Central Michigan University Athletics
No. 21 Gymnastics Faces No. 17 West Virginia
1/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
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Jan. 13, 2003
THE MATCHUP: The Central Michigan University No. 21-ranked gymnastics team (1-0 overall, 0-0 Mid-American) takes on No. 17 West Virginia on Sunday, January 19, when it hosts the Mountaineers in Rose Arena. The meet is set to begin at 2 p.m.
WVU finished last season with a 25-8 record and a second-place finish (196.025) at the East Atlantic Gymnastics League Championship. The Mountaineers finished 2002 with a national ranking of 19th while CMU was 25th.
WVU posted a 193.975 for a 3-0 record in its opening weekend against Kent State (193.825), Ball State (192.825), and Pittsburgh (190.95).
TeShawne Jackson (Sr.) led WVU with a 39.325 all-around performance nailing, 9.9s on the vault and floor exercise. She scored a 9.825 on the bars.
WVU returns nine letterwinners to the 2003 squad which includes five seniors.
The Mountaineers are led by head coach Linda Burdette, now in her 29th year at WVU. Burdette has led WVU to seven conference championships and three trips to the NCAA Championship in the past eight years. She has won "Coach of the Year" three times in the past seven seasons.
Burdette has compiled a 475-186-2 overall record.
The Chippewas headed to Morgantown, W. Va., last year for a non-conference matchup in March. CMU lost by a slim margin, 194.550-194.475.
CMU is looking to take over the series lead with the Mountaineers in its second straight home meet. The series is 1-1.
"This meet will have the same caliber and intensity as our last meet," said head coach Jerry Reighard. "We are going to have to step it up in this meet because West Virginia is a ranked team. The program has a long tradition and it is well known for making the NCAA Championship."
TWO AT HOME: CMU hosts its second straight home meet to open the 2003 season.
"At first I had mixed emotions about home meets because I thought it was tough for the gymnasts to focus," said Reighard. "I'm convinced now that opening at home is important. It gives us the advantage of not having to travel and the gymnasts can sleep in their own beds.
"Having a great crowd makes a big difference for us, too."
THE COACH: Jerry Reighard is in his 19th year at the helm of the CMU gymnastics program. Assisted by Christine MacDonald and Debbie Milligan, the Chippewas have captured eight MAC championships and made three appearances in the NCAA regionals.
Reighard is one MAC victory away from his 100th conference win. He has compiled a 234-139-2 record and a 99-32 MAC slate.
THE CHIPPEWAS: CMU opened its first meet of 2003 with a win over N.C. State, 193.825-192.300, on Sunday.
"It was a huge win for us," said Reighard. "We set our goals high at the beginning at the season and it is a great feeling to attain that first step."
A strong floor unit gave the Chippewas the boost they needed to come out on top. CMU took the top-five places in the event, scoring no lower than a 9.825.
Michele Orloski (Clifton Park, N.Y./Sr.) won the event with a 9.875. Sarah Dame (Maple City/Sr.) and Kara Reighard (Mount Pleasant/So) each posted a 9.850 while Sara Burtinsky (Oshawa, Ont./So.) and Bethany Couturier (Grand Rapids/Sr.) notched a 9.825.
Dame posted a 38.750 to take first place in the all-around. Burtinsky came in third with a 38.275.
The senior class made a strong showing. Couturier was expected to only see one event, but competed on three. She nailed a 9.875 on the beam.
"Our team was focused and our seniors led the way," said Reighard.
Tiffany Dykstra (LeMars, Iowa) made her first appearance for the Maroon and Gold as a redshirt freshman. She placed second on beam with a 9.800.
Two of CMU's freshmen tied for second place on the vault. Stephanie Langley (Champlin, Minn.) and Mattie Crawford (Plymouth, Minn.) each notched a 9.675.
INJURY REPORT: Tiffani Berra is still being evaluated but suffered a potentially season-ending stress fracture to her L-5 vertebrae. Her recovery will determine a chance at seeing time in the lineup at the end of the season.
UPCOMING: The Chippewas face the defending MAC champions, Ball State, in Muncie, Indiana on February 2. The meet begins at 7 p.m.
