University of North Carolina Athletics
Defending Champions Head To League Meet
March 28, 2003 | Women's Gymnastics
March 28, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--North Carolina will travel to the University of New Hampshire Saturday for the eighth annual East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championship Meet . Carolina will face conference opponents NC State, Maryland, Towson, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Rutgers in defense of its 2002 EAGL title.
After 2003 regular season competition, EAGL teams still face fierce battling. The Tar Heels - 29th in the nation with a Regional Qualifying Score of 195.445 - trail only NC State in conference rankings. NC State is ranked 23rd with an RQS of 195.780. Maryland (31) and Towson (32) present a challenge to the Carolina gymnasts with respective RQS's of 195.250 and 195.245. Carolina (22-4) maintains the highest record of any of the EAGL teams.
With two of their top gymnasts injured, the Tar Heels will face unfortunate limitations in New Hampshire. Junior Anna Wilson, one of the toughest all-around competitors for Carolina as well as last year's EAGL champion on the floor exercise, will be unavailable to compete in this year's meet due to an ankle injury suffered in practice Wednesday. Freshman Courtney Bumpers, a consistent all-arounder and two-time EAGL Gymnast of the Week selection, is battling an ankle injury that occured March 11. Bumpers, who performed well in her last meet, is still planning on competing in every event on Saturday.
Head Coach Derek Galvin is disappointed the team will not be at full strength; however, he is optimistic that if other gymnasts step up, Carolina still has a good chance of winning the meet.
"We're going to go in there and give it all we've got and see what happens," Galvin said.
Carolina won last year's EAGL Championship for the first time in school history with an EAGL meet record of 36.425. Wilson claimed 1st place on the floor exercise with a 9.975, then a personal record, and led the Tar Heels in the all-around with a 39.200. Maddy Curley set a career-high 9.950 to place second on floor. Sophomore Olivia Trusty was a strong competitor, placing second on vault and uneven bars.
The meet will take place at the University of New Hampshire at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 27.
Current EAGL Standings (Place/Team/National Record/RQS)
1 NC State (23) 195.780
2 North Carolina (29) 195.455
3 Maryland (31) 195.250
4 Towson (32) 195.245
5 New Hampshire (34) 195.085
6 West Virginia (37) 194.765
7 Pittsburgh (39) 194.470
8 Rutgers (50) 193.295
Players Mentioned
