North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Gymnastics: In the Spotlight
11/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
The slogan for this year's NC State gymnastics team is "In the Spotlight." Everybody strives for it, but there are only a handful of people that achieve it. The NC State gymnastics team had been fortunate enough over recent seasons to be one of those teams on the upswing that has achieved much success, but this year's Pack is aiming higher and looking to bring home new accolades.
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| Kara Charles |
Not only did 24 inches of snow fall on Raleigh last year, but many of the records in the NC State gymnastics record books also did. The Pack set a new school record with a team score of 197.725 in the Wolfpack Invitational. Also in that meet, NC State set new team highs on bars (49.350), beam (49.525), and floor (49.775). Maggie Haney and Kelli Brown each notched a perfect 10.0 on floor last season, only the the third and fourth such marks in the program's 20 years. In addition, the Pack won its second straight EAGL conference title by posting its highest road score of the year.
This season, the NC State gymnastics team hopes to continue its trend of successful years. The Pack is confident that it will have a strong senior class that provides leadership, a junior class that stepped it up last season in many important meets, a sophomore class that shone as freshmen and has overcome injuries, and a freshman class that has a lot of potential.
One main obstacle the Pack will have to overcome is the loss of Maggie Haney and Jenny Sommer from last year's squad. Both Haney and Sommer competed in three events last year, and over their careers they combined for seven All-EAGL awards.
"I don't think Maggie and Jenny are replaceable as far as their talent and what they brought to our team in a lot of different ways," said head coach Mark Stevenson. "We did bring in some really good athletes this year, and they are going to step in and fill some spots for us. But it is really going to be left up to the sophomores, juniors, and seniors to make up the difference on the team initially."
One thing that Stevenson does know is that he will always get the most out of his team. This team is one of the hardest working and most talented squads NC State has ever fielded, with the potential to not only achieve last year's success, but to make it to that next level and be in the national spotlight.
"Obviously our number one goal this season is to go back to nationals," said Stevenson. "I think this could be one of the best teams we have had here, it is just a question of if we can get it together. Not only just the kids, but the coaching staff. Everybody has to make that step to get it together. We have a great team. There are no slackers out there and everyone is working extremely hard. But at the same timne they are having fun and I always feel that is important."
Seniors
This year, NC State has perhaps one of its most well-rounded group of
seniors, a group that is looking to get NC State back to the NCAA
Championships. The seniors exhibit the leadership in the gym every day by
working hard and encouraging others, and in the classroom where this
group repeatedly shows up on the All-EAGL academic team.
A former EAGL Rookie of the Year, Kara Charles (Overland Park, Kan.) returned last year after suffering through injuries during her sophomore campaign. By the end of the year, she was one of the Pack's top performers in the all-around. An all-EAGL second team selection for all-around, Charles also earned EAGL Gymnast of the Week honors after scoring the second highest all-around score in school history (39.425), while competing in the all-around for the first time during the season.
"We are starting to see some real marks of improvement from Kara," said Stevenson. "She is going to be a big factor for us, because she did four events last year after coming back from an ankle surgery the year before. We have to have her going 100 percent this year, and we know she will get there."
Fellow senior Amy Langendorf (Gambrills, Md.) has also been an integral part of the Pack's success over her career. Last season, Langendorf competed in every event in every Pack meet. She was named to the All-EAGL first-team for bars for the third consecutive year, and was the only unanimous selection in the conference for the first-team in the all-around.
"Amy will do at least three events for us, possible four," said Stevenson. "She is a leader for us also. She walks in, gets her job done, and is successful. That is a different kind of leadership for us, a leadership by showing what it takes to be successful."
A former walk-on who has become one of NC State's most solid beam workers, Monica Berry (Taylors, S.C.) looks to end her NC State career on a positive note. Berry notched four second-place finishes last season, as she competed on beam in every meet and also did some exhibitions on bars.
"Monica has a really good chance of doing both beam and bars for us," said Stevenson. "She is working with more confidence this season and I think that is a big thing for her, especially on bars. We do see her doing really well for us."
Sara Dolan (Ellicott City, Md.) has also brought stability to the Pack, as she is one of this year's team leaders. Dolan has always been a steady performer on beam, and this year hopes to recover from some recurring injuries and compete in more events. She notched a career-high 9.9 on beam in the Wolfpack Invitational, and came home with a fourth place finish at the EAGL Championships last season.
"Sara is definitely our team captain. She is a leader-100 percent," said Stevenson. "She has been hampered from doing the things that she liked to do because of injuries. Right now she is training three events for us, and she is working extremely hard right now. She just never gives up. She is the type of kid that you expect to lead your team, and that is exactly what she does."
Erin Freyvogel (Monroeville, Pa.) and Cortney Petrovits (Litchfield, Conn.) round out this year's senior class. Freyvogel transferred from the University of Pittsburgh before last season and specializes on the bars, while Petrovits could see action this season on beam.
Juniors
Last season was a breakthrough year for Kelli Brown (Spruce Creek, Pa.).
