COLLEGE PARK, Md. The No. 17 University of Denver Pioneers finished second with 193.200 points behind host Maryland (194.450) but ahead of North Carolina State (192.075) at the Comcast Center Pavilion in College Park, Md., on Friday night.
“Tonight was not our best performance, but we are still not fielding our full line-up,” head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. “Tonight we were missing Kelley Hennigan (The Woodlands, Texas), and Annamari Maaranen (Tampere, Finland) only competed in one event. Jessica Lpez (Caracas, Venezuela) still is not at full strength, and Brianna Springer (Arvada, Colo.) was only able to do two events due to injury.”
Denver (7-4) won the team title on vault led by Springer and Lpez, who tied for second with scores of 9.825. The performance marked the first of the season on vault for Lpez and a career-high score for Springer.
NC State’s Taylor Seaman claimed the individual vault title with a 9.850. Meanwhile, freshmen Louise Mercer (Nottingham, England) and senior Lauren Garan (Cos Cob, Conn.) each turned in scores of 9.750.
“We need to capitalize on two things,” Kutcher-Rinehart said. “We need to get all of our gymnasts into the line-up and take advantages of our opportunities. When we can put these two things together, we are a very good team.”
On bars, junior Ellen McCarthy (Aurora, Ontario) scored a 9.750 to tie for third place with NC State’s Brittney Hardiman. Abbey Adams (9.800) and Brandi George (9.775), both of Maryland, took first and second, respectively.
The beam competition resulted in a four-way tie for second place behind George’s first-place 9.850 mark. Senior Nikki Brown (Louisville, Ky.) and Garan tied Maryland’s Talia Tossone and NC State’s Seaman for second with scores of 9.825, marking season-best performances for both Pioneers.
Freshman Alex Winslow (Broomfield, Colo.) made her collegiate debut with a 9.700 mark on beam.
Floor exercise saw Adams and Seaman post identical 9.800 scores to tie for first place. Sophomore Amanda Johanson (Park City, Utah) scored a 9.775 to earn a share of third place with Maryland’s Michele Brenner and NC State’s Ashley Shepard. Mercer also turned in a personal best 9.725.
“I know we can contend with anyone in the country,” Kutcher-Rinehart said. “We have the talent and skill level to do so, and we will be able to showcase that once we have everyone back in the line-up.”
The meet marked the first of the season that Denver did not have a gymnast compete in the all-around competition. Johanson, McCarthy, Lpez and Mercer each competed in three of the four events.
The Pioneers return to action at 6 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium next Saturday, Jan. 31 for Colorado Club Night against Kent State, Alaska and Winona State. DU will welcome special guest 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Sasha Artemev, who will be available for autographs prior to the meet.
Tickets for the meet can be purchased by calling the DU Ticket Office at 303-871-2336. Tickets are also available on-line at www.DenverPioneers.com. Group tickets are available for those wishing to purchase 20 or more by calling Group Sales Manager Adam Sizemore at 303-871-2389.
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