Tribe Gymnastics Opens Season at GW Invitational

Senior Stevie Waldman Shares Individual Title on Bars

01/20/08 10:00PM

Washington, D.C. - Senior Stevie Waldman (Downingtown, Pa.) started the 2008 season in impressive fashion, sharing the individual title on bars as the William and Mary women’s gymnastics team opened the year with a sixth-place finish at the competitive George Washington Invitational in the nation’s capital.

North Carolina claimed the team title for the second consecutive year finishing with a total of 193.575. The host Colonials placed second (190.00) ahead of Rutgers (187.625). ECAC rivals Cornell (185.975) and Temple (184.900) placed fourth and fifth, respectively, ahead of the Tribe.

Waldman posted a mark of 9.775 on the bars to share the individual title with Rutgers’ Stephanie Pannick and pace the field. Waldman was also the team’s top finisher on beam, recording a solid 9.525 to place 10th, and the senior also matched classmate Tricia Long (Humble, Texas) with the team’s highest score on vault (9.575), as the pair earned a tie for the 12th place in the event. Waldman finished with an all-around total of 37.800, which was the sixth-best tally at the meet on Sunday.

Long was the team’s top scorer on floor with a 9.450, notching a 10th-place finish in the event. Long recorded a total all-around score of 37.025 to place ninth.

Other notable performances for the Tribe on Sunday included a career-best 9.550 on vault for junior Megan Vincent (Newport News, Va.) and a solid 9.475 on bars by freshman Melissa Cream (West Windsor, N.J.) in her collegiate debut.

Junior Sarah Jacobson (Brecksville, Ohio) recorded a 9.450 on vault, freshman Dina McNaughton (Stoneham, Mass.) also enjoyed a nice debut with a 9.325 on vault and junior Lauren Jackson (Westwood, Mass.) recorded a 9.225 on vault to round out the team’s best even total of 47.475.

Today’s meet will be broadcast on a tape delay basis on CN8 on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 9:30 pm and Saturday, Feb. 2 at 3:30 pm. CN8 is exclusive to Comcast subscribers but can also be viewed online at www.cn8.tv. Commentary will be provided by legendary gymnast Shannon Miller and multiple Emmy Award winning sports reporter Lou Tilley.

The Tribe will return to action next weekend, traveling to West Virginia on Sunday to face the Moutaineers, George Washington and Oklahoma.

Complete Meet Results (HTML)


Final Score: UNC 193.575, GW 190.000, Rutgers 187.625, Cornell 185.975, Temple 184.900, W&M 182.725

William and Mary Team Scoring
Vault: 47.475
Bars: 46.700
Beam: 44.400
Floor: 44.150
Total: 182.725

Top W&M Individuals
Vault: Stevie Waldman, Tricia Long (9.575(
Bars: Stevie Waldman (9.775)
Beam: Stevie Waldman (9.525)
Floor: Tricia Long (9.450)
All-Around: Stevie Waldman (37.800)