Pitt Gymnastics to Host Pride Meet Sunday

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team (0-1, 0-1 EAGL) will host a Pride-themed meet for its home opener against No. 23 Kent State (1-0, 1-0 MAC) Sunday at 2 p.m. ET at Fitzgerald Field House.

HOW TO FOLLOW

The meet will be streamed live on ESPN3, available via the WatchESPN app.

Live scoring will be available via PittsburghPanthers.com.
Fans can follow along with live updates on Twitter and Instagram @Pitt_GYM.
Due to COVID-19 protocols set by the Pennsylvania Governor's Office, Pitt will not be permitted to host fans at the Fitzgerald Field House.

PITT'S FIRST PRIDE MEET

Last week, Pitt gymnastics announced on social media that Sunday's meet would be Pride-themed, bringing awareness and support to the LGBTQ+ community.
Pitt will wear rainbow ribbons, and LGBTQ+ flags will be visible throughout the facility. The Panther gymnasts wrote and filmed a PSA in support of the theme, in addition to multiple other initiatives on social media released throughout the week leading up to the event.
Pitt Athletics strives to promote an environment of inclusion through education, dialogue and the celebration of our differences. With this mission in focus, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Pitt Life Skills formed a Pride Affinity Group which supports student-athletes who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

COCA NAMED EAGL CO-SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK

Katrina Coca was named the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Co-Specialist of the Week, as announced Tuesday.
The Specialist of the Week honor is the first of Coca's career, and she is the first Panther to earn the distinction since Alecia Petrikis in February 2020. Coca shared the weekly honors with Faith Leary of Temple.
In Friday's season opener at NC State, Coca appeared in her first meet for Pitt after transferring from Kentucky in the summer of 2019. During the 2019 fall semester, the Stillwater, Okla., native suffered a season-ending leg injury that prevented her from competing in her first season as a Panther in 2020.
Coca made a splash upon her return to competition, winning the uneven bars with a score of 9.875. Her score tied for the event win with teammate Katie Chamberlain, who was also making her first appearance back from sidelining injuries. Additionally, Coca made her collegiate debut on balance beam and placed second in the event with a 9.825.
Coca's appearance was her first since April 20, 2018, in the NCAA Championship Semifinals with Kentucky.

LAST TIME OUT

Three Panthers earned event titles for Pitt in its season opener at NC State Friday night at Reynolds Coliseum.
Both Katie Chamberlain and Katrina Coca returned to competition following season-ending injuries, and each scored 9.875 on uneven bars to be named co-champions in the event. Chamberlain competed for the first time in over two years, since her career debut on Jan. 12, 2019. It was Coca's first appearance since the NCAA Championship Semifinals on April 20, 2018.
Sophomore Lauren Beckwith earned the win on balance beam with a career-best score of 9.850. Junior Olivia Miller competed in all-around for the first time since her freshman season, earning a 38.350.
The Wolfpack earned the team victory by a score of 194.925-192.850.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES

Last time out, No. 23 Kent State started off its season with a dominant win over Bowling Green, 194.675-190.550, inside the M.A.C. Center on Sunday afternoon. The Flashes won all four team events head-to-head against the Falcons as well as each individual title on their way to the sizable victory.
Following their performance against Bowling Green, the Flashes swept the Mid-American Conference weekly awards with senior Abby Fletcher earning MAC Gymnast of the Week and freshman Kyndall Gilbert being named MAC Specialist of the Week.
Sunday will be the 29th meeting between Kent State and Pitt, with the Flashes leading the series, 19-9. The teams last met at the NCAA Regional Meet in 2018, with Pitt winning by a score of 195.125-194.900.

UP NEXT

Pitt will stay at home, hosting EAGL foes NC State and Towson in a tri-meet Sunday, Jan. 31, at 4 p.m. on ESPN3. Due to COVID-19 protocols set by the Pennsylvania Governor's Office, Pitt will not be permitted to host fans at the Fitzgerald Field House.

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Pitt Gymnastics to Host Pride Meet Sunday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lauren Beckwith

Katie Chamberlain

Katrina Coca

Olivia Miller

Alecia Petrikis

Pitt Gymnastics to Host Pride Meet Sunday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lauren Beckwith

Katie Chamberlain

Katrina Coca

Olivia Miller

Alecia Petrikis

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