Program Records, Career Highs Highlight Gymnastics Tie at Pitt

Sunday, February 14

Pittsburgh, Pa.

2:00 PM

Temple University

194.525

Pitt

Photo by: Ken Inness

Program Records, Career Highs Highlight Gymnastics Tie at Pitt

2.14.21 | Women's Gymnastics

Results (PDF)

PITTSBURGH — A program record and a career high highlighted were among the many highlights of the Temple gymnastics team's comeback performance at Pitt on Sunday afternoon. The Owls overcame nearly a one point deficit in the final rotation to tie the Panthers, 194.525 - 194.525. The score was the second highest of the season for Temple.

How it Happened
> Temple had a large deficit to make up after the first rotation, as the team struggled on bars to start the meet.
> A solid vault rotation, led by a program record 9.900 from junior Juliana Roland, closed the gap on the Panthers.
> Temple had a solid floor rotation, but Pitt matched it on beam, as the Owls trailed 146.100 to 145.325 heading into the final rotation.
> Temple dazzled on beam, with a season-high 49.200, led by a 9.900 from junior Ariana Castrence, to come back and tie the Panthers.

Quotable: Head Coach Josh Nilson
> "This team has heart! They fought hard to tie that meet up. Going into the second event we trailed by over a point and they fought their way back."
> "I have some adjustments to make on bars, but vault, beam, and floor showed up in a big way for us. The team is hitting their stride going into the second hlaf of season. Keep an eye on us... you're about to see quite a show!"

Meet Notes
> Temple's 49.200 on beam was the second highest beam rotation in program history.
> Roland's 9.900 on vault made her just the second Owl to ever reach a 9.900 on vault in program history. It tied her career best set at Bridgeport.
> Castrence's 9.900 was a new career high on beam, and she became just the fifth Owl in program history to reach the 9.900 mark on the event.
> Freshman Mia Rose Thackston made her career debut in the meet, hitting her vault in the fourth spot.

Bars
> Temple had to count a fall in their first rotation, going 47.700 on bars to start the meet.
> Tori Edwards stuck her dismount for a 9.700, which stood as the high score for Temple on the event.

Vault
> Temple closed the gap on Pitt with a solid vault rotation, as the Owls recorded their second highest rotation of the season.
> Roland led the way tying her career high with a beautiful stuck Yurchenko full, which scored a 9.900. The score matched Temple's highest ever vault score. Only one other Owl has ever scored a 9.900 on vault, Adrienne Carver, who had two 9.900 vaults in 1996.
> Ariana Castrence had a huge vault that went 9.800, while Edwards opened with a 9.750.
> Caitlin Gray and Edwards each tallied 9.700's to round out the rotation.

Floor
> Another steady floor rotation followed, as Temple went 48.775 on the event.
> Brooke Donebedian led the way with a 9.850 for a well executed routine that matched her season high mark.
> Edwards and senior Faith Leary went 9.800 on the event to pace the team.

Beam
> Temple had the second best beam rotation in program history to finish up the meet matching Pitt's team score.
> Oster opened the rotation with a fantastic 9.800, a new season best.
> Donabedia matched that in the third spot, while Shugman hit for a 9.825, her highest score of the season.
> Roland then went 9.875, for a Temple career high, followed by a brilliant anchor routine from Castrence that went 9.900, for a season and career high.

Up Next
> Temple will host UNC on Sunday, February 21 at McGonigle Hall on ESPN+. The meet will be a Pink Meet for breast cancer awareness.