Tribe Scores Season-High Against Two Nationally-Ranked Opponents

Stevie Waldman Second on Bars; Tricia Long Scores Season-High All-Around

03/09/07 11:00PM

Raleigh, N.C. - As tradition dictates, the William and Mary women’s gymnastics team annually faces a demanding schedule dotted with some the nation’s top programs. Friday evening was no different, as the Tribe once again stepped up to the next level, competing in a quad-meet hosted by 22nd-ranked N.C. State at historic Reynolds Coliseum.

The meet also featured Arizona, ranked 15th in the nation based on the team’s overall regional qualifying score, and ECAC-rival James Madison. Continuing its upward swing, in terms of team scores, the Tribe has put together over the past couple weeks, W&M rose to the occasion and posted a season-high score of 189.650 to finish third overall. Arizona edged the host-Wolfpack, 196.150-196.125, to take the team title, while JMU finished fourth (186.200).

W&M scored season-highs in three events, all of which came in the final three rotations, to eclipse its previous season-high team total by nearly two full points. The run started with a season-high 47.050 on floor, an event that has given W&M its share of problems this season, followed by a season-high 47.900 on vault, just two days after recording a season-high in the event at home. In the fourth rotation, the Tribe put an exclamation point on the night’s progress, using an eye-catching second-place finish by junior Stevie Waldman (Downingtown, Pa.) on bars to tally a season-best 47.900 in the event.

Waldman’s performance on bars, a season-high 9.825, highlighted a number of standout individual efforts from the Tribe Friday night, including classmate Tricia Long (Humble, Texas), who posted a season-high all-around total of 38.050 to place seventh in the elite field. Senior Christina Padilla (Sterling, Va.) added another clutch performance on bars to her recent hot streak in the event, giving the Tribe another top-10 finish with an eighth-place mark of 9.725, and sophomore Sarah Jacobson (Brecksville, Ohio) recorded two personal-bests on the night.

The Tribe started the meet on beam and despite another tough outing overall, the event still produced some admirable outcomes. Waldman bounced back on beam, nailing her routine for a season-high 9.725 to place 11th. Senior Andrea Dochney (Westmont, N.J.) once again came through in the event, posting a 9.575, which Long also matched.

W&M began to heat up in the second rotation, enjoying its finest group-effort on floor this season. Although the individual scores weren’t overly high, the line-up was extremely consistent, giving the squad a much-needed boost in the event. Jacobson led the way with a season and career-high 9.625 to place 13th. Long continued her outstanding night just behind Jacobson with a 9.525, and senior Jess Randall (West Hartford, Conn.) also came through with a season-high 9.500 to earn a 15th-place showing. Freshman Stephanie Bevan (Bridgewater, N.J.) also got into the acting, matching her personal best on floor with a 9.450.

Padilla led the charge in the third rotation from her usual anchor spot in the vault line-up, posting a strong 9.750 to earn an 11th-place finish. Jacobson furthered her career-night with a personal-best 9.625 to place 15th, and freshman Ali Medeiros (Hudson, Ohio) also shined against the top-notch competition with a 9.600 to place 16th. Two nights after recording a season-high on vault, Long bested the mark again with a 9.575, and Bevan rounded out the team total with a solid 9.350.

With only five competing in the line-up once again, each gymnast came through with a clutch performance on bars. Waldman was second only to Arizona’s Karin Wurm to punctuate the Tribe’s strong finish. Padilla placed eighth overall with a 9.725, and Medeiros was also on top of her routine Friday night with a 9.650 to place 12th. Long rounded out her all-around score with a 9.375, and Jacobson added a 9.325 to the team total.

Wurm also claimed the individual floor title and finished second in the all-around with a total of 39.325, just behind teammate Brittney Morgan (39.350). Morgan was the top finisher on vault, narrowly missing a perfect 10 with a 9.975. N.C. State’s Leigha Hancock won the beam title with a 9.900.

W&M will look to carry the momentum into its final home meet of the 2007 next week, as the Tribe hosts JMU Wednesday at Kaplan Arena. The event is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m.

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