University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Gymnastics Team To Host James Madison, William & Mary In First Home Meet
January 30, 2003 | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 30, 2003
The North Carolina gymnastics team will host its first 2003 home meet Friday at 7 p.m. in Carmichael Auditorium. Gymnasts from James Madison University and the College of William & Mary will travel from Virginia to compete against the Tar Heels in their third meet this season.
Carolina is currently the only undefeated team in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) with a record of 7-0. The team also holds undefeated records against both James Madison and William & Mary from last season. The Tar Heels lead the series with both teams with records of 27-9 against James Madison and 35-8 against William & Mary.
Friday night will be the third time this season that Carolina will have competed against the Tribe gymnasts of William & Mary. The Tribe was one of six teams the Tar Heels beat in their first appearance of the season at the George Washington Invitational. In its last meet, the Carolina gymnastics team defeated William & Mary 191.950-186.925 in Williamsburg, Va.
The Tar Heels last faced James Madison in their final 2002 regular season meet in Harrisonburg, Va., last March, winning 193.750-191.025. Junior Anna Wilson's places of first on floor exercises and second on uneven bars led her to an all-around victory in the meet, the third match-up of the Tar Heels and the Dukes for the season.
The Tar Heels have been led so far this year by Freshman Courtney Bumpers, who has captured the all-around title in both meets. Her average all-around score of 38.675 qualifies her for eighth place individually in the EAGL. Ranked in the EAGL's Vault Top Ten are Freshman Mikel Hester at sixth with an average of 9.787 in the event and Sophomore Olivia Trusty who sports a 9.750 average and ninth place spot.
With the first of three home meets Friday night, the Carolina gymnasts have a lot to live up to after their impressive season last year when they remained undefeated at home. William & Mary and James Madison, both members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), are ranked third and fifth, respectively in their conference. Carolina is currently ranked sixth in the EAGL but boasts a higher average team score than the two ECAC teams. Carolina averages 192.125 while William & Mary and James Madison report 187.037 and 185.075, respectively.
Players Mentioned
