Temple University Athletics
Owls Take Top Spot in Five-Team Liberty Classic
2.3.07 | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 3, 2007
Liberty Classic Results
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PHILADELPHIA - The Temple women's gymnastics team (4-5) picked up its first win of the season by topping Penn, Ursinus, West Chester and Bridgeport at the Liberty Classic Invite on Saturday, February 3 in McGonigle Hall. The Owls tallied a season high-score of 190.150 as this marks the first time the team has broken the 190-point barrier since 2005.
Right from the get-go, the team showed that they were ready to attack. Juniors Desiree Meredith and Nicole Catrambone blasted enormous layout Tsuk vaults for scores of 9.500 and 9.400. Senior co-captain Jillian Kornett and freshman Tiffany Shepherd followed suit with clean layout Yurchenko's for 9.575 and 9.550, respectively. Junior Alycia Petitto tossed in a 9.575 of her own (handspring front-pike), to set up anchor Noelle Moore's tucked Tsuk-full that went 9.625.
The Owls moved to the uneven bars, and were led off by sophomore Natasha Crawford's 9.425 (giant 1 ½-jaeger). Catrambone fought her way through a 9.25, while Kornett struggled on her piked jaeger for a 9.05. Sophomore Christine McNeill brought the team back up with a beautiful Healy-straddle back to handstand, for a career-high 9.725. Senior co-captain Sarah Liebowitz kept the momentum flowing with a 9.700 (saved her hop-half; slung her double layout dismount way out). Last up was sophomore Nikki Berrian, and the crowd gasped as she sailed her Geinger release way above the bar en route to a 9.650.
The often dreaded balance beam was next, but this is where the team showed its true tenacity. Making her NCAA debut, freshman Nina Oteri came off during her acro flight series for a score of 8.750. Head coach Aaron Murphy knew he was taking a risk by putting Oteri in first, but was still pleased with her performance.
"I need to get my freshmen into the lineup for the experience. Nina showed just how tough she is by getting back up on the beam and finishing with a flawless set. I'm very proud of her for that," said Murphy.
In the past, the Owls have struggled on beam and sophomore Winter Sneed knew she had to be solid to pick the team back up as her 9.500 (bhs-bhs-layout; switch leap-back pike) was crucial.
"I saw Nina fall and knew that I had to be aggressive and attack that set," said Sneed.
Petitto was up next, and hit a solid bhs-lo for a 9.400.
"After I saw Winter hit, the only thing going through my mind was that I had to build on her performance and continue to put the team back on track," said Petitto.
Co-captains Kornett and Liebowitz were tentative, but managed to stay on for solid scores of 9.025 and 9.450, respectively. Moore capped off the beam squad with an assertive 9.650 (gainer bhs-bhs-layout; 3/2 dismount). Today marked the first time this season that Temple made it through beam without having to count a fall. After three rotations, the Owls were sitting pretty with a 2.600 lead over cross-town rival Penn.
While Penn was hitting vault, the Owls had an up and down day on their last event, the floor exercise. Berrian started the team off with a 9.500 (front-full, punch front; 2 front layouts, back 3/2-punch front). Freshman Danielle Viens balked on her double tuck mount, and had problems elsewhere in her routine for an 8.800. Liebowitz powered through a front layout-punch front, barely making it to her feet for a 9.300. Coach Murphy was starting to sweat a little as he watched experienced senior Kornett have troubles on her final tumbling pass (back 3/2). To make matters worse, Shepherd stumbled out of bounds on her opening double pike. Regardless of the two errors, the judges awarded Kornett with a 9.200, and gave Shepherd a season-high score of 9.700.
Familiar with the anchor position, senior Moore caught some serious air time on her double pike mount. After tumbling an impressive front double-full and front-full punch layout, Moore was awarded a career-high 9.850.
After the meet, Liebowitz was smiling ear-to-ear after her team's valiant performance.
"To start the season with a 182, and now scoring a 190 just four meets later is incredible. We've been progressing so well, and our confidence just keeps building," said Liebowitz. "The energy during practice is amazing as all of our girls are starting to show their potential. We all want a spot in the lineup, and everyone is really motivating each other to make the top six."
Coach Murphy couldn't help but to share his captain's grin after the meet, although he noted that they almost dropped the ball near the end.
"I would've liked to have seen this team be more aggressive on their final event. I don't know if they were tired, but several of the girls watered down their tumbling. We have to approach every event like it's our first, as we did on vault, bars and beam," cautioned Murphy. "They need to realize that the meet isn't over until the last girl finishes the last tumbling pass. However, we competed in such an aggressive manner today. We have to build on this, and continue to show steady improvements week-in and week-out."
The Temple women's gymnastics team will enjoy a two weeks off from competition before heading to Towson for the Shelli Calloway Invitational on Saturday, February 17. The final home meet of the season is scheduled for Saturday, March 3 when the Owls host Rhode Island at 1:00 p.m. The Rhode Island meet will also honor the seniors, as they compete in their final home competition in McGonigle Hall.
