Temple University Athletics
2009 Season Outlook: Women's Gymnastics Looks To Move Into Upper Tier of the Conference
1.13.09 | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 13, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - With the return of several key contributors from last year's squad, as well as one of the most talented freshmen classes in program history, the Temple Women's Gymnastics team is hoping this will be the season the team breaks through into the upper-echelon of the conference.
"Our first goal is to finish top three in the conference," said third-year head coach Aaron Murphy. "The past two years that I've been the head coach, we've just missed it by the slightest of margins, so we've got to get it this season. After that, one of our goals is always to go to postseason at the USGA Nationals and hopefully get to the team finals."
To reach those goals, the Owls must improve upon last season's 10-24 overall record, which included a fifth place finish at the ECAC Championships. But from what he's seen during the preseason, Murphy is confident that the Owls have what it takes to make a move into the conference's upper tier.
"Our preseason has been excellent so far, the girls have really stepped it up with their personal skill level. The preseason has been very competitive and it looks to be a very positive year this year," said Murphy.
Part of Murphy's confidence comes from the return of 12 talented and experienced competitors from last year's squad. Leading the way for the Owls will be senior captains Winter Sneed and Natasha Crawford. Consistently two of the Owls' top performers in 2008, the pair will be asked to do even more for the Owls to succeed in 2009.
Sneed, a first team USAG All-American on floor exercise, has one of the top floor routines in the entire conference according to Murphy. Last season, she recorded a season high 9.850 on floor at Ursinus and took home first place with a 9.700 on floor in a dual-meet with Cornell.
Crawford, a first team USAG All-American on beam, is expected to be the Owls' top all-around performance in the upcoming season. Last season, Crawford scored a season-high 9.700 on beam at the USAG Championships and season high 9.650 on vault at the Shelli Calloway
Invite at Towson.
"We are expecting big things from the two co-captains, Winter Sneed and Natasha Crawford," said Murphy. "Those two have the most experience; they have competed for me for the past three years and have already taken on a huge leadership role. Natasha could easily compete in four events and Winter's floor routine has blown everyone out of the water with her charisma and showmanship."
Rounding out the rest of the talented senior class for the Cherry and White are Nikki Berrian, Christine McNeill and Debra DiPrima. One of the team's top performers on bars according to Murphy, Berrian posted a season-high 9.675 on uneven bars at the Maryland quad-meet and is expected to be one of the team's top contributors in the upcoming season. McNeill is coming off an outstanding 2008 season, where she was named ECAC Specialist of the Year and first team USAG All-American on vault after posting a 9.700 at the championships in Shreveport, LA.
Juniors Rebecca Caplan, Nina Oteri, Tiffany Shepherd, and Danielle Viens have all proved to be solid contributors and Murphy expects this class to be an integral part of the team's success in 2009. Highlighting the junior class is Oteri, a USAG All-American on beam who finished fourth at the ECAC's on beam with a season-high 9.825. One of the Owls' top performers in the final half of the season, Murphy expects that Oteri will only improve during her junior campaign.
Sophomores Katie Canning, Kathryn Ho, Chelsea Lapent and Chelsea Troutman are all expected to improve during their sophomore season as Murphy will be counting on a greater contribution in 2009. Leading the class is Canning, consistently one of the Owls' top performers during her freshmen season until injury forced her to miss the entire second part of the season.
The freshman class, according to Murphy, is one of the most talented in Temple women's gymnastics history and is expecting to make immediate impact. The class includes Alexa Ahrem, Janae Nichols, Marissa Oxenford, Alexandra Uscatu, Kaity Watson, and Corrine Williams.
In terms of schedule, the Owls will once again face a challenging slate that includes competitions against national powers West Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, home meets against Rutgers, Towson and Ursinus, as well as a trip to Alaska.
"Everyone is excited about the trip to Alaska, as well as the back-to-back home meets" said Murphy . " It's one of the toughest schedules we have ever had to face, but I'm confident that we'll have what it takes to battle some big time schools."
