Jan. 11, 2008

PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team opened its season tonight at Fitzgerald Field House against Kent State and No. 13-ranked Penn State. The Panthers (0-2, 0-0 EAGL) recorded many solid scores, but were unable to topple either foe and took third after compiling 190.450 points. Penn State ended the night with 194.050 points to earn first place, while Kent State took second with 192.175.

Dani Bryan (Germantown, Md./Northwest) started the competition off with a vault score of 9.800 during the meet's first rotation, setting the standard for the rest of the competition on the event. Two competitors from Kent State, Christina Lenny and Brittany Kopp, would equal the reigning EAGL champion's mark, creating a three-way tie for the event crown.

Molly Moyer (Telford, Pa./Homeschooled) made quite a few memories in her first meet as a Panther. The freshman competed in all but one of tonight's events for Pitt, posting top-three team scores in each. After earning marks of 9.650 on vault and 9.600 on beam, she wowed the crowd with a floor routine that garnered a score of 9.850 from the judges and a second place plaudit in the event.

Alix Croop (Allentown, Pa./Bridgeway Academy) also took part in three events this evening for head coach Debbie Yohman's squad, registering two scores of 9.700 on bars and floor. Her mark on floor proved to be a new career high, eclipsing her previous best of 9.675 from last year's meet at Rutgers.

Just as she did in the Blue and Gold meet, Samantha DeBone (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) anchored the bars lineup for the Panthers. DeBone, a two-time All-EAGL selection on bars, led the team and tied for fifth place overall with a score of 9.750.

Pitt's beam squad was paced by Sarah Thompson's mark of 9.725. Thompson (Shokan, N.Y./Onteora), like Moyer, Shannon Vafiadou (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) and Mallory Brewer (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Central Catholic), was competing in her first meet as a Panther. She sat out last season due to an injury.

Pitt will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 19, when they take on Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. The competition is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

For complete results from tonight's meet, Please visit the link below: Pitt vs. Penn State and Kent State