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Tar Heels Finish Fourth In Cancun Season Opener
January 2, 2009 | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 2, 2009
The preseason No. 28 University of North Carolina gymnastics team opened the 2009 season with a 190.325 team score at the Cancun Classic in Mexico on Friday, Jan. 2, 2009. The Tar Heels, placing fourth, faced strong competition from Louisiana State University, the University of Michigan, and Boise State University in Session I of the College Competition of the Cancun Classic.
North Carolina began their first rotation of the 2009 season on floor exercise in Cancun, Mexico scoring 46.150 as a team on floor. Junior Kara Wright scored the highest for the Tar Heels on floor with a 9.725 and sophomore Karli Jones scored a 9.500. Freshman Morgan Evans' college debut was marked by a score of 9.200 on floor.
The Tar Heels moved to vault for the second rotation where they scored a team total 47.950. Kara Wright's score of 9.750 on vault led the UNC gymnastics team on the event. Senior Jennifer Valby and Karli Jones both held the second highest score for the Tar Heels on vault with a 9.575. Junior Christine Nguyen and freshman Zoya Johnson both scored a 9.525 for UNC.
Going into their third rotation of the meet, the Tar Heels sat in fourth place with a team score of 94.100. Christine Nguyen and Morgan Evans both led the Tar Heels, scoring 9.700 on uneven bars. Just behind them was Zoya Johnson with a 9.675 on bars. The UNC gymnasts combined to earn a team score of 48.300 on bars.
The Tar Heels ended the season opener on balance beam with a team score of 47.925. Christine Nguyen took the beam title with a 9.900, the highest score on any event in the meet. Only LSU's Ashleigh Clare-Kearney also scored a 9.900, but on vault.
Despite tough scoring across the board, the No. 7 Tigers of LSU put on an impressive performance in the Cancun Classic, posting a 194.900 team score and placing first in the competition. The Cancun Class marks only the first of two meeting between LSU and UNC this season. UNC gymnastics will travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to face the Tigers on Feb. 20 at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Although enjoying their time in Cancun, the UNC gymnastics team looks forward to getting back to Chapel Hill to prepare for the George Washington Invitational on Friday Jan. 16, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. ET in Washington, D.C. This meet will mark the Tar Heels' first meet of the season against EAGL rivals, facing George Washington University and Rutgers University.
Team Scores
1. Louisiana State University - 194.900
2. Boise State University - 193.700
3. University of Michigan - 192.700
4. University of North Carolina - 190.325
Vault
1. Taylor Brown - 9.450
2. Karli Jones - 9.575
3. Jennifer Valby - 9.575
4. Zoya Johnson - 9.525
5. Kara Wright - 9.750
6. Christine Nguyen - 9.525
Uneven Bars
1. Morgan Evans - 9.700
2. Tina Jacob - 9.575
3. Rachel Schneider - 9.375
4. Zoya Johnson - 9.675
5. Kara Wright - 9.650
6. Christine Nguyen - 9.700
Balance Beam
1. Krista Jasper - 9.475
2. Zoya Johnson - 9.050
3. Karli Jones - 9.650
4. Kara Wright - 9.125
5. Tina Jacob - 9.775
6. Christine Nguyen - 9.900
Floor Exercise
1. Morgan Evans - 9.200
2. Zoya Johnson - 7.425
3. Rachel Schneider - 8.775
4. Karli Jones - 9.500
5. Kara Wright - 9.725
6. Christine Nguyen - 8.950
All Around
1. Kara Wright - 38.250
2. Christine Nguyen - 38.075
3. Zoya Johnson - 35.675
Players Mentioned
