Gymnastics seeks to replace three senior competitors
The first meet is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Published Dec. 8, 2006
After a year that ended in the NCAA tournament, gymnastics coach Rob Drass will look to replace three former seniors who helped carry a team that was ranked as high as No. 7 last season.
"I don't believe in rebuilding," Drass said.
But among the people trying to fill the shoes of the departing seniors, there is no dispute as to their value to last year's team.
"I just think they led really well by example," senior Amanda Pezzullo said.
The team opens up its season at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Hearnes Center with the intra-squad Black and Gold Meet.
Drass said despite the loss of a talented group of seniors, expectations will stay the same.
But that doesn't mean there won't be some setbacks for a team that is ranked 18th nationally in the GymInfo Preseason Coaches Poll.
"I think early on, we may be a little bit less consistent," he said.
Although there are holes from last year's three seniors, Drass said he doesn't expect his six freshman to immediately fill those roles.
"Everybody's taken a step forward," he said.
Drass said some team members with limited roles last year will be relied on, including junior Nikki Bowman.
All eyes will likely be on senior Whitney Crater, who is still recovering from an Achilles injury last season.
The injury kept her out of the final meet last season and out of summer training.
Crater said her health is at about 90 percent.
Although she said she's behind because of the missed summer practice, she expects to compete at the same level as last season.
"I think I owe it to my team," she said.
Drass said Crater will compete in vault and floor events.
Drass said Pezzullo, who will be competing in the vault, beam and floor events, should be one of the most consistent gymnasts.
"She is a quiet leader in the gym," he said.
Drass is also optimistic about the third senior,
Alicia Gilmore, who he said is one of the team's hardest workers and will compete in the bar line-up.
Drass said the Black and Gold Meet will be the beginning of many rearrangements with the line-up.
He said one of the big problems in the Black and Gold Meet is that freshmen are unable to compete at the same level as in practice because of nerves.
Drass said the team has attempted to simulate meet conditions during intra-squad competition in practice.
During intra-squad competitions, practice is stopped, so all eyes are on who is competing.
He also plays music to generate more noise in the gym.
Pezzullo said the seniors are expected to lead by example to help the freshmen maximize their potential in meets.
She said the meet would be a good opportunity to expose early season problems.
"It's definitely a practice meet," she said.
Both Pezzullo and Drass said transitioning from high school to college gymnastics is difficult and takes a couple of meets to adjust to the higher level of competition.
Pezzullo said she's ready for the season to begin: "I'm really excited. We're definitely ready."