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Life > Athletics > Gymnastics > 1/21/07
PIONEERS PERFORM WELL IN 2007 HOME OPENER
 DENTON, Texas (Jan. 21) – Texas Woman’s University posted a team score of 189.725 and finished second to Central Michigan University in their 2007 home opening triangular meet at Magee Arena in Denton, Texas.
The Chippewas won the meet with a score of 193.675 followed by the Pioneers (189.725) and the Brown Bears (175.350). Individually, CMU won every event and the Chippewas Laura Rogers took the all-around title with a score of 38.900.
“It was a great afternoon for Pioneer gymnastics. Our team took a major step forward from where we were last week (a season-opening dual meet loss at BYU). We hit on three of the four events, and didn’t count a fall on vault, beam, or floor,” head coach Frank Kudlac said. “Additionally, the meet was very well attended and I was extremely pleased with the fan support that we received.”
TWU started on vault with a season-high 48.350. Sophomore Brittany Parker recorded the top vault score for the Pioneers with a 9.800. Parker tied for second place on the event with Central Michigan’s Laura Rogers. The Chippewas Sheena Smith won the vault event with a score of 9.850. Sophomore Amy Hulbert (9.700) and junior Nicole Poling (9.675) also turned in solid vault efforts for TWU.
Courtney Arno (pictured), the Pioneers senior leader, bounced back from a disappointing meet last week at BYU to record a TWU team best 9.775 on the uneven bars. Arno finished tied for third on the event with CMU’s Vanessa Rodriguez. Central Michigan’s Smith also won the bars event with a 9.825 score. TWU totaled team score of 45.625 on bars.
Arno also excelled on beam for TWU. Her 9.800 score was good enough for third on the event, and barely less than the winning beam score of 9.850 posted by Central Michigan senior Jules Passy and Brown freshman Alicia Sacramone. Beam was the top team event (thanks to a season-high 48.100 score) of the afternoon for the Pioneers.
“I thought coming into the season that beam would be our strongest event. And, we showed that today. Courtney Arno performed like the senior that she is and hit big time on her beam routine. She was in a difficult spot (last up for TWU on the event) and she really came through for us,” said Kudlac.
The Pioneers finished on floor with a 47.650 team score. Sophomore Tonya Pipkorn hit her routine with a TWU best 9.625 (good enough for a third place finish on the event). Poling and sophomore Amie Boles added 9.550 scores on the floor for the Pioneers. CMU junior Danielle Espinoza won the floor exercise competition with a 9.775 score.
The meet featured a special musical performance by the N’Awlins Gumbo Kings, a Denton-based jazz band.
Next up on the Pioneers gymnastics schedule is a quadrangular meet on Saturday, January 27 at 7:00 p.m. in Magee Arena versus Centenary, Oklahoma, and George Washington. Another local band, rock outfit Rivers West, will perform at this meet. It will also be “Private Gymnastics Club” night as all gymnasts that are members of a private gymnastics club will be admitted for just $0.10. Additionally, fans are encouraged to wear their Pioneer colors and help TWU “Maroon Out” their opponents.
For additional details, please contact the TWU Sports Information office at (940) 898 - 2373.
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