Two Pitt Gymnasts Earn 2011 NCAA Regional Invitations
3/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 25, 2011
PITTSBURGH - Pitt will have two gymnasts competing at the NCAA Regional Gymnastics Championship on the University of Michigan's main campus in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 2 at 6 p.m.
Sophomore Alyssa Adrian (Cary, N.C./Green Hope) and senior Molly Moyer (Telford, Pa./Buxmont Christian) each earned invitations, and will be competing as individuals at the regional championship. Adrian qualified for the uneven bars, while Moyer will compete on vault.
"It is such an honor to take these two athletes to this year's NCAA Regionals in the first round of the NCAA Gymnastics National Championship" said head coach Debbie Yohman. "Both deserve the opportunity to compete and represent Pitt one more time in the 2011 season."
The 2011 NCAA Regional will mark the first appearance for Adrian. Moyer earned an invitation following her freshman campaign at the 2008 NCAA Northeast Regional meet to compete on floor. She scored a 9.675 in the event in her first regional appearance.
Teams comprising the Ann Arbor Regional will be Stanford, Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa State, Minnesota and Kent State.
At last weekend's EAGL Championship, Adrian was a second team All-EAGL selection on uneven bars, and the lone Panther to be recognized in the event. She finished the season tied for 14th in the North East Region with a 9.770 regional qualifying score and 9.556 average.
"Alyssa is easily a regional level bar set, and will be competitive at this level as an individual" explained Yohman.
Adrian hit a career-high 9.825 two times this season - first against Maryland and then again at the final meet of this year's regular season at Ohio State with Missouri.
Veteran Moyer has competed on vault in 43 of 45 regular-season meets in her collegiate career. In her final season as a Pitt gymnast, Moyer set a new 9.850 personal-best record. She carried a 9.780 RQS, 9.691 season average and sat at 14th in the North East on vault.
"This is a great way for Molly to end her career here at Pitt" Yohman stated. "She qualified as an individual on floor as a freshman, and now has the opportunity to finish on an event that she has really developed over the past four years."
The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors, who are not on an advancing team, from each regional will receive an automatic berth to the national championships in Cleveland, Ohio, April 14-16, hosted by Cleveland State University.
In addition, the event winners at the regional championships will advance to the national championship, in that event only, if they are not a member of a qualifying team or the all-around qualifiers.
Ann Arbor Regional - University of Michigan
Teams
1. Stanford
2. Michigan
3. Ohio State
4. Iowa State
5. Minnesota
6. Kent State
All-Around Competitors
1. Luisa Leal-Restrepo, Rutgers
2. Monica Mesalles, Bridgeport
3. Dana Bonincontri, Pennsylvania
4. Emily Lutfey, Brown
5. Jenna Zito, Rutgers
Alt. - Kirsten Strausbaugh, Pennsylvania
Individual Event Specialists
Vault - Molly Moyer, Pittsburgh
Alt. - Kamri Riles, Bridgeport
Uneven Bars - Alyssa Adrian, Pittsburgh
Alt. - Danielle D'Elia, Rutgers
Balance Beam - Melanie Standridge, Cornell
Alt. - Emily Repko, Bridgeport
Floor Exercise - Danielle D'Elia, Rutgers
Alt. - Corrine Williams, Temple