North Carolina State University Athletics
Panza Named EAGL Specialist of the Week
3/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 1, 2011
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. --- NC State gymnast Jess Panza earned EAGL Specialist of the Week honors for winning three events in the Pack's final home meet, according to the league office on Tuesday.
Panza took home first place on beam, bars, and floor in last Sunday's home finale against EAGL foe George Washington.
The junior's most impressive performance came during the floor exercise, when Panza's second-career 9.9 sealed the victory for the Pack (5-6, 3-0 EAGL), and added to NC State's 195.350, its highest team total of the year.
Panza became the first Pack gymnast this season to win three events in a single meet, and pushes her team-leading tally of first-place finishes to seven on the year.
The New York, N.Y. native also added a 9.875 on beam and a 9.85 on bars, both match season-highs this season for the Wolfpack.
Panza has won the floor exercise in five of the Pack's eight meets this season.
Panza marks the first NC State gymnast to take home Specialist of the Week honors this year. Diahanna Ham, the only other Pack gymnast recognized thus far in the EAGL's weekly awards, garnered a Rookie of the Week mention on February 1.
The award is Panza's first career Specialist of the Week recognition. Panza was a two-time Rookie of the Week in 2009 and earned one Gymnast of the Week honor in 2010.
