University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Friday, January 15
Raleigh, N.C.
6 PM ET
Pitt
at
NC State
Pitt Gymnastics Set for Season Opener at NC State
1/14/2021 9:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Panthers to Visit Wolfpack Friday Night
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team (0-0, 0-0 EAGL) will open its 2021 season against reigning East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) regular-season champion NC State (0-0, 0-0 EAGL) Friday night at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C.
HOW TO FOLLOW
PANTHERS PICKED SECOND IN EAGL PRESEASON POLL
1. NC State—59 points (five first-place votes)
2. Pitt—49 points
3. George Washington—46 points (two first-place votes)
4. New Hampshire—35 points
5(t). Temple—30 points (one first-place vote)
5(t). North Carolina—30 points
7. Towson—25 points
8. Long Island University—14 points
WELCOME TO THE EAGL
2020 – A SEASON TO REMEMBER
RETURNING FOR THE PANTHERS
NEW PANTHERS
SCOUTING THE WOLFPACK
UP NEXT
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HOW TO FOLLOW
- The meet will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, available via the WatchESPN app.
- Live scoring will be available via GoPack.com.
- Fans can follow along with live updates on Twitter and Instagram @Pitt_GYM.
PANTHERS PICKED SECOND IN EAGL PRESEASON POLL
- Pitt earned the second-most points in the 2021 EAGL Preseason Poll, announced Dec. 31.
- The Panthers were picked second with 49 points, behind reigning regular-season co-champion NC State (59 points). The ranking is Pitt's highest in the preseason under fourth-year head coach Samantha Snider. The poll is based on ranking projections given by the head coaches of the eight EAGL schools.
- Pitt finished second in the 2020 final EAGL standings after being picked fifth in the Preseason Poll. NC State was named the 2020 EAGL regular season co-champion along with New Hampshire. The champions were determined based on the results of each team's five designated conference meets. The 2020 EAGL championship was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The 2021 preseason rankings are as follows:
1. NC State—59 points (five first-place votes)
2. Pitt—49 points
3. George Washington—46 points (two first-place votes)
4. New Hampshire—35 points
5(t). Temple—30 points (one first-place vote)
5(t). North Carolina—30 points
7. Towson—25 points
8. Long Island University—14 points
WELCOME TO THE EAGL
- Entering its 26th season, the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) welcomed two new members.
- Temple and LIU are new to the EAGL in 2021. LIU, collegiate gymnastics' newest Division I program, is joining the league for its inaugural season, while Temple was previously a member of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
- New Hampshire, North Carolina, NC State, Pitt and Towson are each charter members of EAGL dating back to its inaugural season in 1996. George Washington joined the league in 2005.
2020 – A SEASON TO REMEMBER
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced Tuesday, March 12, 2020, by the ACC that all remaining winter and spring athletic activities would be suspended. The following Tuesday, March 17, it was announced that all athletic activities would be canceled through the end of the 2019-20 academic year.
- This effectively ended the Panthers' 2020 campaign with at least two regular season meets and the probability of postseason competition remaining. Pitt's meet at Ohio State, set for March 14, as well as the EAGL Championship, set for March 21, were both canceled.
- The 2020 season marked a campaign that defied expectations, as the Panthers were picked fourth in the EAGL preseason rankings but finished second overall, behind NC State. Pitt ended the year with its highest momentum, earning scores of 196 or better at its final three meets.
- The Panthers broke two school records over the course of the 2020 season, including team road score (196.500, at West Virginia) and team vault score (49.325, at Arizona State).
RETURNING FOR THE PANTHERS
- Pitt returns nine Panthers who competed in 2020, including two that earned All-EAGL honors last season.
- Junior Olivia Miller earned second-team honors for floor exercise, while sophomore Ciara Ward earned a first-team recognition for vault as well as second-team for bars. Ward also earned one EAGL Rookie of the Week nod during her freshman campaign.
NEW PANTHERS
- Pitt welcomes four new faces to the 2020 roster, including freshmen Faith Lerro, Trinity Macy and Nay'yarrah Winder, as well as senior transfer Kailey Gillings.
- Lerro is a product of American Twisters and hails from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Macy, out of Rowlett, Texas, was a two-time J.O. National Qualifier and medalist with Metroplex Gymnastics. Winder is a Dover, Del., native and trained with First State Gymnastics as a Level 10 gymnast from 2018-20.
- Gillings spent her first three collegiate seasons at Arkansas before transferring to Pitt, as announced over the summer. Unfortunately, the senior suffered a season-ending knee injury that will prevent her from competing during the 2021 season.
SCOUTING THE WOLFPACK
- NC State posted an impressive 2020 season, claiming a share of its first EAGL regular-season championship. The Wolfpack crossed the 196.000 threshold in five meets during 2020 action, with the highest score of the season coming on Senior Day as the team recorded a 196.550 in a dual meet with Minnesota.
- Two members of the squad earned an EAGL annual award. Senior Lauren Kent was named 2020 EAGL Gymnast of the Year after an impressive junior season. Kent was the only member of the Wolfpack to compete in the all-around in every meet and either tied her career best or set a new one on every event. Graduated senior Drew Grantham was named 2020 EAGL Senior Gymnast of the Year.
- NC State's coaching staff swept the EAGL annual awards as head coach Kim Landrus was named 2020 EAGL Head Coach of the Year, her second consecutive honor after being named 2019 EAGL Co-Head Coach of the Year. Assistant coaches Philip Ogletree and Bob Starkell were named 2020 EAGL Assistant Coaches of the Year for the second straight season.
- Friday will be the 50th all-time meeting between the Panthers and the Wolfpack. NC State claimed the last meeting, Feb. 8, 2020, in Pittsburgh, by a score of 196.025-195.350.
UP NEXT
- The Panthers will host their first home meet of the season, welcoming George Washington and Kent State to Fitzgerald Field House Sunday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m. The meet will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, available via the ESPN app. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 regulations, Pitt will not be permitted to host fans at the Fitzgerald Field House.
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