North Carolina State University Athletics
Gymnastics Opens Season This Weekend
1/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 11, 2005
Raleigh, N.C. - The 2005 gymnastics season will get underway this weekend for the NC State Wolfpack. The Pack will start its 2005 campaign with a home meet this Saturday night against Rutgers at 7:00 p.m. in Reynolds Coliseum.
This years team might be unlike any other in recent memory. NC State returns a strong veteran unit that has a lot of experience, and the Pack will also have 13 underclassmen with little experience. Returning are gymnasts who have competed since their freshmen seasons, but also on this year's squad will be many gymnasts who have never competed in a collegiate meet.
Head coach Mark Stevenson enters his 25th season at the helm of the Pack, as is excited to see what the 2005 season will bring.
"This team will be a team of surprises," said Stevenson. "What I thought would be a bit of a rebuilding year with 13 sophomores and freshmen, now looks potentially to be one of the best teams we've had since our last conference championship team in 2000."
NC State has been the most successful team since the EAGL formed 10 years ago. NC State won back-to-back EAGL conference titles in 1999 and 2000, and leads all conference foes with seven top-three finishes in the nine-year history of the EAGL.
The 2005 squad will be looking to continue its strong performance at the conference championships, especially this year since NC State will host the EAGL Championships, but the squad will have to replace both of its assistant coaches from last season.
"We lost Greg Frew this past season as Greg moved away for a job opportunity," said Stevenson. "Then we also lost Colleen Johnson, and the girls really miss here because she was such a big part of their careers. We will definitely miss both of them inside and outside of the gym. We replaced Greg with Todd Henry, who joined us after spending two years at Arkansas. Todd brings tremendous enthusiasm and excitement to the program. It is great to have Todd here."
THE SENIORS
Cori Goldstein (Plainview, New York) has been one of the Pack's most consistent performers since her freshman season. Goldstein has been in the beam and floor line-ups since she came to NC State, and was named to the All-EAGL second-team for floor for the third straight season last year. She had nine top-five finishes on floor and four on beam, and only scored under a 9.8 on floor twice last season.
"Cori should excel on floor and beam where she has been one of our best during her first three years," said Stevenson. "I don't expect anything less, and we could see her in the vault lineup at some point during the season."
Andrea Petrocelli (Pasadena, Maryland) returned to the Pack line-up last season after missing most of the 2003 season with a knee injury. She competed on bars and beam in every meet, and started the season by winning beam in the first two meets.
"Andrea has really stepped it up this season and will compete on both beam and bars with the potential to make the lineup on vault," said Stevenson.
Krystal Hairston (Duluth, Georgia) and Jennifer Gray (Irwin, Pennsylvania) will both be looking to crack the Pack's line-up in their final seasons.
"Krystal has really stepped forward in a leadership role in the gym for her senior season," said Stevenson. "She should contribute on vault for her senior season.
"After watching Jennifer for three seasons she looks to be a viable competitor on the beam and bars. She has made huge strides this past summer and this fall."
THE JUNIORS
Kylah Bachman (York, Pennsylvania) had one of the best seasons for an NC State gymnasts last year. Competing in the all-around for the first time, Bachman earned All-EAGL second-team honors for both the all-around and on floor. Bachman set new career-highs on every event, and scored over a 39.000 in the all-around in seven of 12 meets, including a 39.500 at Maryland.
"Kylah is our top returning all-around competitor from last season and should continue to maintain that status," said Stevenson. "She has increased her difficulty on three of the four events this fall, and we expect her to once again lead us through the year."
Beth Faulkner (Charlotte, North Carolina) should compete for a spot in the Pack's floor line-up this season, after seeing action on vault as a freshman two seasons ago."
"As a junior Beth has the opportunity to be a competitor for the team on the floor exercise," said Stevenson. "Beth has increased her skill level to put herself in that mix."
THE SOPHOMORES
Rachel Katz (Bloomington, Indiana) had perhaps the best freshmen season of any NC State gymnast in recent memory. She was named to the All-EAGL first-team for vault, and was the conference's Specialist of the Week after a strong showing in the Wolfpack Invitational. Katz competed on vault and bars in every meet, and on floor in the last eight. On her top event vault, she won four titles and finished in the top-five in 13 of the 14 meets.
"Coming off a great freshman season, Rachel will compete on vault, bars, and floor," said Stevenson. "She is also in the mix to do beam. Her third place finish at NCAA Regionals with a 9.9 last season saw her behind 2 UCLA athletes, both of which were past Olympians."
