Women's Gymnastics Fourth at New Hampshire

Senior Stevie Waldman Continues Dominance Of Bars Routine

02/09/08 11:00PM

Durham, N.H. - Senior Tricia Long (Humble, Texas) put together a tremendous all-around performance, and classmate Stevie Waldman (Downingtown, Pa.) placed second on bars as the William and Mary women’s gymnastics team placed fourth in a very competitive quad meet at New Hampshire Saturday night.

Penn State earned the team title with a total score of 195.275, edging the host Wildcats’ final tally of 194.225. ECAC rival Yale outdistanced the Tribe as well with a final team score of 189.100, to W&M’s total of 186.750.

Long was brilliant in all four events with a final season-high all-around score of 38.300, just shy of her personal all-around mark of 38.400. The senior recorded a season-high on beam with a 9.500 and recorded a 10th place finish on bars with a season-high tying 9.650. Long was the team’s top finisher on floor with a 9.650 and also was among the best scorers on vault with a 9.475.

Waldman, who notched a season-high 9.800 on bars last week at the Liberty Class, matched the mark on Saturday to place second in the event for the Tribe’s top individual finish. Waldman also hit her routine on beam with a season-high and team-high score of 9.650 and was also solid on vault with a 9.500.

Junior Lauren Jackson (Westwood, Mass.) stepped up and nailed her vault, recording a career-best 9.525 to lead the squad Saturday night. Waldman followed with a 9.500, and junior Megan Vincent (Newport News, Va.) continued to be a factor in the event with a 9.475. Long was steady with a 9.450, and sophomore Jen Stack (Enfield, Conn.) rounded out the team score on vault with a 9.200 as the Tribe continued to be strong on vault in the early season with a final total event score of 47.175.

W&M continued to be strong on bars as well behind Waldman, counting all five team scores among the top 18. Stack followed up her strong vault with a solid 9.400 on bars, and freshman Melissa Cream (West Windsor, N.J.) continued to impress in her rookie season by posting a mark of 9.250 to place 15th overall in the event. Sophomore Ali Medeiros (Hudson, Ohio), who is continuing to work back from preseason injury, rounded out the team tally on bars with a 9.125.

Waldman was the team’s top finisher on beam as well, nailing her routine to post a season-high mark of 9.650 though it only was good enough for a 13th place finish. Long also delivered a clutch performance and season-high score of 9.550, which was good enough only for 18th place.

Long paced the floor line-up with a 9.650, which placed 12th, and freshman Dina McNaughton (Stoneham, Mass.) delivered one of her to collegiate performances to date with a season-high 9.575 on floor to place 14th. Junior Becca Bacharach also recorded a top 15 finish on floor with a steady 9.475 in 15th.

Long’s all-around score was the fourth-best mark Saturday night, while Waldman was sixth at 37.750.

W&M is back in action next Saturday in Raleigh, participating in the annual Sweetheart Invitation on the N.C. State campus.

Final Scores: Penn State 195. 275, New Hampshire 194.225, Yale 189.100, W&M 186.750

Complete Meet Results (HTML)


W&M Event Scores:
Vault: 47.150
Bars: 47.225
Beam: 46.00
Floor: 46.375

Top W&M Individuals:
Vault: Lauren Jackson 9.525
Bars: Stevie Waldman 9.800
Beam: Stevie Waldman 9.650
Floor: Tricia Long 9.650
All-Around: Tricia Long 38.300