University of North Carolina Athletics
2011 Season Comes to an End for Evans, Tar Heels
April 15, 2011 | Women's Gymnastics
April 15, 2011
Cleveland, Ohio -
In Morgan Evans' first trip of her career to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships she gained valuable experience and proved her might on the national stage. She represented the Tar Heels well, completing a powerful vault and a solid bar routine to finish with a 37.875. Evans and the rest of Carolina gymnastics hope to carry this momentum into next season.
"We took some risks, it was the last meet of the year," said Head Coach Derek Galvin. "We went for all the marbles. She now knows what this experience is all about. It's really hard to compete with your team all year long and then you go to this and it's the biggest meet of the year and you don't have your team with you."
Evans placed nineteenth in the all-around competition with total score of 37.875. She started out on floor where she competed an upgraded routine featuring a double Arabian tumbling pass, an E level scoring pass needed to advance on to the individual finals. Evans was unable to stick her landing, lowering her score to an 8.650.
Evans recovered with a powerful vault, scoring a 9.825 for a tie at twenty-second. She followed with a 9.750 on bars and finished with a strong beam but had a wobble for a 9.650.
"The highlight for Morgan in this meet was competing the double Arabian, we felt for her to have a shot at floor finals she needed to take that risk," said Galvin. "And vault, the block in her vault was the best she has had all year. And on bars she did a good solid routine."
Evans finished the 2011 season with the All-Around Norman Regional Champion title, All-EAGL honors in each five events, an EAGL gymnast of the week honor and an EAGL Championship. Only a junior, she will be a dynamic force for the Tar Heels next season. Evans was the only Tar Heel to qualify for nationals and the first since Christine Robella in 2006.
"Next year our goal is to be here as a team, what I told Morgan is that she has cleared the path for the entire team to come," said Galvin.
"We will have a more experienced team than we have this year and we have the potential to be an even stronger team. I think it would be a thrill for Morgan to lead her teammates here."
Players Mentioned
