In its first road competition of the 2013 season, the No. 11 Pioneer gymnastics team scored a combined 195.85 overall, coming in second to No. 3 University of Oklahoma, who posted a 197.325.
Despite placing second, the squad managed to improve in score over their season opener of 194.7.
“I thought the team did a tremendous job,” said head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart. “They showed a lot of character. We had one fall on three of the four events, but we did a great job overcoming them as a team in the rest of the rotation. This was a complete team effort.”
Leading the competition in vault was junior Moriah Martin with a score of 9.9. The squad’s combined total of 49.225 was their highest combined score on vault since the start of the season.
“I thought the team’s performance was excellent,” said sophomore Nina McGee. “We kept our composure, which was great for keeping our energy up for floor and bars, which require more energy.”
Martin also came second to Oklahoma in uneven parallel bars with a 9.875. Also placing was junior Melodie Pulgarin Linero (9.85), while freshman Maggie Laughlin and sophomore Nina McGee both added a 9.8.
Laughlin and McGee are both in their first season with the squad, in addition to this being their first away meet, as McGee was out last season due to a knee injury. Despite missing last season, she said she is determined to do well this season.
“I think I did really good for my first time traveling; it was nice to get the nerves out with a different arena and setting,” said McGee. “I’m looking forward to trying to go throughout the season without falls and just continuing to compete.”
McGee posted a 9.875 on balance beam, placing second to Oklahoma’s Taylor Spears. McGee also scored a 9.8 alongside Laughlin in floor exercise. According to McGee, one of her biggest goals this season is to post a perfect score on the floor.
“I’m really proud of Nina McGee,” said Kutcher-Rinehart. “She went last on floor and last on beam with falls in front of her, but she didn’t just go out and try to get through it. She really went out with a calm confidence and aggressiveness and nailed her routines.”
Looking ahead, the Pioneers face No. 9 Arkansas in an away meet on Friday. Arkansas has fallen to their opponents in both of their meets so far this year.
However, junior Katherine Grable of Arkansas won the all-around competition against Georgia with a 39.45, which is higher than any of DU’s all-around scores so far.
“We’re all hoping to stay calm and focus, to be aggressive and unforgiving and have more stuck landings,” said McGee. “More stuck landings will increase our score, because every little tenth counts. We’re also trying to post 24-for-24 and also just learn to adjust to the different arenas.”
