University of North Carolina Athletics
Gymnasts Triumph at Home
March 2, 2003 | Women's Gymnastics
March 2, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The North Carolina gymnastics team narrowly defeated the University of Minnesota, 196.100-195.775 in its second home meet of the 2003 season Sunday. The Tar Heels also beat Towson University (194.225) and the College of William & Mary (192.225) to win the meet with their second-highest team score of the season. This improves Carolina's record to 17-1.
Junior Anna Wilson and Freshman Courtney Bumpers tied for first place in the all-around with a score of 39.125. Wilson also tied for first place on the floor exercise, scoring a 9.925.
Freshman Mikel Hester earned career-high scores on vault and the floor exercise. She finished the floor exercise with a 9.825, and her 9.875 on vault was good enough for second place. Hester competed as an all-arounder for the first time ever, finishing in fifth place with a 38.650.
Sophomore Elisabeth Alsop performed strongly, finishing in fourth place on vault and seventh place on balance beam with a 9.825. She earned a 9.775 in the floor exercise.
Senior Fritzie Cathcart, junior Maddy Curley and Wilson led the Tar Heels on uneven bars. Their scores of 9.750 put them in a five-way tie for fourth place in the event.
Senior Natalie Halbach and Curley tied for the runner-up position on the balance beam, earning a 9.875. Wilson followed close behind with a 9.850. Curley also scored a 9.850 in the floor exercise, tying for sixth place with sophomore teammate Olivia Trusty.
After the second meet in which Carolina competed this weekend, the Tar Heels' weekend record is 5-1.
"I was very pleased with the way the team came back focused and confident after the meet at NC State [on Friday]," said Head Coach Derek Galvin. "This is the first time we have competed twice in three days in almost 15 years, and the girls responded very well."
The team will next compete at Maryland in an unscheduled meet that will make up for the canceled Towson Invitational. The Tar Heels will travel to College Park, Md. on Sat., March 8.
Team Scores
1. North Carolina 196.000
2. Minnesota 195.775
3. Towson 194.225
4. William & Mary 192.225
Carolina's Top Individuals
Vault
2. Mikel Hester 9.875*
4t. Elisabeth Alsop 9.825*
4t. Courtney Bumpers 9.825
9t. Olivia Trusty 9.750
Uneven Bars
4t. Fritzie Cathcart 9.750
4t. Maddy Curley 9.750
4t. Anna Wilson 9.750
10t. Courtney Bumpers 9.700
10t. Mikel Hester 9.700
Balance Beam
2t. Natalie Halbach 9.875
2t. Maddy Curley 9.875
5t. Anna Wilson 9.850
7t. Elisabeth Alsop 9.825
Floor Exercise
1t. Anna Wilson 9.925
6t. Maddy Curley 9.850
6t. Olivia Trusty 9.850
10t. Courtney Bumpers 9.825
10t. Mikel Hester 9.825*
All-Around
1t. Anna Wilson 39.125
1t. Courtney Bumpers 39.125
5t. Mikel Hester 38.650 38.650*
Players Mentioned
