with a meet-best 9.925 score. The Cornwall, N.Y., native is the first rookie to earn a 9.9-plus score since Tina Maloney won the 2009 East Atlantic Gymnastics League vault title with a 9.9 mark. Maloney finished second overall with a 9.875 score, while Kerwin finished fifth and scored 9.8. The duo’s scores bested their 2010 season highs of 9.825 and 9.75, respectively. WVU overtook Mizzou in the third rotation, tallying 48.6 on floor and pushing its team total to 145.9. The Tigers earned 47.075 on beam and pushed their team score to 144.35. Bieski made her season debut on floor and anchored the event with a 9.85 score, good enough for first place; Sloanhoffer and Mizzou’s Lauren Swankoski matched Bieski’s mark. Sophomore Chelsea Goldschrafe finished fourth with a 9.775 showing. Bieski paced the Mountaineers’ 49.05 beam total and opened the 2011 season just like she finished 2010, earning a career-high 9.85 score and finishing in first place. Sloanhoffer and Millick scored 9.825 and tied the Tigers’ Mary Burke for second place. Mizzou closed the meet on floor and tallied 47.225 points. The Mountaineers return to the WVU Coliseum next week and open their home season against Michigan State in the inaugural “Beauty and the Beast” meet on Friday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m. The WVU wrestling team also will open its home season against the Spartans and will compete simultaneously, providing fans the opportunity to watch two Mountaineer teams at once. The meet is a “Dollar Day”, with all tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Colas available for the purchase of just one dollar. |
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