PITT GYMNASTS TO COMPETE IN EAGL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEKEND
3/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 28, 2007
PITTSBURGH - Fifth in the league standings, the Pitt gymnastics team is ready for the 2007 EAGL Championships this weekend hosted by Maryland. The Panthers (8-10, 4-3 EAGL) return three All-EAGL selections from last season as well as a handful of talented newcomers. Last season, Pitt scored a 190.225 but has averaged a 192.915 this year.
The Panthers are slated to compete in Olympic order, beginning with their strongest two events. They'll begin on the vault where they're averaging a 48.565. Pitt's season-high score on the vault is a 48.825 which the team scored twice, once at Kent State and once in the final home meet of the season. Leading the team on this event is freshman Dani Bryan (Germantown, Md./Northwest) who holds a regional-qualifying score (RQS) of 9.855, the third highest in the league. She's picked up three vault titles this season and earned a career-high against Missouri and Central Michigan. Providing depth at this event will be senior Andrea Arlotta (Cincinnati, Ohio/Northwest) and Shannon McConnell (Allison Park, Pa./North Allegheny). Arlotta has an RQS of 9.790 with a season-best 9.825 at Arkansas. McConnell earned a career-high 9.800 at Kent State and has an RQS of 9.730.
Pitt's strongest and most consistent event this season has been the uneven bars. The Panthers are averaging a 48.395 on this event and have been ranked in the NCAA's top 25 on several occasions this season. Pitt's strongest bar worker is Arlotta who notched a career-high 9.900 at Arkansas. She holds an RQS of 9.835 and has won the uneven bars in five meets this season. She has scored above a 9.800 in all but two meets this season. Pitt's other top competitor on this event is junior Samantha DeBone (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield). DeBone has an RQS of 9.755 and has finished in the top three twice this season. Also look for big routines from Alix Croop (Allentown, Pa./Bridgeway Academy) and Katilin Harrison (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial).
While the team got off to a tough start on the balance beam this season, they've certainly regained their competitive edge, scoring above a 48.000 in their last three competitions. The team's averaging 47.693 on this event, and they recorded a season-high 48.475 at Arkansas. Pitt's anchor on this event is Arlotta who has an RQS of 9.645. She scored a season-best 9.800 twice this year, once at Penn State and once against Missouri and Central Michigan. But the Panthers have two other balance beam competitors who have won event titles and hit big routines this year as well. DeBone tied her career-high 9.900 on this event against Missouri and Central Michigan. She has an RQS of 9.775 and has won two balance beam titles. Anya Chayka (Germantown, Md./Richard Montgomery) earned a career-high 9.825 at NC State an has an RQS of 9.745. She won the balance beam competition at Rutgers this season.
Finally, the Panthers will finish up the meet on the floor exercise. Due to injuries, the team's lineup has changed frequently, but the core five gymnasts will return this week. Pitt has an RQS of 48.525 on this event and is averaging 48.263. Arlotta has been the team's top competitor on the floor exercise, with a 9.830 RQS and a 9.703 average. She scored a career-high 9.900 twice this year, once against Ohio State and once at Kent State. Arlotta's earned five event titles on the floor exercise and has scored above a 9.800 in half of the meets this year. Also bringing some exciting choreography and big tumbling is Bryan who reached a career-high 9.850 in her last competition. She's averaging 9.640 on the floor exercise with an RQS of 9.775. Other big routines could come from McConnell and senior Jessica Garber (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Country Day School).
The Panthers will have two gymnasts vying for the all-around title. Arlotta was an All-EAGL first team unanimous selection in the all-around last season, and she's put up even higher scores this year. She earned a career-high 39.275 against Missouri and Central Michigan and has scored above a 39.000 in two meets this year. Arlotta's averaging a 38.764 in the all-around with an RQS of 38.990. Also competing in the all-around is Bryan who earned a career-high 38.825 at Arkansas. She's averaging a 38.150 in the all-around, having competed every event in four meets this season.
The meet is scheduled for Friday, March 30 at 6 p.m. Held in the Comcast Center on Maryland's campus, live video streaming will be available at www.accselect.com.