Tribe Women Fall to Eastern Michigan

Gaidish notches third-best team total in school history

02/21/03

YPSILANTI, MI - William and Mary’s women’s gymnastics squad lost to Western Michigan tonight in a non-conference dual meet, by a score of 193.125-190.400. W&M had a strong performance on the bars, a season-high of 48.275 that ranks tenth in the school’s all-time record book.

The Tribe also performed very well on the balance beam, notching a team mark of 48.050 that is ninth in school history. Leading the way for W&M was freshman Kristen Gaidish (Abington, PA), who notched a 9.850 on the beam, tied for the third-best score in team history.

The College’s vaulters scored their second-highest mark of the season, with a strong start from sophomore Jaci Lynn (Copley, OH). Having struggled early in the season, Lynn performed exhibitions on vault in the previous week before making an impact in her return to the lineup, as she notched a 9.650 that put the Tribe in good shape for the remainder of the apparatus.

Sophomore Jess Patterson (Westfield, NJ) had another consistent showing, scoring a 9.750 to pace the squad, while freshman Annie Carroll (Virginia Beach, VA) nailed a solid vault for the third consecutive week, scoring a 9.675.

On bars, junior all-around competitor Suzanne Chaves (Danvers, MA) hit her routine for a 9.675 to lead the team. Also contributing a solid score was senior co-captain Erin Skinner (Lumberton, NJ), who had a 9.375.

The balance beam competitors had a successful run, led by Gaidish, whose 9.850 was the top score in the event among all competitors. Sophomore Emma Cross (Ashland, VA) contributed a 9.625, while junior Jamie Weinfeldt (Roselle Park, NJ) and Skinner had good scores, with marks of 9.575 and 9.525, respectively.

The floor exercise was a bit of a struggle for W&M, which was coming off of a 48.925 in the event in last week’s meet at N.C. State. The College fell to a score of 47.225 this week, with Skinner providing an excellent performance at 9.825. Weinfeldt helped out with a 9.625, while Cross scored a 9.350.

There were two all-around competitors in the meet, and EMU’s Natalie Hashimoto, a NCAA regional qualifier last year, edged Chaves out by a score of 38.575-37.960.

The Tribe is idle until March 2, when it will travel to North Carolina for a meet with the Tar Heels, along with Minnesota and Towson.

Team Scoring
1. Eastern Michigan 193.125
2. William and Mary 190.400

Top Three Individuals
Vault
1. Natalie Hashimoto EMU 9.875
2. Laura Holansworth EMU 9.800
3. Jess Patterson W&M 9.750

Uneven Bars
1. Natalie Hashimoto EMU 9.900
2. Missy Thompson EMU 9.800
3. Becky Scannell EMU 9.725
Laura Holansworth EMU 9.725

Balance Beam
1. Kristen Gaidish W&M 9.850
2. Becky Scannell EMU 9.650
3. Emma Cross W&M 9.625

Floor Exercise
1. Dee Knight EMU 9.875
2. Kristen Totten EMU 9.850
3. Erin Skinner W&M 9.825

All-Around
1. Natalie Hashimoto EMU 38.575
2. Suzanne Chaves W&M 37.950