Temple University Athletics
Owls Place First at Liberty Classic
2.7.09 | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 7, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - The Temple women's gymnastics team (9-4) powered through the field on Saturday afternoon to take first place at the Liberty Classic from McGonigle Hall. Temple's score of 190.800 was followed by Ithaca (184.625), Ursinus (183.600), West Chester (178.800) and Wilson College (148.050).
In the all-around competition, Temple's Katie Canning and Natasha Crawford went 1-2 with Canning scoring a career-high 38.725, followed by Crawford's 38.050. Ursinus College's Kira Oldham-Curtis scored 37.500 for third place.
Temple sat out on a bye for the first rotation, and watched Ursinus and Ithaca battle it out for the early lead. Ithaca's solid uneven bar rotation garnered a 46.650 score, where they were led by Frances Ente and Roxanne Deshaies, who each scored a 9.525. Ente showed a Gienger release and a cool giant-swing on the low bar to a flyaway up to the high bar.
For Ursinus, Oldham-Curtis tumbled a sky-high double pike for a 9.725 to boost the team total to 46.575.
West Chester tallied a 44.175 on balance beam, and Wilson put together a 41.200 on vault to round out the rest of the field.
In the second rotation, Temple started on vault with Crawford's layout Yurchenko (9.400). Freshman Kaity Watson added a 9.550 and Canning anchored with a nearly stuck Yurchenko-full for 9.750. Unfortunately, the Owls had to count an 8.900 when both Winter Sneed and Nina Oteri over-rotated their vaults, each scoring an 8.900. Regardless, Temple tallied a respectable 47.000.
Meanwhile, Ithaca ran into some problems on balance beam for a 44.225, Ursinus was on their bye, West Chester compiled a 45.300 on floor exercise, and Wilson distanced themselves from the field with only three uneven bar routines, where they were led by Samantha Vances 8.450.
Temple moved to the uneven bars in the third rotation, where Oteri sought some vengeance after her mishap on vault. She got the Owls started off right with a nice combination of free hip-bail handstand-toe shoot to high bar (9.400). Canning caught a jaeger release for 9.550, followed by Danielle Viens, who saved a healy-straddle back that went way off kilter for a 9.350. Crawford put the team back on track with a 9.650 (healy to immediate jaeger; double tuck).
Competing in her last meet inside McGongile Hall, senior Nikki Berrian launched her Gienger release and stuck her double tuck for a 9.725, bringing Temple's uneven bar total to 47.675.
After the third rotation, Ithaca and Wilson had completed three events, with Ithaca leading 138.500 to Wilson's 105.350.
Temple, Ursinus and West Chester had each completed two events, with Temple leading comfortably 94.675 to Ursinus 93.075 and West Chester's 90.025.
Crawford, who has become very reliable in the balance beam lead-off spot, proved her worth once again with a solid 9.525 (bhs-bhs-layout; gainer-full off the side). Sophomore transfer Marissa Oxenford rocked a 9.575 (roundoff-back tuck; front handspring-straddle jump-Chen; gainer pike dismount).
"Marissa puts in the most numbers of anyone on the [beam] team. I'm so happy to see her hit her routine as well as she did," commented assistant coach Caitlin Council.
Oteri showed off the classic lines and toe-point that she's become well known for, with a well-deserved 9.750 (bhs-bhs-lo; switch leap to wolf-full; rudi dismount). Sophomore Kathryn Ho, perhaps seeking a bit of redemption after a scary uneven bars fall earlier in the night (hand peeled on her dismount) shook off the nerves with a clean 9.425 (bhs-lo; switch leap to back tuck).
Freshman Corrine Williams, who's been a rock for the Owls all season, finally proved she's human by taking a fall on her difficult leap series. Williams didn't let the miscue phase her, tumbling a solid bhs-lo and standing layout step-out before debuting her 2.5 twist dismount.
With the pressure on to drop Williams 9.150, Canning sailed through a difficult set (punch front mount; one-arm bhs to back pike; 1.5 dismount) for a 9.600.
Heading into the fifth rotation, Wilson completed the competition with a season-high 148.050. Temple led the rest of the field with a 142.575. Ursinus were neck and neck with Ithaca 138.575-138.500. West Chester had compiled a 135.625.
Senior co-captain Crawford, competing for the last time in McGonigle Hall opening up the floor rotation with a solid 9.475 (double pike; double full). Oteri mounted with a high double tuck, but bounced out of her rudi dismount for a 9.325.
Perhaps the highlight of the competition, senior co-captain Winter Sneed said her goodbyes to McGonigle Hall as well, and dazzled the crowd with a career-high 9.850 (high double pike; rudi; front-full to front pike). Williams and Canning rounded out a fantastic floor rotation scoring 9.750 and 9.825, respectively. Temple's 48.225 floor total is the highest of their season on the event.
After the competition, seniors Crawford, Sneed, Berrian, Christine McNeill and Debra Di Prima were honored as seniors in the final home competition.
The Owls will face the University of West Virginia next weekend, Sunday February 15.
