University of North Carolina Athletics
Gymnastics Wins Tar Heel Invitational
March 4, 2006 | Women's Gymnastics
March 4, 2006
Junior Christine Robella won the all-around to lead the North Carolina gymnastics team to a win Saturday afternoon at the Tar Heel Invitational. At the four-team meet, Carolina's score of 194.375 was just enough to outscore runner-up West Virginia (194.100). Pittsburgh claimed third place with a score of 193.500, followed by Pennsylvania in fourth (185.650).
The Tar Heels started the meet on vault, where senior Courtney Bumpers tied for first place with a score of 9.825 on that event. Carolina, who has consistently performed well on vault this season, was in first place after the first rotation.
In addition to her win on vault, Bumpers tied for second on uneven bars (9.800) and had an extremely strong win on floor exercise, landing all her tumbles and earning a season-high and team-high score of 9.975.
Carolina finished first as a team on floor exercise and received second as a team on vault, uneven bars, and balance beam. The Tar Heels' score of 48.900 on floor exercise was a season-high score.
"This was definitely one of our strongest team performances of the season," said Coach Derek Galvin. "I was extremely proud of our execution, especially on floor exercise. Bumpers' routine was so exciting, but I was even more proud that the whole team performed stronger on their floor routines than ever before."
Senior Mikel Hester also had a strong meet finishing in first place with a team season-high score of 9.875 on balance beam.
"Mikel Hester and a couple of the girls are battling the flu," explained Galvin. "Hester is such a trooper, and I'm very pleased with how she performed. So many of the girls have aches and sprains, but they each doing a tremendous job."
The Tar Heels next meet is on March 12 at 2 p.m. when they take on William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Team Scores
1. North Carolina 194.375
2. West Virginia 194.100
3. Pittsburgh 193.500
4. Pennsylvania 185.650
Carolina's Scores
Vault (48.650, 2nd )
1t. Courtney Bumpers 9.825
3t. Christine Robella 9.800
8. Jennifer Valby 9.750
9t. Mikel Hester 9.725
18. Courtney Turco 9.550
22. Shawna Kelly 9.225
Bars (48.525, 2nd)
2t. Courtney Bumpers 9.800
7. Shawna Kelly 9.725
8t. Christine Robella 9.700
11. Jennifer Valby 9.675
13. Alice Xu 9.625
16. Claire Smith 9.525
Beam (48.300, 2nd)
1. Mikel Hester 9.875
4t. Christine Robella 9.800
6t. Alice Xu 9.700
13. Claire Smith 9.575
Courtney Bumpers 9.350
19. Sarrie Rubin 9.200
Floor (48.900, 1st)
1. Courtney Bumpers 9.975
3. Christine Robella 9.825
10t. Mikel Hester 9.700
10t. Sarrie Rubin 9.700
10t. Alice Xu 9.700
13t. Courtney Turco 9.675
All-Around
1. Christine Robella 39.125
3. Courtney Bumpers 38.950
Players Mentioned
