Pitt Set for EAGL Championship

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team will travel to Towson, Md., this weekend for the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championship at SECU Arena.

THE MEET

The Panthers (6-14, 3-3 EAGL) will face the George Washington Colonials (21-6, 5-0 EAGL), New Hampshire Wildcats (11-6, 3-3 EAGL), North Carolina Tar Heels (8-8, 2-3 EAGL), NC State Wolfpack (18-8, 6-1 EAGL) and Towson Tigers (13-16, 0-9 EAGL) Saturday, March 24. Action is set to begin at 2 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT

Pitt posted its second-highest road score in program history in a dual meet against North Carolina, earning a 196.050.
The Panthers posted a 49.125 on floor, a 49.100 on vault, a 49.000 on bars and a 48.825 on beam.
Individually, eight Pitt gymnasts earned top-five event finishes in Haley Brechwald (vault/floor/all-around), Lucy Brett (bars/beam), Catie Conrad (bars), Deven Herbine (vault), Taylor Laymon (bars), Kensleigh Owens (vault), Alecia Petrikis (vault) and Megan Tripp (beam).

STARS ON BARS

The 2018 Panther squad currently owns three of the top four bars scores in program history.
Pitt set a new program record in a dual meet against New Hampshire, earning a 49.275, which broke the 49.250 mark set by the 1999 squad.
They also recorded a 49.250 (tied second all-time) in a quad meet against Texas Woman's University, Auburn and NC State before posting a 49.175 (ranks fourth all-time) in a tri-meet against George Washington and West Virginia.
The team currently ranks 30th in the nation on bars with an RQS of 49.060 and has ranked as high as 16th during the season.
Conrad currently owns the team's top RQS on bars with a 9.840, followed by Brechwald and Brett at 9.825, sophomore Lucy Jones with a 9.820, Tripp at 9.795 and Laymon with a 9.780.

RELEVANT RANKINGS

The Panthers rank third in the North East Region and 33rd in the nation with an RQS of 195.825.
Pitt ranks third in the North East Region on bars with an RQS of 49.060, on floor at 49.035, on vault with a 48.915 and fourth on beam at 48.805.
The Panthers RQS of 49.010 on bars also ranks 30th in the nation and their 48.915 on vault is tied for 35th.
Individually, Brechwald is tied for 45th in the nation in the all-around with an RQS of 39.250, is tied for 69th on floor with a 9.875 and is tied for 79th on vault with a 9.840 while Conrad is tied for 71st in the all-around with an RQS of 39.000.

A FRESHMAN TO FEAR

Brechwald set a conference record after earning her sixth EAGL Rookie of the Week honor March 20.
Brechwald has collected 12 individual titles through 10 meets. She earned the beam title in Pitt's final home meet of the season March 4. Brechwald also earned the bars title in Pitt's tri-meet at WVU and took the all-around title in the Panthers' quad meet at TWU. She earned the bars, floor and all-around title in Pitt's home quad meet against NC State, Temple and Towson. Versus New Hampshire, Brechwald took home the bars, floor and all-around title. Against Oregon State, she won vault, bars and the all-around title.
She currently ranks first on the team in RQS on floor with a 9.875 and on vault at 9.840, while being tied for first on beam with a 9.820 and tied for second on bars at 9.825. Her all-around RQS of 39.250 is also tops on the team.

REACHING REGIONALS

Pitt currently ranks 33rd in the nation with an RQS of 195.825, sitting inside the top-36 ranking needed to qualify for the NCAA Regional Championship.
The Panthers have steadily moved up the rankings as of late, improving from 44th in the week of Feb. 26 to its current ranking of 33rd this week.
Pitt will look to close the season strong at the EAGL Championship, hoping to qualify for the regional tournament for the first time since 2013.
NCAA Regional Championship qualifiers will officially be released during the NCAA gymnastics selection show Monday, March 26 at 4 p.m.

CONFERENCE COMPETITION

The Panthers have competed against each of their fellow EAGL schools this season, going 3-3 in conference competition.
Pitt faced New Hampshire in a home dual meet Jan. 20, coming out with a 196.225-195.175 victory.
The Panthers competed against both NC State and Towson in a home quad meet Feb. 3, where they defeated the Tigers, 193.125-192.050, while falling to the Wolfpack, 194.600-193.125.
Pitt met NC State for the second consecutive week at TWU's quad meet Feb. 11, exacting revenge against the Wolfpack with a 196.100-195.925 victory.
The Panthers later faced George Washington at GWU's tri-meet March 11, where they fell to the Colonials, 196.875-195.500.
Pitt's final EAGL matchup came against North Carolina in a road dual meet March 17, with the Panthers dropping the contest to the Tar Heels, 196.600-196.050.

