Pitt Gymnastics Welcomes Freshmen And Gets Back To Work
10/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Oct. 5, 2009
PITTSBURGH -
Pitt Freshman Gymnasts Gallery
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With the start of a new school year, Pitt gymnastics has gotten started as well, welcoming in four freshmen. Joining the 2010 squad are newcomers Alyssa Adrian, Meaghan Biros, Mallory Credito and Laura Rigney.
"The freshmen really came to campus in great shape and they're ready to go," head coach Debbie Yohman said. The entire team has worked hard this summer and in the gym with their conditioning. The results have been evident in just the first week of conditioning when they underwent strength evaluations and fitness testing."
Below is a listing of Pitt's 2010 freshman class, including bios:
Alyssa Adrian
Cary, N.C.
Green Hope High School
Superior Gymnastics
High School: Member of Superior Gymnastics under the direction of Andrey Ageer and Krystal Kramer...competed five years at Level 10...eight-time regional qualifier...2009 Junior Olympic National qualifier... two-time regional bar champion...Adrian was the 2009 Level 10 bar and all-around state champion... 2008 Level 10 bar state champion and placed 2nd all-around...member of the honor roll.
Personal: Born August 14, 1991...daughter of Bob and Andra Adrian...has two brothers, Zach and Bryan...psychology major.
Meaghan Biros
Beverly, Ill.
Mother McAuley
IGI Gymnastics
High School: Three-year competitor for IGI gymnastics...2009 state all-around champion...also placed 3rd in both the vault and bars in 2009...a four-time Junior Olympic National qualifier...member of the Region 5 all-star team her junior year...helped team capture first place at the state championships in 2008.
Personal: Born June 4, 1991...daughter of Edward and Debbie Biros...has three brothers, Josh, Ryan, and Joe...undecided major.
Mallory Credito
Jonestown, Pa.
Lebanon Catholic
Prestige Gymnastics
High School: Eight-year member of Prestige Gymnastics...Level 10 state competitor...2007 Level 9 national qualifier...high school yearbook photographer...also participated in Lebanon Catholic's school play, "Barnum" in 2009.
Personal: Born August 15, 1991...daughter of Joseph and Kim Credito...has one sister, Morgan...physical therapy major.
Laura Rigney
Greenwood, Ind.
Greenwood Community High School
Wrights Gymnastics Academy
High School: Competed at Wrights Gymnastics Academy for 10 years under the guidance of Michelle Hart...two-time Level 10 Junior National qualifier...four-time Level 10 Region 5 qualifier...2009 Level 10 Region 5 vault champion...Rigney won back-to-back Level 10 state vault championships in 2008 and 2009...helped guide Wright's Gymnastics Academy to two state team runner up finishes in 2008 and 2009...graduated with honors.
Personal: Born April 4, 1991...daughter of Larry and Ellen Rigney...has one brother, Larry Jr. and a sister-in-law, Diana...undecided major.
Pitt's two returning NCAA qualifiers, senior Dani Bryan and sophomore Alicia Talucci commented below on the impact of the freshmen and the pulse of the team:
Dani Bryan: "The freshmen are going to be an integral part of accomplishing our goals this year: to win the EAGL Championship and compete at NCAA Regionals. Not only do they possess great talent, they add a whole new dynamic to the team. The freshmen provide our line-ups with depth and bring a variety of difficult skills which push the rest of the team to consistently work harder every day. There's a new, more competitive energy in the gym. Almost every single person on the team has upgrades and is fighting for a spot in the lineup. It would seem like fighting for a spot would break a team apart but in actuality the competitiveness is causing our team to become a cohesive unit, all working towards the same goals. Our team has never been this prepared for how early it is in preseason. This preparation is giving the team a new confidence that will undoubtedly lead us to our ultimate goal."
Alicia Talucci: "No one can replace our seniors from last year, but our new freshman will definitely contribute in providing great routines to make up for the ones we lost. The tone of the team is very supportive and motivating. I think we have a hunger to win EAGLs, and with the combination of our talent and determination, we will prove that we're a force to be reckoned with."
With the exception of Amy Varela, who is successfully rehabbing a wrist injury, the Panthers are healthy and ready for preseason preparations.
"The first day of official practice was incredible, the best opening day ever for Pitt gymnastics," Yohman stated. "We tumbled as a group and saw some amazing skills. At our informal intersquad meet just a week later, the kids were competitive on all four events. The skills looked polished and the girls were confident with very few major errors.
"We have over a squad full of 10.0 vaults that were performed on competition height. Our half bar routines and endurance routines were strong, our beam skills were consistent and our tumbling is back up to the level that our great squads in the past have been.
"The blue team won the intersquad so Dani (Bryan) has to cook dinner for her roommate Jen (Liberato), although the Gold team had a few points sidelined by the flu," Yohman concluded.
Also happening around the Pitt gymnastics team...
• The team started the semester with a get-together at the apartment of seniors Sarah Thompson & Krista Rubini. Since then, they have gotten together outside of the gym to go to Pitt football games, watch the away games, and get to know the recruits we've had in to visit.
• Junior Shannon Vafiadou, who is also our SAAC secretary, was honored with an invitation to join a group of students who went to listen the President of Russia (Dmitry Medvedev) speak when he was in Pittsburgh for the G-20 Summit.
• We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of new assistant coach Terry Karwoski, who will be moving from Michigan the beginning of October.
• Our nutritionist, Leslie Bonci, has been in to work with both the on- and off-campus athletes demonstrating good food choices and bringing great menus and samples.
• We're looking forward to working at the Maggie Dixon Heart Fair this upcoming weekend and the Jeff Jansen Leadership Seminar next week. Former Pitt gymnast Alix Croop has participated in the seminar since its inception has graduated (from school and the program) and will be attending the coaches' session. Alix will also be serving as our volunteer assistant this year.