Panthers Announce 2009 Captains at Preseason Brunch
11/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Nov. 3, 2008
PITTSBURGH – University of Pittsburgh head gymnastics coach Debbie Yohman announced the captains for the 2009 season at the inaugural Pitt gymnastics preseason brunch. Junior Dani Bryan will join senior Alix Croop as the designated team leaders in 2009.
The preseason get together was held over homecoming weekend with staff, parents and former alumni, and included 2008 awards and recognition, as well as, the introduction of the 2009 captains.
“Both of these girls are so competitive, share high expectations and standards for the team and are excited to lead their team to the next level,” said Yohman of her captains.
Croop (Allentown, Pa./Bridgeway Academy) earned First Team All-EAGL honors on the uneven bars with a RQS of 9.707 during the 2008 campaign, in which she finished in the top-10 of every meet competed in. She posted three of the top four scores in the event during the year, including a 9.800 against Rutgers and at the EAGL Championship meet. On the floor, Croop shared a season-high mark of 9.875 with teammate Molly Moyer (Telford, Pa./Buxmont Christian) against North Carolina, Cornell and Temple.
“Alix has been ‘grooming’ for this position for a while,” noted Yohman. “I can’t think of anyone who wants more for our team to do well than Alix. She is such a role model in the gym as one of the hardest workers you can find.”
Bryan(Germantown, Md./Northwest), the 2007 EAGL vault champion, returns for her junior season with much excitement. Last season she recorded the top three scores on the vault for the Panthers, including a season-high 9.850 at Michigan State and against West Virginia. On the floor she posted the second-best score on the year, a 9.850 at Ohio State.
“Dani is one of those athletic leaders that people gravitate towards,” said Yohman. “She’s a very powerful presence and the type of leader who can set the tone of the team just by her mood. Of the two of them, she’s the one who speaks louder."
The 2009 team will host its annual Blue-Gold intrasquad Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. at Fitzgerald Field House. The 2009 season gets under way with a Jan. 10 trip to State College, Pa. for a meet against Penn State.