University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
George Washington (Atlantic 10 Championship)
Women's Gymnastics Places Second At Atlantic 10 Championship
March 23, 2002 | Women's Gymnastics
March 23, 2002
KINGSTON, R.I. - Junior Katie Teft (Grand Rapids, Mich.) scored a 9.950 to claim first place on uneven parallel bars, as the University of Massachusetts women's gymnastics team scored a season-best total of 193.950 to place second at the 2002 Verizon Atlantic 10 Conference Championship. The Minutewomen finished behind first place George Washington (196.375), while defeating both Rhode Island (192.325) and Temple (192.275).
With its 2-1 performance in the meet, UMass improves its overall record on the season to 7-13, and gives head coach David Kuzara the 100th victory of his collegiate coaching career. Kuzara's record now stands at 100-68 in his nine seasons of leading the Minutewomen. At the conclusion of the meet, Kuzara was named the 2002 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year
In addition to claiming the title on uneven bars, Teft was UMass' top finisher on balance beam, tying her career high with a 9.925 to finish in fourth place. Junior Jen Gendron (Shrewsbury, Mass.) also had a strong meet for the Minutewomen, placing second on floor exercise with a 9.900. Both Teft and Gendron were named to the All Atlantic 10 Conference team following the meet.
UMass' top finishers in the all-around were junior Megan Donoghue (Tewksbury, Mass.), who placed fourth with a 38.350, and senior Tracy Chew (Silver Spring, Md.), who came in sixth with a 37.950. Donoghue also finished fifth on floor exercise with a 9.850, while Chew came in third on vault with a 9.700.
Other Minutewomen to place in the top 10 on an individual event were sophomore Mellory Giberson (Bingham, Maine) on uneven bars (sixth / 9.775) and balance beam (10th / career-high 9.800), freshman Nicole Groccia (Brooklyn, N.Y.) on vault (seventh / 9.650) and freshman Danielle Clark (Kinnelon, N.J.) on balance beam (10th / career-high 9.800).
UMass must now wait until Monday, Mar. 25, to find out which individual gymnasts will advance to the NCAA Northeast Regional, to take place on April 6 in University Park, Pa.
Final Team Standings Individual Event Champions George Washington 196.375 Vault Devin McCalla (GW) 9.875 Massachusetts 193.950 Uneven Bars Katie Teft (UM) 9.950 Rhode Island 192.325 Balance Beam Devin McCalla (GW) 10.000 Temple 192.275 Floor Exercise Jessica Mantak (GW) 9.925 All-Around Devin McCalla (GW) 39.675
