University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
West Virginia
Carolina Squeaks By In First Win At West Virginia
January 29, 2005 | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 29, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Junior Courtney Bumpers won her second all-around title of the season to lead the North Carolina gymnastics team to its first-ever win over West Virginia when competing at the West Virginia Coliseum. In their closest meet this season, the Tar Heels pulled ahead after being down by 0.5 points halfway through the meet to win 192.20-191.10.
"All the girls fought so hard," said head coach Derek Galvin. "I could tell they were fatigued when we got here, but it came down to a matter of will, and they just wouldn't give up."
Carolina improved its record to 8-0 to remain the only undefeated East Atlantic Gymnastics League team. West Virginia is now 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the EAGL after losing a home meet for the first time since 2003.
With a total of 39.20, Bumpers was the only gymnast to earn above a 39.0 in the all-around. She finished in the top three on every event and was the highest-scoring Tar Heel on each event. The reigning national floor exercise champion posted season-high scores on uneven bars and floor exercise, with a 9.75 on bars and a 9.85 on floor.
Junior Mikel Hester bounced back from a shoulder injury, taking fourth in the all-around competition after competing on only two events in the Tar Heels' last meet.
Carolina started out on uneven bars but gave up two falls, resulting in its lowest team score of the night, a 47.425. While the Tar Heels were struggling on bars, West Virginia posted its highest total of the night on vault. At the end of the second rotation, both teams had competed on both vault and uneven bars, and the Mountaineers had outscored the Tar Heels on both.
"We got off to a rough start," said Galvin, "but at the same time, they got off to a very strong start. We knew we had to come back strong on floor and beam because we gave up so much on vault and bars."
The Tar Heels edged West Virginia out on each of the last two events, winning on balance beam 47.725-47.30 and on floor exercise 48.575-48.40. When the meet concluded, Galvin said, he and assistant coach Penny Jernigan had no idea their team had won.
"I'm exhausted, and I didn't even compete," Galvin said. "Just seeing what the girls were going through, physically they went beyond what they had. I feel privileged to work with athletes who will battle like this."
Carolina will compete again next Saturday when it hosts the annual Governor's Cup in Chapel Hill. NC State and Carolina will match up against two teams from the state of Maryland - Towson and the University of Maryland - in hopes of keeping the cup in the state of North Carolina. The meet will take place Saturday at 2 p.m. in Carmichael Auditorium.
Team Scores
1. North Carolina 192.20
2. West Virginia 192.10
Carolina's Scores
Vault (48.475, 2nd)
2. Courtney Bumpers 9.80
4t. Amy Williams 9.70
4t. Christine Robella 9.70
7. Shawna Kelly 9.675
9. Mikel Hester 9.60
12. Olivia Trusty 9.45
Bars (47.425, 2nd)
3. Courtney Bumpers 9.75
5t. Mikel Hester 9.55
5t. Elisabeth Alsop 9.55
9. Olivia Trusty 9.30
10. Shawna Kelly 9.275
12. Alice Xu 8.675
Beam (47.725, 1st)
1. Courtney Bumpers 9.80
3. Olivia Trusty 9.60
4t. Alice Xu 9.575
6. Mikel Hester 9.525
9. Elisabeth Alsop 9.225
10. Christine Robella 9.10
Floor (48.575, 1st)
1t. Courtney Bumpers 9.85
4t. Christine Robella 9.75
4t. Olivia Trusty 9.75
6. Mikel Hester 9.70
10. Elisabeth Alsop 9.525
11. Amy Williams 9.50
All-Around
1. Courtney Bumpers 39.20
4. Mikel Hester 38.375
5. Olivia Trusty 38.10
Players Mentioned
