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Life > Athletics > Gymnastics > 2/2/07
PIONEERS PICK UP CLOSE WINS OVER CENTENARY AND ILLINOIS STATE
 SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (Feb. 2) – The Texas Woman's University gymnastics team picked up two victories on Friday night, narrowly defeating Centenary College and Illinois State University to win a triangular meet that was held at Centenary's Gold Dome in Shreveport, Louisiana.
TWU finished with a 189.900 team score, the Ladies from Centenary totaled a 189.300, and Illinois State registered a 189.100 team total.
The Pioneers started the meet in strong fashion, earning a season-high 48.225 on the beam. Sophomore Brittany Parker and freshman Leslie Pladson tallied matching 9.65 scores on the apparatus to give TWU the early momentum. Senior Courtney Arno (pictured) then hit a 9.75 routine to tie for first individually on the event and stake TWU to a team score lead they would not relinquish.
"I can't say enough good things about our beam team," said TWU head coach Frank Kudlac. "They came out and just nailed it, and consequently, gave our team confidence throughout the rest of the meet."
Buoyed by their impressive beam effort, TWU moved to the floor exercise. After falls by the first three Pioneer gymnasts to compete on floor, sophomore Tonya Pipkorn delivered a season-best 9.775 to win the event and keep the Pioneers in front.
Next up for TWU was vault, and Parker continued to shine on the event for the Pioneers. The Aurora, Colorado native hit a TWU-best 9.75 and tied for second in the event.
The Pioneers finished the meet on bars. Solid routines by sophomore Brista Michael and freshman Keri Miller set the stage for a dramatic effort by freshman Rachel Zimmerman. The product of the Krafft Academy in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma hung on with one hand on an extremely difficult release move to total a 9.40 score and set the stage for Arno, TWU's final bars competitor. In her trademark clutch fashion, Arno came through for the Pioneers. The Coppell, Texas product hit with a season-high (and event best) 9.875 score to clinch the meet win for the Pioneers.
"Courtney Arno is our closer," said Kudlac after the meet. "Some athletes perform their best when the pressure is on, and Courtney is that girl for us. We needed her to hit on both bars and beam, and she did. That's why she is one of our team captains and our senior leader."
The wins by the Pioneers improved their season record to 5-3. Next up for TWU will be a 7:00 p.m. home triangular meet at Magee Arena on Saturday, February 10, against Ball State and BYU. That meet will be TWU Student Organization and Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night. CiCi's Pizza will also be on hand distributing free pizza to fans while supplies last.
For additional details, please contact the TWU Sports Information office at (940) 898-2373.
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