Temple University Athletics
Owls Strong Showing Comes Up Short Against Rutgers
1.24.07 | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 24, 2007
Temple-Rutgers Women's Gymnastics Results
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PHILADELPHIA - After a slow start to its 2007 season last Friday at Ursinus, the Temple women's gymnastics (0-3) team pulled together and bested their opening score by more than three points as they hosted Rutgers in a dual-meet in McGonigle Hall Wednesday night. Although Rutgers (5-1) won the meet 189.675-185.700, the Owls didn't necessarily make it easy for the visiting team.
First-year head coach Aaron Murphy was able to relax a bit at meets end, as while the Owls didn't come out on top, he saw reasons to be pleased.
"These girls were a lot more energetic and confident tonight. They had something to prove to themselves, and of course, to me," said Murphy. "I was shooting for a 186 tonight, and although we came up a tad short, I'm still very pleased with how this team came together."
The Owls 185.700 score is the fifth-highest in the ECAC conference, which also happens to be the largest conference in the nation.
Junior Nicole Catrambone opened up the competition with a clean layout Tsuk vault (9.325), followed by layout Yurchenko's from freshman Tiffany Shepherd and senior co-captain Jillian Kornett, for scores of 9.325 and 9.375, respectively. Junior Alycia Petitto stuck a handspring piked front for a team high of 9.475. Following junior Desiree Meredith's 8.925,the team still came away with a solid score of 46.425.
The Owls moved to the uneven bars, and were led off by a rock solid 9.450 from redshirt-sophomore Christine McNeill. McNeill, who suffered an achilles tendon tear during last year's preseason, was all smiles after the meet.
"I had such a mix of emotions tonight. I was both nervous and excited," said McNeill. "It just felt so good to be back on the competition floor."
Sophomore Winter Sneed wowed the crowd with her Hindorff release, and is one of the only gymnasts in the world performing the skill on the low bar. She barely scraped her foot upon regrasp, which resulted in a score of 9.250. Senior co-captain Sarah Liebowitz quickly picked up the pace with a team-high of 9.700 (hop half, giant-full, reverse hecht; stuck double layout dismount). The team went 47.100, besting last week's bars score by 3.150 points.
Ask any coach, and he or she will tell you that gymnastics meets are won or lost on the balance beam. Such was the case, as the Owls scrapped together a 45.525 beam total. Kornett and Petittio (nifty wolf 3/4; immediate tucked full dismount facing sideways) led the way with scores of 9.475 and 9.150, respectively. Liebowitz chipped in a 9.050, as did senior Noelle Moore (fall on gainer bhs-bhs-layout).
With one rotation remaining, the Scarlet Knights led the Cherry and White by a score of 142.425-139.050.
Coach Murphy took a risk by having his two freshmen start off the floor competition, as both Danielle Viens and Tiffany Shepherd (8.925) sat down their final tumbling passes. Viens matched her season-opening score of 8.850 and was looking very strong up until the unfortunate break at the end. Sophomores Caitlin Egan (whip-immediate double full) and Nikki Berrian (back 1 1/2; -punch front dismount) put the team back on track with scores of 9.325 and 9.300, respectively. Kornett continued her impressive outing with an event high 9.550 (sky-high double pike mount), which was matched by Moore (front double-full second pass). Moore, who struggled on her other two events, felt very relieved after her floor set.
"I was a little upset that I let the team down earlier, but hearing them cheer me on felt so great. That's what college gymnastics is all about," said Moore.
Kornett, a 2007 team co-captain, saw a much better improvement from the team's performance on Friday night.
"We pulled together as a team tonight. You could just tell we were much more confident and prepared for this competition." Kornett, the lone all-around competitor for the Owls, scored a season-high 37.700.
No rest for the weary as the Owls head back into the gym to prepare for Saturday afternoon's tri-meet against Towson and Penn. The competition is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start at Penn's Hutchinson Gym. The Owls will host their next home meet, the Liberty Bell Classic Invite, on Saturday, February 3 at 1:00 p.m. in McGonigle Hall.
