Golden Flashes look to declaw Wolfpack, Nittany Lions
2/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
“It's important for the program for us to be able to go to another region and see another team like NC State or see a team like Penn State and not only be competitive, but our goal is to go out there and beat them,” said Head Coach Brice Biggin. “Inside the [Mid-American Conference], we know we are a good team and we're certainly well respected.
“I believe we are well respected outside, but it is about being able to go outside your region or outside your conference and go head-to-head with these teams. That is where you start to gain respect from other programs,” added Biggin.
The Golden Flashes are coming off a season-best 195.600 score against George Washington on Friday (Feb. 8).
Despite early season struggles on beam this season and struggles on bars against the Colonials, the Golden Flashes rebounded for a 49.175 score on beam, a season best.
“Beam is ruthless: it either makes you or breaks you,” said Kent State Assistant Coach Sharon Sabin. “When you go to meets, it is usually the team that stays on beam that wins the meet. It is one of the most mental events.”
Last Meeting: Lost 195.050-193.450 (
Series Record: 3-2
Streak: Lost 1
Last Meeting: Lost 194.050-192.175 (
Series Record: 12-3
Streak: Lost 3
William & Mary Tribe
Last Meeting: Won 195.550-190.700 (
Series Record: 1-0
Streak: Won 1
The Last Meet for the Golden Flashes:
The Golden Flashes won every individual event. For the fifth consecutive meet, freshman Christina Lenny won on vault. She received a personal-best mark of 9.925. Lenny also recorded a 9.850 score to win on floor. Senior Kristin Peters received season-best scores of 9.925 and 9.900 to win on beam and bars respectively.
On vault,
For the third consecutive meet, Peters has won on bars for the Golden Flashes. Senior Jill Kowalski also completed a 9.800 routine.
On beam,
Finishing the meet on floor, the Golden Flashes received a score of 49.025 to set a new season-high mark. Lenny won for the first time this season on the event while Kowalski finshed second with a season-best score of 9.825. Juniors Amanda St. John and Rachel Stuck tied for third with routines of 9.800.
Last Time out for the Wolfpack:
No. 25 NC State gymnastics won the beam and bars at No. 21 North Carolina, but the Tar Heels prevailed with a 195.450-194.975 win.
NC State posted a 48.700 on bars to open the meet. Taylor Seaman led the way with a 9.800, her fourth straight meet with a score of 9.8 or higher on bars and took second. Kelsey Lee and Heather Zolton both tossed out a score of 9.750, good for third place individually.
Leigha Hancock and Brittney Hardiman topped the Red and White gymnasts on the vault with a score of 9.825 each, tied for fourth in the meet.
On the floor exercise, Hancock scored a 9.850 for first place overall to pace NC State. Ashley Shepard matched her season-best on the floor with a 9.775 to finish fifth.
Seaman and Hardiman both scored a season-high on beam with a 9.775 and Hancock scored a 9.825 to lead NC State. State posted a season-best 48.825 on beam to win the team event head-to-head, but it wasn't enough as the Heels prevailed at home.
(Courtesy of
Last Time out for the Nittany Lions:
The 18th-ranked
Three Nittany Lions claimed the top three spots in the individual all-around, led by sophomore Brandi Personett who placed first with a season-high-tying 39.350. Sophomores Alexandra Brockway and Casey Rohrbaugh finished second and third, respectively, with scores of 38.825 and 38.475.
The Nittany Lions moved to the floor in the second rotation as Personett and senior Aslynn Satterfield both recorded a 9.875 to take home the title. Rohrbaugh placed fourth with a 9.800.
On vault in the third rotation, Personett was
(Courtesy of
Last Time out for the Tribe:
Senior Tricia Long put together a tremendous all-around performance, and classmate Stevie Waldman placed second on bars as the William and Mary women's gymnastics team placed fourth in a very competitive quad meet at
Long was brilliant in all four events with a final season-high all-around score of 38.300 and finished fourth. She was the team's top finisher on floor with a 9.650.
Waldman received a score of 9.800 on bars to place second in the event for the Tribe's top individual finish.
(Courtesy of William & Mary Communications).
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