Temple University Athletics
Women's Gymnastics Takes Third at ECACs, Canning Captures Beam Championship
3.21.09 | Women's Gymnastics
March 21, 2009
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Sophomore Katie Canning captured the ECAC balance beam championship (9.850) and senior Winter Sneed captured second place on floor (9.825) to lead the Temple women's gymnastics team to a third-place finish at the ECAC Championships - the best finish in program history. The Owls finished with a score 191.475, trailing only Cornell (193.050) and champion Towson (193.352) on Saturday afternoon from Yale University.
The Owls started off on the floor exercise with a great routine by senior co-captain Natasha Crawford. Nina Oteri made a comeback to the floor lineup after being off for a few meets. She started off with a beautiful roundoff double back and finished with a sky-high front handspring rhudi. Freshman Kaity Watson hit a great routine with crowd entertaining dance moves to earn her a season high of a 9.7. The highlight of floor for the Owls was senior co-captain Winter Sneed, who started off with a great double pike and amazing dance choreography to earn her a 9.825 and a second place finish.
Vault scores proved to be a bit lower than floor for the Owls, but it did not stop their determination and posititve attitudes. Vault was highlighted by freshman Watson's powerful yurchenko layout half, to earn her a score of a 9.75 and a tie for fifth place. Another powerful vaulter,Canning, performed a yurchenko layout full and earned a 9.65. Canning sprained her ankle in the first warm-up rotation and was able to push through it and still compete in the all-around.
Bars was the lowest scoring event for the Owls, as well many other teams at this meet. Sophomore, Kathryn Ho hit a solid routine, but only scored a 9.45. Chelsea Troutman made her comeback at this meet after being out since the second competition due to torn ligaments in her ankle. Unfortunately one of her hands slipped on her pac salto, causing her to fall. She still finished strong and hit her dismount which was the very skill that caused her injury several months ago.Senior Crawford hit a great bar routine, and just like her teammate Ho she was awarded a low score of a 9.55. It seemed as though the Owls could not catch a break from the uneven bar judges.
Coming off a shaky event, the Owls then proceeded to balance beam to finish the meet. Beam was the best event for the Owls yet again this meet. The Owls beam score of a 48.725 led them to be the best beam team in the ECAC conference. Pushing through a bad ankle sprain and a strained back, senior Crawford hit one of the best routines all season and was scored a 9.70. This senior showed amazing determination to help her team out and finish her four year career on a high note. Sneed also hit a fantastic routine to earn her a 9.775- a season high on beam. Williams hit a rock solid routine to earn her a 9.8 and a third place finish on beam. Sophomore Canning ended her meet on a positive note hitting her beam routine with more confidence than she has shown all season on this event. Canning earned a 9.85 and a first place finish on balance beam.
In the all-around it was Watson who was the leading scorer for the Owls and earned a 38.525. This was enough to earn her a tie for third place. Right behind her was sophomore Canning who earned a sixth place finish with a 38.425. Overall the Owls had a great meet, earning a 191.475, one of the highest scores for the Owls all season.
In addition to the meet scores, senior Nikki Berrian was honored as the ECAC specialist of the year for her hard work and consistency on the uneven bars. Head coach,Aaron Murphy was also honored as the ECAC coach of the year. This is first time coach Murhpy has recieved this award and the first time any head coach has been honored with this award since women's gymnastics has joined the ECAC.
