North Carolina State University Athletics
Gymnastics Heads to EAGL Championships
3/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 17, 2004
Raleigh, N.C. - This weekend, the NC State gymnastics team will travel to Pittsburgh to compete in the ninth annual East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championships. The Pack (15-10), ranked No. 23 nationally, will look to capture its third conference crown, winning in back-to-back years in 1999 and 2000. Last season, NC State narrowly missed out on a third title, finishing second to host New Hampshire by a mere 0.075). The Pack will face off against the seven other EAGL schools at 6:00 Saturday night.
Last Sunday, the Wolfpack Gymnastics teamwas successful at it's final home meet of the season, coming on top against University of New Hampshire and Yalewith a high score of 196.800.For the seniors, it was an afternoon to remember. Their coaches and teammateshonored each of them as they wrapped upthe last home meet of their gymnastics career.
Each of the seniors has been a valuable member of the team, showing leadership, strong work ethic, and obvious talent.Here isa brief look at each senior's careerwith the Wolfpack.
Alison has played a significant role for the Pack, competing on the floor exercise all four years, while representing her team on the vault in 2002 and 2003, and the balance beam in 2001 and 2004. Her combination of power and ability to perform for the crowd has also helped her become one of NC State's best floor workers of all time. Her senior year has proven to be her best, as she has reached a personal best of 9.9 three times so far this season, and she continues to work at ways to improve on a close to perfect mark. Asking Alison to compete is like offering a child a piece of candy. She thrives under pressure and has the innate desire to succeed for herself as well as her teammates.
Alison will graduate in May with a degree in Criminology. Her energy, enthusiasm and team spirit has been an inspiration to her teammates and coaches, and she will be dearly missed.
Mary has demonstrated her desire to achieve through hard work and dedication in the classroom as well as in the gym. As a balance beam specialist, Mary is an overachiever on the event. Her perseverance has paid-off as she has been willing and able to step up to the plate for the Pack at any given moment. When needed to fill a void at the University of Auburn last year, Mary successfully earned a counting score for the team. Mary has proven to be an even more valuable player for the Pack during her senior year, as an exhibition and as a competitor on the beam nine of the eleven meets so far this season. She has continued to develop confidence under pressure in her last few meets of the season, earning a personal best of! 9.85 performing as an exhibition at the Wolfpack Invite. A strong student as well, Mary was again named to the EAGL All-Academic team this year, making that all four years of her career.
Mary will graduate in May, 2004 with a degree in biological sciences. The team and coaches would like to thank her for her hard work and leadership she has provided to the Pack. We will miss you, Mary.
Marlyn is one of NC State's most improved gymnasts of all time. Missing her first two seasons due to a foot injury, Marlyn is now competing in her fifth year as one of NC State's top all-arounders. In fact, this past Friday, Marlyn broke the school record and won the all-around at the University Maryland with an impressive 39.525. Marlyn competed on the bars, beam and floor in 2002 and 2003, and has worked hard to earn herself a spot in the vault line-up and all-around this year. Marlyn was named to the All-EAGL first-team for bars in 2003, winning the event seven meets with a career-high of 9.925 at the Wolfpack Invite. She matched that score at this year's Wolfpack Invite. Marlyn also reached a career-best of 9.925 on the balance beam at the University of Maryland two nights ago. An overachiever in the classroom as well, Marlyn also ha! s been named to the All-EACL Academic Team five times in her career. Marlyn is currently in Graduate School studying political sciences.
Marlyn has gained tremendous respect by her teammates and coaches, leading by example that hard work, perseverance and dedication truly do pay off. Thank you Marlyn. You will be dearly missed.
Molly represents what perseverance is all about. Battling some challenging years of injuries including back fracture, Molly has worked through it to become one of NC State's best vaulters. In 2003, Molly was in the vault line-up every meet, and won four vault titles on the season. She finished in the top-10 in every single meet, and in the top-five in eight of the final nine meets. Molly earned a career-best of 9.925 for first in the Governor's Cup, and was named EAGL Specialist of the week for her performance and consistency. She was named to the All-EAGL first-team for vault, tying her career-best of 9.925 for third at the EAGL Championships. Demonstrating hard work and dedication in the classroom as well, Molly was named ! to the EAGL-Academic Team, while majoring in Industrial Engineering.
Molly is a leader to her teammates, and hopes to assist coaching the vault next year. Thank you Molly for your contributions to NC State Gymnastics. We will all miss you.
Cheryl's intensity and determination have helped her make a strong comeback the past two seasons. After recovering from an achelles tendon tear as a freshman, Cheryl has made a valuable contribution to both the vault and uneven bars in 2003 and 2004. In the first meet of the season last year, she started out strong by earning a first place title on the vault. She reached a career-high on the event last year with a 9.85 at a dual meet vs. William & Mary. She has also made vast improvements in her bar routine, and has become one of the Pack's more consistent competitors on the event this year. Cheryl has demonstrated leadership by helping her teammates each and every day in practice. Her desire to help her team improve makes Cheryl a very valuable member of the Wolfpack Gymnastics team. It is obvious why Cheryl is studying to be an elementary school teacher.
Cheryl will graduate in May with a degree in education. Cheryl, your teammates and coaches appreciate your hard work and dedication to the program. You will be truly missed.
Leah was described as a "blessing in disguise" when she joined the Pack in the fall of 2002. Leah transferred from the University of Utah after competing there for two seasons. She quickly made her mark as a top contender at NC State, competing in the all-around every meet last season. She led NC State with a personal best in the all-around of 39.4 at last year's Wolfpack Invite, and was named EAGL Gymnast of the Week for that performance. Leah was named to the All-EAGL second-team in the all-around and on the uneven bars in 2003. Her desire for perfection is evident in her scores, earning a career high of 9.95 on the floor exercise last year, while meeting scores of at least 9.9 four times this year, including a personal best of 9.925 on the balance beam at the Wolfpack Invite.
Leah is earning her degree in sociology. Her teammates and coaches wish her continued success in her remaining meets this year. Thank you for your contributions to our team, Leah. We'll miss you.
Thank youto all of the seniors from your Wolfpack fans, teammates and coaches.
