March 17, 2009

PITTSBURGH -- University of Pittsburgh gymnast, senior co-captain Alix Croop, has been honored as the East Atlantic Gymnasts League Specialist of the Week for the period ending March 16.

The award marks the second time in Croop's career that she has been honored by the Eastern Atlantic Gymnastics League, winning the same honor for the period ending Feb. 9.

In the regular-season finale at EAGL rival Maryland, Croop took top honors on the beam and floor for Pitt (7-6, 2-4 EAGL), scoring a 9.825 and 9.850 respectively. The Panthers tallied three of the top five scores on bars, posting a 48.700, just off their season-high of 48.725. In the only event in which she did not take first place, Croop was runner-up with a 9.825.

This season, Croop has already set a new career-high on beam and floor and matched her career-high on bars. On Feb. 1 against N.C. State at home, Croop tallied a 9.875 on beam, good for second place. Her score of 9.825 on bars at rival West Virginia on Jan. 23 was also good for second place. Against Denver on Feb. 28, her 9.900 career-high on floor gave her first place honors and helped Pitt to a 194.725-193.700 upset over the Pioneers.

Pitt heads to N.C. State this weekend for the EAGL Championship. Meet time is set for 3 p.m. with live stats and streaming video available through the Panthers' website, www.pittsburghpanthers.com.