Panthers Announce 2009 Gymnastics Schedule
9/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Sept. 22, 2008
PITTSBURGH – Pitt head coach Debbie Yohman announces the women’s gymnastics team schedule that includes five home dual meets at Fitzgerald Field House in 2009.
“It’s a nice schedule despite opening with a tough opponent, as Penn State should be highly ranked this year,” said head coach Yohman. “From there on out, most of our meets should be very close competitions. The travel schedule lined up very advantageously for us as we travel close to home in January, most of our home meets are in February and our longer trips are spaced out in March.”
The Panthers open up the season traveling to Penn St. on Saturday, Jan. Ranked No. 14 in the nation at the end of last season, Penn St. is one of four ranked opponents from last year’s final top-25 poll that Pitt will face. The other previously ranked teams on the schedule include Denver (No. 12), Michigan State (No. 18) and West Virginia (No. 22).
Following the Penn State matchup, the Panthers return home to host its first meet of the year at Fitzgerald Field House, a quad meet featuring New Hampshire, Air Force and Bridgeport on Saturday, Jan. 17. After traveling to West Virginia (Jan. 23), Pitt returns home to host N.C. State Sunday, Feb. 1. In its only February meet away from home, Pitt will travel to Piscataway, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 7 to take on Rutgers. The Panthers close out February hosting Maryland (Feb. 13) and Michigan State (Feb. 20) before hosting the 2009 home finale against Denver (Feb. 28).
Pitt then travels to Utah State (March 6) before ending the regular season at Maryland (March 11). The EAGL Championships, hosted by N.C. State, will take place Saturday, March 21.
“Finishing with Maryland a week and a half prior to the EAGL Championship meet is perfect timing as we head into the postseason,” added Yohman.
The six sites for the NCAA Regional Championships on Saturday, April 4, will be Ohio State, Iowa, Alabama, Arkansas, N.C. State and Washington. The NCAA National Championships will be held April 16-18 at the University of Nebraska.