After putting together a stellar freshman campaign, Brown set her goals
higher and was named the team's Most Consistent gymnast last year. Brown
also set a school record with a 10.0 on floor, and tied a school record
with a 9.975 mark on bars. She finished last season ranked third in the
EAGL on vault, and was 22nd nationally. For her efforts, Brown was a
unanimous selection for All-EAGL on vault.
"Kelli is a good gymnast who always works really hard," said Stevenson. "We would really like her to continue to improve on the beam, so she can do the all-around for us this year. She is a good leader because she works hard both inside and outside the gym and she is really enthusiastic about what she is doing."
Both Aimee Panton ( Naugatuck, Conn.) and Angie Welch (Richardson, Texas) returned to action last year after missing their freshman seasons due to injury. Panton was in the Pack's lineup on both vault and bars a year ago. She placed 10th at the EAGL Championships on vault, and was also named to the All-EAGL second-team on vault. Welch was a mainstay on floor last season, plus she competed on bars and beam on a few occasions.
"Aimee Panton looks to be one of our top athletes right now," said Stevenson. "She is in shape and she is really working hard. She should do three events, adding floor to the vault and bars she did last season. She has a great attitude, and she is doing what it takes to be a good gymnast."
"Angie broke a bone in her foot in early August and missed about six weeks, said Stevenson. "For her, it is not going to be a question of what she can do, but how fast she can get back in shape. It is going to take her little bit of time to get back going, but we know when she comes back she will be a tremendous help for us."
Laura Jazab (Leeds, Mass.) has been a strong contributor for the Pack since her freshman season when she saw full time action on bars and beam. Last season, Jazab competed on bars in every meet, and recorded a career-high 9.875 at the EAGL Championships to finish 10th.
"Laura always does a really nice job in the gym," said Stevenson. "She works hard, and I believe she should do both bars and beam for us this year. The potential is there, it is just a question of her hitting the routines. She has the opportunity and ability to be one of those gymnasts who is consistent in getting results."
Two more juniors will be looking to contribute this year. Lauren Palefsky (Winston-Salem, N.C.) could see action on floor for the Pack, and Rebecca Silverstein (Ramsey, N.J.) will also be competing for time.
Sophomores
A couple of sophomores really contributed to the Pack's success last
year as freshmen. Both Stephanie Southard (Indialantic, Fla.) and Adina
Stock (Bedford, N.Y.) were in the Pack's vaulting line-up from the
beginning of the year.
Southard set a personal-best of 9.75 at New Hampshire, and finished 16th at the NCAA Regionals. Stock captured two vaulting titles last season. In her first collegiate meet, Stock scored a 9.7 and finished in a tie for first-place. In the Wolfpack Invitational, Stock set a personal-best with a 9.9 and posted another first place finish.
"Both Stephanie and Adina will be in the vaulting line-up once again this year as they are both looking really good right now," said Stevenson. "Both girls are looking to add one event this year. Stephanie has the ability to do bars and has improved a great deal from last year, and Adina could do floor because she is an extremely powerful tumbler."
The two remaining sophomores on this year's squad will both be looking to come back from injuries that cost each of them all of last season. Cara Dougherty (Louisville, Colo.) sat out last season with a back injury, and Marlyn Madey (Hockessin, Del.) has endured three separate surgeries on her foot and looks to make a complete return this year.
"Cara could do a lot for us this year," said Stevenson. "It just depends on how well things go since she did not compete last year because of her back injury. We think she can compete on both bars and floor. She is an extremely talented kid who has a lot of potential."
"Maryln missed last year because of foot surgery she had when she first arrived here," said Stevenson. "She has the potential for floor, beam, and bars. She is starting to look really good on beam and bars, and we think there is some good potential for her."
Freshman
The freshman class that Stevenson and his coaching staff brought in this
season is one of the hardest working classes in the gym, and is sure to
vie for time in the Pack line-up.
Cheryl Potacco (Kinnelon, N.J.) performed well at many national meets prior to coming to NC State. She finished fourth on bars and beam at the 1999 National Gymnastics Festival, and third in the all-around at the U.S. Challenge.
"We think that Cheryl will compete for us right away in certain events," said Stevenson. "She was sick with mono for a while in October, so it is taking her a little while to get back healthy."
Also looking to compete right away will be Alison Bundy (Concord, N.C.) and Molly Pennington (Dover, N.H.). Bundy took first place in every event at the 2000 State Championships, and she could see time on both vault and floor. Pennington is a former National Elite qualifier, and will be looked upon to compete on the vault.
Rounding out the freshman class is a trio of talented performers. Kendell Cangelosi (Raleigh, N.C.) is a former Level 9 National team member, Mary Freyvogel (Monroeville, Pa.) has been a Level 10 state qualifier the past two years, and Faryn Walker (Durham, N.C.) placed third in the all-around at the Level 9 State Championships.
"All the freshmen are definitely talented and have shown steady improvement since they have been here," said Stevenson. "It will be important for us to have them consistently performing well throughout the year."
