University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Welcomes Towson On Senior Night
February 26, 2014 | Women's Gymnastics
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The North Carolina gymnastics team will host Towson University on Friday, Feb. 28 as the team closes out the home schedule on Senior Night. The Tar Heels, who rank just ahead of the Tigers in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League, will look to extend their undefeated record in Carmichael Arena.
It is the final home meet for two Tar Heel seniors - Meredith Magjuka and Michelle Ikoma - both of whom have been on campus since 2010. Outstanding student-athletes, Ikoma and Magjuka have been named All-EAGL academic honors all four seasons at UNC. Ikoma was recently named the 2013-14 Well Fargo scholarship recipient, which is presented annually to an outstanding senior at UNC who plans to pursue an advanced degree upon graduation.
It is also the final home meet for Emily Cornwell who competed three seasons (2011-13) and is currently serving as a student assistant coach. Cornwell was a mainstay in the team's bar lineup the past three seasons and also competed on floor. She is a three-time All-EAGL academic honoree.
Magjuka, who already has secured a job after graduation, has been an outstanding beam and floor specialist during her career. She and Ikoma also serve as team captains.
Carolina returns to the comforts of Chapel Hill Friday, coming off a narrow loss to Maryland in College Park last week. The Tar Heels finished with a final score of 194.425, just half a point shy of the Terrapins' 194.925. Haley Watts earned a 39.075 to finish second in the all-around, while Lexi Cappalli took third with a 38.850. Overall, the team put forth a great group effort and competed well.
"It [the meet] was one of our better team performances this season," said head coach Derek Galvin.
The team's score of 194.425 marked its highest away meet score this year, and the Heels look to carry over their momentum heading into Friday's matchup.
The Towson Tigers will also be entering this week's meet coming off a loss- rather, two. The Tigers hosted a tri-meet last Saturday with New Hampshire and William & Mary, finishing third with a score of 190.875, more than three whole points behind New Hampshire and two whole points behind William & Mary. Towson has been struggling as of late to fill lineups for all of its events as a result of a number of injuries. In its last tri-meet, the team only competed five gymnasts on vault, bars and beam. The Tigers are led by senior Alexa Davis and freshman Bailey Gallagher, and, like the Tar Heels, will look to compete as a healthier team this Friday.
Friday's meet will be the second of the two teams' meetings so far this year. UNC, now ranked seventh in the EAGL, faced Towson, currently ranked eighth, earlier this season on Jan. 17, when both teams competed in NC State's Raleigh Invitational. UNC took third with a score of 192.450, finishing only above Towson who placed fourth. The Heels, although defeating Towson, struggled that meet to compete as a cohesive unit and has since improved tremendously as a team.
We encourage all to come out and support the Tar Heels on Friday as they take on Towson and compete in Carmichael Arena for the last time this season. The meet is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Live scoring will be available through GoHeels.com.
Players Mentioned
