George Washington University Athletics
Gymnastics Travels To #20 Penn State Saturday Night
3/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
February 29, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC - Head Coach Margie Foster-Cunningham returns to her alma mater Saturday night as the George Washington gymnastics team travels to Penn State to take on the #20 Nittany Lions, as well as Bowling Green and Cortland at 7:00 pm at Rec Hall. Foster-Cunningham was a five-time All-America at Penn State and led the Nittany Lions to a national championship in 1980. That year she was a finalist for the prestigious Broderick Award, given to the most outstanding collegiate gymnast.
#37 George Washington (8-6, 191.813) at
#20 Penn State (7-5, 194.385) with
#41 Bowling Green (7-4, 191.205) and
#64 Cortland (4-2, 182.045)
Date: Saturday, Mar. 1, 2008 • Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Rec Hall (7,200) • State College, PA
GW is coming off a season-best 193.850 in their victory over East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) rival Pittsburgh last Sunday at Charles E. Smith Athletic Center. It was the Colonials best team performance since March 1, 2006 when they scored 194.400 in a win over Towson. Kristen Simpson earned EAGL Specialist of the Week honors after tying the GW record with a 9.950 on vault. Simpson also made her first appearance on beam this season, recording a 9.700. Leslie Delima won the all-around with a 38.425. Christa Devine won individual titles on beam with a career-high 9.800 and bars with a 9.775. McKenzie Parrack, Megan Quinn and Delima shared first place on floor exercise with a 9.750.
Penn State is coming off a loss to then #20 Ohio State, 194.250-193.650, in Columbus. The Nittany Lions excel on both vault and floor as they enter with a 48.870 RQS on both events. Brandi Personett leads the team on both events as she ranks 17th in the nation on vault with a 9.855 RQS on the event. However, Personett is even better on floor, ranking 5th in the country with a 9.895 RQS. She ranks fifth in the Big 10 with a 38.830 all-around average. Alexandra Brockway is the best on bars for Penn State, ranking 2nd in the conference with a 9.845 average. Casey Rohrbaugh leads the team on beam with a 9.685 average.
The Falcons are coming off their first MAC loss of the season but had their share of great performances. Queenita Gamble was awarded MAC Co-Gymnast of the Week for her efforts. Gamble led the team on beam where she posted a new career high of 9.775. She finished second on floor behind Jacque Bernhardt with a score of 9.775, also a career high. Bernhardt claimed the event with a 9.825. Bernhardt also led the team on vault where she finished tied for second with a 9.800. Breanne Guy finished behind Bernhardt on vault with a 9.775. She finished the night with a 38.575 in the all-around, a new high for her. Morgan Balzer and Guy were the frontrunners for the Falcons on bars with scores of 9.775. Michelle Luchini returned to the line-up and scored a 9.725.
Cortland posted a season-high team score and set a new school team record on uneven bars as the Red Dragons defeated Brockport, 188.325-186.80. The Red Dragons' total team score of 188.325 is their second-best ever. The Red Dragons are led by seniors Brittany Wiesner and Amber French. Wiesner finished first on balance beam with a 9.65, third on uneven bars with a 9.45, fourth on floor exercise with a 9.625 and fifth on vault with a 9.425. French finished second on both vault (9.625) and floor exercise (9.725).
Up Next: Following the meet at Penn State, the Colonials return to Charles E. Smith Athletic Center for its First Annual Pink Meet, Sunday, March 9 at 3:00 pm. GW meets EAGL rivals West Virginia and Maryland, as well as Kent State. The meet will be dedicated to raising support and awareness for the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund. Every penny made at the meet will go to this great cause.
Players Mentioned
