Pitt gymnastics takes fifth

In the Panthers’ last meet of the season, they competed in the 2006 NCAA Northeast Regionals… In the Panthers’ last meet of the season, they competed in the 2006 NCAA Northeast Regionals for the second year in a row. Although they finished in fifth place, Andrea Arlotta and Victoria McGuigan-Carl both delivered impressive routines as Pitt’s highest scorers.

“Andrea was able to come back on two events, and that was very important for us. She would be going to nationals if she was able to compete on floor,” head coach Debbie Yohman said of her team captain, who missed a portion of the middle season with an injury. “Samantha DeBone stepped it up with three events, as did our whole beam squad.”

The University of Michigan won the competition at 196.000, followed by Utah at 195.700. In third place was Auburn with a 193.050 effort, and New Hampshire came in fourth with a score of 192.500. Pitt scored a 190.900 to overcome Rutgers, which finished in sixth at 188.975. Michigan and Utah will compete in the NCAA Championships along with a select few gymnasts from the other participating teams.

According to Yohman, the highlight of the match was the fact that the team was much improved from their performance last week at the East Atlantic Gymnastic League (EAGL) Conference Championships.

First, on the balance beam, the Panthers were able to stay on with no falls. This earned them a third-place spot with a 47.575. Arlotta lead the squad with a 9.675, followed by Samantha DeBone with a 9.525 mark. McGuigan-Carl finished close behind with a score of 9.500, a new career high. Utah’s Nicole Ford won the even with an impressive score of 9.900.

After the beam, Pitt competed in the floor exercise. As a team, the Panthers scored a 47.500, led by McGuigan-Carl with an impressive 9.700 effort. Nicole Drane set a career high at 9.675. Anya Chayka was not far behind with a score of 9.525. New Hampshire’s Amanda Hall secured first place on the floor exercise with a 9.900 score.

The Panthers ran into serious trouble on the vault. The team had two falls, and could manage just a 47.750. McGuigan-Carl led the squad yet again with a 9.750. Next was Arlotta with a 9.700, and Chayka finished with the third-best score on the team at 9.575. Although her team will not be advancing, Auburn’s Lindsey Puckett’s first-place score of 9.900 earned her a spot at the NCAA Championships.

The Panthers closed the competition with their strongest event of the match — the uneven bars. Arlotta led the team as she has all year, finishing with a team-best 9.750. DeBone had the Panthers’ second-best finish at 9.675, and she was followed by teammate Alix Croop with a 9.650. Michigan’s Lauren Mirkovich took the uneven bar title with a 9.900. Yohman was happier about her team’s performance in this event than any other.

“The uneven bars was our best event,” Yohman said. “We finished third place behind Michigan and Utah because we really hit.”

Pitt did not enter any all-around competitors — namely Arlotta, their top all-arounder for the season — because of the lingering injuries that have plagued them all season. Utah’s Ford rode her beam win to the all-around title with a 39.400. Michigan’s Lindsey Bruck came in second at 39.300, followed by New Hampshire’s Hall with a 39.250. Auburn’s Julie Dwyer scored a 38.400 for ninth place. Although she was not on a qualifying team, this effort earned her a spot at nationals.

This marks the end of the season for Pitt gymnastics.