Amanda Jones (Jacksonville, Florida) was in the beam line-up in nine straight meets last year as a freshman, and saw action in four meets on both vault and the floor as well. Jones had four finishes in the top-five on beam, and scored a personal-best 9.85 three times.
"Also coming off a great freshman year, Amanda should be competing in the all-around for this year's squad," said Stevenson. "Her aggressiveness and outgoing personality pushes her to the forefront in performance. She is a real showman who we expect to be one of our top performers this year."
Katie Ozburn (Marshall, Virginia) saw action on vault in the first five meets of her freshman campaign, and could see action on both vault and beam this year.
"Katie is walk-on sophomore who saw limited competition last season," said Stevenson. "She has the potential to compete on the vault and beam for us this season. She has upgraded vault, and is working hard for consistency on the beam."
Crisann Calvo (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) did not compete last season as she was recovering from a wrist injury she suffered prior to coming to NC State.
"Crisann sat out last season due to wrist surgery," said Stevenson. "Crisann is capable for competing in bars and floor this season for us, and has been coming back strong the past few months."
NC State also has four other sophomores who worked on their routines all of last year. Kaitlin Kovary (Huntington Station, New York), Brooke Outland (Bonlee, North Carolina), Suzanne Price (Chapel Hill, North Carolina), and Arien Stainback (Beaufort, North Carolina) could all see action for the Pack this season.
"Kaitlin is in the running to do bars this season," said Stevenson. "Arein did a great job of working out in the off season, and could be a starter for the team on the beam. Brooke has a shot at competing on the bars in the near future. Suzanne is a great young lady who is working on vault and bars."
THE FRESHMEN
This year's freshmen class is once again another strong unit for the Pack. Stevenson not only expects some of his newcomers to step in right away, but some of the newcomers could make up a lot of the top routines for NC State this season.
Heather Zolton (New Port Rickey, Florida) is probably the most versatile freshmen of the group, and one that the coaching staff is looking to insert into the line-up right away. Zolton finished 13th nationally in the all-around in 2004, and was fifth in 2003.
"Heather is an extremely talented freshman who should see action in the all-around this season," said Stevenson. "She excels on bars and vault, and should make both line-ups right away."
Leigha Hancock (Suffield, Connecticut) finished ninth at nationals on the beam during her prep career, and was also the state champion on beam four straight years.
"Leigha is an excellent gymnast who should compete for us this season on the vault, beam, and the floor," said Stevenson.
Kelsey Lee (Owings Mills, Maryland) is the third newcomer the coaching staff is looking at to contribute this season. Lee was a three-time national qualifier, and took third in the all-around in 2002.
"Kelsey is a tremendous power in gymnastics," said Stevenson. "She has great skills and is very dynamic. Kelsey should compete on bars, vault, and floor this season."
Whitney Harding (The Woodlands, Texas) will be looking to recover from an injury during her prep days in the early part of the season. Harding was a national qualifier from 2000-2003, and won state and regional championships on both beam and vault.
"Whitney is coming off a back injury from her senior season, and is working to get back into shape," said Stevenson. "Hopefully, she will make an impact on the team by midseason. She is a very elegant dancer and she is strong on the bars."
Laurie Singer (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) is a local product, who was forced to sit out the 2004 season with an ACL injury. Singer had a strong prep career on both vault and beam.
"A walk-on out of Chapel Hill, Laurie could compete for us on bars, vault, and or floor this season," said Stevenson. "She is an extremely talented athlete who should make an impact."
THE SCHEDULE
For the second straight year, NC State will host a post-season meet. After having the NCAA Regionals come to town a year ago, this year the EAGL Championships return to Raleigh for the first time since 1997. The Pack will be looking to follow up a third place finish last year at the conference meet with its first title since 2000.
"We are very excited to be hosting the 2005 EAGL Championships in March," said Stevenson. "It has been nine years since we last hosted, and having it on our home court is a very positive situation for us."
Along with the EAGL Championships on March 25, the Pack will host five other meets in Reynolds Coliseum this season. NC State will hosts its annual Hearts Invitational on February 11 with Iowa, George Washington and William & Mary all coming to Raleigh. The 2005 season starts January 15 with a meet against Rutgers. Other meets include Rutgers and William & Mary on January 29, North Carolina on February 25, and West Virginia on March 18.
