Chayka Takes Beam Crown at EAGL Championships

March 29, 2008

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.--The Pitt gymnastics team battled seven other schools today at the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championship, which was hosted by West Virginia University. The Panthers finished the day with a score of 193.175, which placed them sixth, including one event title. West Virginia claimed the top spot in the team competition with 196.050 points, besting North Carolina State (195.475) and third-place New Hampshire (194.550).

Anya Chayka (Germantown, Md./Richard Montgomery) captured Pitt's only event crown of the day with a career-high tying score of 9.850 on the beam during the Panthers' second rotation. Samantha DeBone (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) and Shannon Vafiadou (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) also chipped in with scores of 9.750, while Sarah Thompson (Shokan, N.Y./Onteora) added a 9.725 as Pitt finished the event with a 48.275.

DeBone entered the meet with 998.425 career points in a Pitt leotard and surpassed the 1,000 point mark when she posted a score of 9.750 on bars in the Panthers' first rotation of the day. She ended the day with 1,017.925 career points and earned a tie for seventh overall in the event. Alix Croop (Allentown, Pa./Bridgeway Academy) led the squad in the event when she tied for fifth place with a 9.800. The score also tied a season-high and helped Pitt record a team total of 47.825 on the event.

Vafiadou was also a key contributor to Pitt's floor lineup that tallied a 48.700 in the Panther's third rotation. She locked down a 9.825 to lead the team, while Shannon McConnell (Allison Park, Pa./North Allegheny) and Molly Moyer (Telford, Pa./Homeschooled) helped the Pitt cause with two scores of 9.775.

In addition to her first-place performance on beam, Chayka also registered Pitt's highest score on vault with a 9.750. Moyer followed with a 9.725 and Vafiadou closed out her day with a 9.700 as the Panthers logged a 48.375 for the event. Pitt's only all-around competitor, Vafiadou recorded a 38.150 for her four events, which landed her in 13^th place.

For complete results from the EAGL Championship, please visit the following link:

http://www.msnsportsnet.com/gymstats.htm