North Carolina State University Athletics
Gymnastics Set For Senior Day
3/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 15, 2005
Raleigh, N.C. - The NC State gymnastics team is in a crucial part of its schedule. The Pack just wrapped up a three-meet road trip, and will return home for the final two meets of the year. This weekend NC State faces defending conference champion West Virginia, and then hosts the 2005 EAGL Championships on March 25. Assistant coach Todd Henry catches us up with his 'Inside the Chalk Box'.
Henry: I have mixed feelings about our trip to California. Our goal was to win the meet and boost our overall average score. We accomplished both of those goals! However the Wolfpack fell to No. 28 in the national rankings. The teams that we were moving in on really had outstanding weekends. NC State did pretty well but struggled in some spots against California. Our team had a chance to knock one out of the ballpark as it were, and we did not get it done. We are still first in the conference and third in our region. We have an opportunity to really move up again the next two weekends as both meets are here in Reynolds. You find out what you are made of in times like this. Big players respond to big games.
Our upcoming meet against rival West Virginia will serve as out last meet for some special seniors. We do have one more home meet, when we host the EAGL Championships on March 25, but this weekends meet is a special one. A competition like this has special meaning to our senior student-athletes. On one hand they are excited to be nearing the end of a very long journey. A journey that has defined them as people. On the other hand, what's nexy? Seniors in any sport have been competing over many years. When that all comes to a close it can be a bit scary. I know that our kids will be ready for whatever life has to offer!
Our seniors are great people and I have enjoyed working with all of them this year. Jennifer Gray has weathered many storms and battled back to win one of lifes important lessons ... perseverance. Cori Goldstein has been an extremely solid competitor for NC State during her four years. Andrea Petrocelli has fought through some severe kenn problems and loves commenting on Todd's board each and everyday for seven months! She keeps me on my toes! Krystal Hairston, who likes to say she is from Georgia but is really from Virginia, has been a tremendous team leader for us in and out of the gym.
Finally, I would like to say thanks to Molly and Alexis (Lex). They will be moving on to bigger and better things in the coming months. They have both helped me personally very much this year. What can I say guys ... This year would have been a shocker without you.
Go Pack
