University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
Tar Heel Gymnastics Wins Close Meet At Home
January 24, 2004 | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 24, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina had a close call with the University of Maryland in its first home gymnastics meet Saturday at Carmichael Auditorium. The Tar Heels came out ahead of its fellow East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) member, 194.900-194.375.
Carolina began the meet with a bang, tying the UNC record of 49.175 on vault. The Tar Heels' 49.125 uneven bars score pulled them even further ahead. The team struggled on balance beam, however, and was forced to count two falls.
With the score 145.95-145.50 after two rotations, the meet belonged to the team with the best score on its final event - Carolina on floor exercise and Maryland on balance beam. The Terps fared better than the Tar Heels had earlier on balance beam; however, their score of 48.925 was not enough to match Carolina's 48.950 floor exercise performance.
"I was very pleased," said Carolina head coach Derek Galvin. "I was really impressed with the way the team just went at it."
Junior Olivia Trusty was Carolina's most dynamic performer of the night, earning a 39.500 all-around score in only her second career appearance as an all-around competitor. Trusty's all-around score tied her for second place in the UNC records. She tied the vault record held by junior Amy Williams and sophomore Courtney Bumpers with a 9.950, won the floor exercise (9.925), tied for second on uneven bars (9.850) and earned a personal best 9.775 on balance beam.
Freshman Christine Robella, the all-around runner-up, had an outstanding second meet. She beat every personal score except floor exercise from the George Washington Invitational and tied a school record on uneven bars (9.925). Robella shares the record with alumnus Brooke Wilson, a 2000 graduate. Robella won the uneven bars, tied for second on vault (9.850), placed second on balance beam (9.850) and tied for fourth on floor exercise. She earned a 39.475 all-around score, the third best in school history.
"Olivia and Christine had one of those dream meets," said Galvin. "They looked so strong."
umpers had steady performances on vault and uneven bars, but fell on both balance beam and floor exercise, an event she performed flawlessly in her last meet.
"It's hard to go from that kind of meet last weekend," Galvin said. "You can't have that kind of performance week after week. Courtney is so intense, I think she was very disappointed in her floor routine. She has to realize, though, that had she not done such a good routine otherwise, we would have lost the meet. Without the fall, she had a 9.925."
Senior Maddy Curley and sophomore Mikel Hester executed strong floor exercise performances. Each scored a 9.875 to tie for second place. The score was a personal best for Hester.
Senior Anna Wilson, battling back from a knee injury sustained days before the team's first meet, competed on vault, uneven bars and balance beam. She wasn't planning on being in the beam lineup until Hester rolled her ankle in warm-ups.
"I was pleased with the way Anna stepped up tonight," said Galvin. "She gave us her best effort, and she will continue to get stronger."
The Tar Heels will travel to Williamsburg, Va., Sunday to compete against William & Mary. The meet will start at 3 p.m.
Team Scores
North Carolina 194.900
Maryland 194.375
Carolina's Scores
Vault 49.175* (1st)
1. Olivia Trusty 9.950*
2t. Christine Robella 9.850*
4. Courtney Bumpers 9.825
5. Amy Williams 9.800
7. Courtney Turco 9.750*
9t. Anna Wilson 9.675
Bars 49.125 (1st)
1. Christine Robella 9.925*
2t. Olivia Trusty 9.850
4t. Courtney Bumpers 9.800
6t. Maddy Curley 9.775
6t. Mikel Hester 9.775
9 Anna Wilson 9.700
Beam 47.650 (2nd)
2. Christine Robella 9.850*
4. Olivia Trusty 9.775*
8. Maddy Curley 9.650
9. Courtney Bumpers 9.325
11. Anna Wilson 9.050
12.. Elisabeth Alsop 8.850
Floor 48.950 (1st)
1. Olivia Trusty 9.925
2t. Maddy Curley 9.875
2t. Mikel Hester 9.875*
4t. Christine Robella 9.850
10. Courtney Bumpers 9.425
11. Elisabeth Alsop 9.250
* denotes personal best
