Temple University Athletics
Women's Gymnastics Prepares for 2009 with First Intrasquad of the Season
12.16.08 | Women's Gymnastics
Dec. 16, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - Entering his third year as head coach, Aaron Murphy has the women's gymnastics team heading on the right track, as evident during the Temple women's gymnastics team intrasquad exhibition inside the Pearson Hall training facility over the weekend. A crowd consisting of alumni, friends and family were treated to a dazzling display of gymnastics as the team prepares for the 2009 season.
If the afternoon proved anything to Murphy, it's that depth will certainly not be an issue this season.
A charismatic and powerful freshman class was lead by Corrine Williams and Alexandra Uscatu Williams didn't let a fall on uneven bars mar an otherwise brilliant day, which started with a stuck layout Yurchenko on vault. She showed a solid back handspring-layout and switch leap to standing layout step-out on beam (but came up short on a 2.5 dismount). Floor was her highlight of the day, opening with a solid 2.5 twist to punch front pike. Another nice surprise was Uscatu, who launched a sky-high handspring front-pike on vault to start her day. Uscata cruised through an aggressive beam set (flip-flop layout; switch leap-straddle-straddle), but took an impromptu fall on a planned dismount series of two flip-flops to 1.5. She came back unscathed to finish her impressive day with a strong double pike mount on the floor exercise.
Another impressive freshman, Kaity Watson, was limited to action on the uneven bars only, where she swung a nice combination of giant-full, giant-blind, jaeger. Opting not to dismount due to a recently rolled ankle, Watson has been extremely consistent on vault in training, nailing several Yurchenko layout-half vaults (10.0 start value).
The sophomore class is lead by Katie Canning, a gymnast who showed glimpses of brilliance during her freshman campaign. Having to sit out most of the season to rehab some injuries, Canning proved she is back with something to prove. Starting with an awesome full-twisting Yurchenko (10.0 star value), Canning cruised through a flawless beam set consisting of a front-tuck mount; switch leap to wolf-full; one-arm flip-flop to back pike; and 1.5 dismount. Canning capped off her day by sandwiching two front layouts to a front-pike on floor in between a stellar double pike mount and complex dismount series of whip-1.5-punch front. Another sophomore, who actually had to sit out her entire freshman season is Chelsea Trouthman, showed she's back to old form with a great layout Yurchenko on vault, smooth Pak salto and giant-full to double tuck dismount on bars, and an effortless beam set packed full of difficulty- flip-flop layout; side aerial; switch leap to tucked full; and a stuck double twist dismount. Other highlights from the sophomore class included Chelsea Lapent's double tuck on floor, Marissa Oxenford's tricky beam combo of front handspring-straddle jump-Chen (tuck-open Korbut), and Kathryn Ho's giant-full double tuck dismount on uneven bars.
The juniors are lead by a solid trio of Nina Oteri, Danielle Viens, and Tiffany Shepherd. Oteri started her day with a nice handspring front-tuck on vault, swung a pretty free-hip to split handstand immediate toe-front off uneven bars, but was truly impressive on balance beam showing off her trademark flexibility and style during a flip-flop, flip-flop layout (fall) and switch leap to wolf-full on balance beam. Finishing her day on the floor exercise, Oteri increased her level of difficulty on floor from last season (huge double tuck; front layout, front-full; front double-full), and should be a consistent contributor all season long. Viens has also upped her ante on the uneven bars with a toe-on toe-off to double tuck dismount, and was up to her usual self on floor with a great double tuck mount.
Shepherd, who was hampered by injuries all throughout her sophomore season, is on track to emulate her amazing freshman year with a layout Yurchenko on vault and front-aerial to back tuck on beam. Shepherd closed her day with a double pike mount and double tuck dismount on floor exercise.
Senior co-captains, Winter Sneed and Natasha Crawford are supported by a seasoned Christine McNeill and Nikki Berrian. All four seniors showed true leadership throughout the afternoon, making this year's team a perfect mix of newcomers and confident veterans. Sneed caught a solid Shaposhnikova on uneven bars, tumbled the length of the beam with two flip-flops to layout step-out, and drew all eyes on her during her infectious floor routine which was highlighted by a double pike mount and difficult dance series of double-turn with leg horizontal to a wolf-full jump.
Crawford did the all-around in superb fashion for the first time in many years. The senior from Atlanta opened her day with a layout Yurchenko on vault, swung the only double-layout off bars, rocked beam with a three element flight series and stuck a cartwheel gainer-full dismount, before finishing out with a double pike mount and solid double-full on floor.
McNeill, competing as a fifth-year senior vaulted a tucked Yurchenko-full (great block off of the table), and swung a picture perfect Healy to straddle back on uneven bars. Berrian caught a huge Gienger release on uneven bars and unveiled a brand new double pike mount on floor (nice layout position on the first half of the first salto) to close her day.
The Owls will hold one more intrasquad on January 10 before heading on the road for two meets starting January 16. The team will be in action for the hometown crowd to see on Wednesday, January 28 when they host Rutgers inside McGonigle Hall at 7:00 PM. Fans that can't catch the action live can tune into Owl Access, a live internet stream by clicking http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=tem
