North Carolina State University Athletics
No. 25 Gymnastics Springs Into Action
1/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
The NC State gymnastics team will begin its 2008 season with a road trip to Tucson, Ariz. The Wolfpack, who earned a preseason ranking of No. 25, will take No. 12 Arizona on January 11. The Pack is 0-3 against the Wildcats all-time, but last season NC State fell to Arizona by only 0.25 points.
Head coach Mark Stevenson guided the Wolfpack to its third EAGL championship in 2007 and was named EAGL coach of the year for the second straight season. With twelve returning gymnasts and five newcomers, Stevenson is ready for the new season.
“Everything has to fall correctly into place,” said Stevenson. “There are certain kids that have to learn certain things in order for their routines to be as strong as we’d like them to be. Overall I think we’re as strong, if not stronger than we were a year ago.”
Senior Leigha Hancock returns for her final season to lead the Pack after an impressive 2007 season. Hancock took home the beam title after scoring a 9.9 at the 2007 EAGL Championships and was also named EAGL Specialist of the Week a league-best four times. She also finished the season ranked first on the floor in the EAGL, and a part of the All-EAGL first-team for both vault and beam.
“She’s made a big impact on our program since she’s been here,” said Stevenson. “She works hard and is not afraid to get the job done. She definitely works through everything we ask her to do and she leads the team by example in the way she attacks her skills and her huge desire not to fail.”
Heather Zolton, Kelsey Lee, and Laurie Singer are the other returning seniors on the team and are ready for the season ahead. Zolton earned All-EAGL first-team honors in the all-around in 2007, and never scored under a 9.7 on bars. Singer has competed on vault, and is perfecting her bar routine. Lee has seen success in the all-around, and competed on vault in the 2007 NCAA Southeast Regional.
Former manager Brittany Crosby joins the team this year and is developing her bar skills. Returning juniors Elyse Adams and Dru Davis will bounce back from injuries and build on what they have learned in their first two years. Mackenzie Payne, Lauren Spence, and Luci Vance will also add experience to their respective events. Junior Ashley Shepard had a solid 2007 season, was named All-EAGL first-team for the floor and finished the season ranked fourth in the EAGL on floor.
With her rookie season behind her, Lauren Deuser is ready for 2008 after being named All-EAGL second-team for beam. Fellow sophomore Taylor Seaman enjoyed a successful first year with the Pack, was named All-EAGL first-team honors for the all-around and was honored as the EAGL Rookie of the Week four times.
Newcomers Brittney Hardiman, Kirsten Such, Megan Rowell, and Brittany Vontz have prepared for their first collegiate season, and have been learning from their successful upperclassmen.
Eight of the teams the Pack will be competing against were ranked in the top-25 in the preseason poll. With a solid base of experience and an excellent freshman class, NC State will surely continue the program’s success into the 2008 season.
Head coach Mark Stevenson guided the Wolfpack to its third EAGL championship in 2007 and was named EAGL coach of the year for the second straight season. With twelve returning gymnasts and five newcomers, Stevenson is ready for the new season.
“Everything has to fall correctly into place,” said Stevenson. “There are certain kids that have to learn certain things in order for their routines to be as strong as we’d like them to be. Overall I think we’re as strong, if not stronger than we were a year ago.”
Senior Leigha Hancock returns for her final season to lead the Pack after an impressive 2007 season. Hancock took home the beam title after scoring a 9.9 at the 2007 EAGL Championships and was also named EAGL Specialist of the Week a league-best four times. She also finished the season ranked first on the floor in the EAGL, and a part of the All-EAGL first-team for both vault and beam.
“She’s made a big impact on our program since she’s been here,” said Stevenson. “She works hard and is not afraid to get the job done. She definitely works through everything we ask her to do and she leads the team by example in the way she attacks her skills and her huge desire not to fail.”
Heather Zolton, Kelsey Lee, and Laurie Singer are the other returning seniors on the team and are ready for the season ahead. Zolton earned All-EAGL first-team honors in the all-around in 2007, and never scored under a 9.7 on bars. Singer has competed on vault, and is perfecting her bar routine. Lee has seen success in the all-around, and competed on vault in the 2007 NCAA Southeast Regional.
Former manager Brittany Crosby joins the team this year and is developing her bar skills. Returning juniors Elyse Adams and Dru Davis will bounce back from injuries and build on what they have learned in their first two years. Mackenzie Payne, Lauren Spence, and Luci Vance will also add experience to their respective events. Junior Ashley Shepard had a solid 2007 season, was named All-EAGL first-team for the floor and finished the season ranked fourth in the EAGL on floor.
With her rookie season behind her, Lauren Deuser is ready for 2008 after being named All-EAGL second-team for beam. Fellow sophomore Taylor Seaman enjoyed a successful first year with the Pack, was named All-EAGL first-team honors for the all-around and was honored as the EAGL Rookie of the Week four times.
Newcomers Brittney Hardiman, Kirsten Such, Megan Rowell, and Brittany Vontz have prepared for their first collegiate season, and have been learning from their successful upperclassmen.
Eight of the teams the Pack will be competing against were ranked in the top-25 in the preseason poll. With a solid base of experience and an excellent freshman class, NC State will surely continue the program’s success into the 2008 season.
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