EAGL ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY

The Panthers are 16-15 all-time against George Washington. During a stretch from 2008 to 2014, Pitt recorded 13 consecutive victories against the Colonials.
In a series that dates back to 1980, Pitt is 19-50 all-time against New Hampshire. The Panthers and Wildcats have each recorded five wins apiece in their last 10 meetings.
The Panthers are 11-28 all-time against North Carolina. Pitt's last win against the Tar Heels came in the 2016 EAGL Championship, where the Panther squad earned their first EAGL title in program history.
In a series that dates back to 1985, Pitt is 8-35 all-time against NC State. The Panthers last victory against the Wolfpack also came during the 2016 EAGL Championship.
The Panthers are 15-24 all-time against Towson. Pitt has won its past four meetings against the Tigers.

SCOUTING GEORGE WASHINGTON

George Washington is 21-6 this season with a 5-0 mark in the EAGL.
The Colonials own an overall RQS of 196.460, which ranks 19th in the nation. They rank 10th in the nation on vault (49.200), 11th on beam (49.235), are tied for 13th on floor (49.295) and rank 35th on bars (48.970).
George Washington saw four gymnasts earn first team All-EAGL honors in Jillian Winstanley (vault/bars/beam/floor/all-around), Camille Drouin-Allaire (vault/bars/floor/all-around), Elizabeth Pfeiler (vault/beam) and Alexandra Zois (all-around).

SCOUTING NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire owns an 11-6 overall record and a 3-3 EAGL record.
The Wildcats sport an overall RQS of 195.725, which ranks 34th in the nation. New Hampshire ranks 17th in the nation on beam (49.160), 34th on bars (49.005), 40th on vault (48.870) and is tied for 41st on floor (49.020).
Four New Hampshire gymnasts earned first team All-EAGL recognition in Danielle Mulligan (bars/beam), Lauren Diggan (bars), Casey Lauter (beam) and Nicole O'Leary (vault).

SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina is 8-8 this season with a 2-3 mark in the EAGL.
The Tar Heels own an overall RQS of 195.515, which ranks 39th in the nation. They are tied for 18th in the nation on vault (49.105), are tied for 22nd on floor (49.240), rank 46th on beam (48.730) and 55th on bars (48.615).
North Carolina saw four gymnasts earn first team All-EAGL honors in Khazia Hislop (vault/beam/floor), Morgan Lane (beam/floor/all-around), Madison Nettles (vault) and Mikayla Robinson (floor).

SCOUTING NC STATE

NC State owns an 18-8 overall record and a 6-1 EAGL record.
The Wolfpack sport an overall RQS of 196.300, which ranks 22nd in the nation. NC State is tied for 18th in the nation on vault (49.105), ranks 19th on beam (49.140), is tied for 22nd on floor (49.240) and is tied for 32nd on bars (49.025).
Five NC State gymnasts earned first team All-EAGL recognition in Chelsea Knight (vault/bars/beam/floor/all-around), Drew Grantham (beam/floor/all-around), Alexa Phillips (vault-floor), Caitlyn Fillard (all-around) and Maggie Tamburro (bars).

SCOUTING TOWSON

Towson is 13-16 this season with a 0-9 mark in the EAGL.
The Tigers own an overall RQS of 195.120, which ranks 43rd in the nation. They rank 37th on bars (48.880), 38th on beam (48.855), 45th on vault (48.815) and are tied for 49th on floor (48.900).
Towson saw two gymnasts earn first team All-EAGL honors in Cortni Baker (vault) and Tyra McKellar (bars).

UP NEXT

The Panthers will find out if they qualified for regionals during the NCAA gymnastics selection show Monday, March 26 at 4 p.m. The NCAA Regional Championship will take place Saturday, April 7.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Haley Brechwald

Lucy Brett

Catie Conrad

Deven Herbine

Lucy Jones

Taylor Laymon

Kensleigh Owens

Alecia Petrikis

Megan Tripp