University of North Carolina Athletics
Evans First All-Around in Regional
April 2, 2011 | Women's Gymnastics
April 2, 2011
The University of North Carolina gymnastics team finished fourth at Regionals with a 195.225. The Tar Heels finished their successful season with a Norman Regional All-Around Champion, an EAGL Championship and an impressive score in the regional. The University of Oklahoma and the University of Utah placed first and second, receiving team bids to advance to the NCAAs.
“Very exciting competition, Penny and I are extremely proud of the Tar Heels,” said Head Coach Derek Galvin. “We came in seeded sixth, we finished fourth—less than one-tenth out of third place. Every single person on the team had a great meet, very similar to what we did at the EAGL.”
The Tar Heels started out with a balanced effort on vault. Zoya Johnson and Morgan Evans led the way executing powerful vaults, each scoring a 9.8. The rest of Carolina's lineup did not disappoint. Krista Jasper, Kristin Aloi and Taylor Brown each scored a very solid 9.725. Freshman Acacia Cosentino executed a Yurchenko with a full twist for the first time in college on her way to a season-best 9.6.
“Krista Jasper and Kristin Aloi both did really strong vaults,” said Galvin. “Morgan and Zoya also did two of the best vaults that I've seen them do, but they had so much power that they took a step. Taylor Brown also did an outstanding vault. We had a little too much power on vault but still had a strong overall performance.”
North Carolina then advanced to bars, where each member once again performed solid routines on the way to a team score of 48.975. Evans led the way scoring a nearly flawless 9.850. Freshman Emily Cornwell performed her best bar routine of the season scoring a 9.8 to tie with teammate Elizabeth Durkac. Johnson executed a dynamic routine on the way to a 9.775. Senior Teri Diamond finished an outstanding career, posting a 9.75.
“Krista Jasper led us off really well,” said Galvin. “Emily Cornwell did the best bar routine as a Tar Heel. She was followed by Teri who did a good, solid routine. Durkac performed a very good routine. Then Morgan did one of her best bar routines she has done in college. After the first two rotations we had gotten off to a good start.”
On beam the Tar Heels remained consistent with a team score of 48.525. Evans, Maura Masatsugu and Johnson led the way each posting a solid 9.8. Freshman Aloi proved steady with a 9.7 in her first trip to Regionals.
“We went 24-for-24,” said Galvin. “It's the first time where we haven't had a fall—we've never done that before at the NCAAs. On beam our first two people up did okay but they had wobbles. Then Zoya did the best beam routine she has done since she has been in college. Maura had one of her best routines and then Morgan was last up and looked fantastic. She was on—a very clean routine, nice amplitude in her tumbling and dismount.”
The team finished the meet strong on the floor, scoring a 48.950 for the rotation. Evans finished her career-day performing a dynamic routine, posting 9.850 in her favorite event. Aloi also performed one of her best routines, tying with Evans at 9.85. Durkac rounded out her meet with a solid performance, scoring a 9.800. Cornwell finished her career-meet with a career-best 9.725 on floor. Cosentino tied her fellow freshman at 9.725, another career-best score.
“Throughout the course of the season we have been upgrading the difficulty on floor,” said Galvin. “We added a twist into the second tumbling pass of Emily Cornwell's and she executed it well. Elizabeth [Durkac] then went and we added a twist in the middle of her floor routine as well and she did it to have a nice, solid 9.8. Jasper landed a little short on her second pass but she stayed on her feet and showed a lot of courage and that gave the team a boost.”
Morgan Evans tied her personal-best score on her way to a first-place finish in the all-around competition. She finished with a 39.300, a score that places her as the first Carolina gymnast to be a NCAA Regional All-Around Champion. Evans is also the first Tar Heel to advance on individually to Nationals since Christine Robella in 2006. Evans will compete at the NCAA Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, April 15-17.
“Morgan was just solid on all four events,” said Galvin. “She put together another great meet. I thought she looked even a little better than she did in the EAGL Championships.”
The Tar Heels graduate beloved senior and Team-MVP Teri Diamond but will return the rest of the roster. The team is already looking forward to improving upon their many successes this season.
“The team was thrilled not only that we had the Individual All-Around Champion at the meet but that we moved up, just a hair away from finishing third,” said Galvin. “The team feels really good about the way they performed and they should. Penny and I are both very pleased with the way the team came together at the end of the season. The way they encouraged each other and worked together since way back in September has made this team a very special team.”
Players Mentioned
