2008 Woodie Awards
URI gymnastic team defeats William & Mary to finish season
Kayla Panu
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Sports
03/26/08 - The University of Rhode Island gymnastics team finished up its regular season last Friday, defeating the College of William & Mary, 192.000-191.000.
"It was just a really exciting meet," head coach Chelle Kassabian said. "We had some really outstanding performances. It was a lot of fun."
URI won places for the uneven bars and the balance beam, tied William & Mary on the vault and placed second on the floor.
"They were all really, really solid," Kassabian said about her team's events. "They hit everything really well."
Sophomore Ananda Fraser tied for first on the vault with a score of 9.750. Fraser was the recipient of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Coaches Choice Award last week after her performance at Brown University. She dislocated her shoulder during the floor exercise on her last tumbling pass but still managed to match her career-high score of 9.825.
"That was amazing," Kassabian said. According to the head coach, Fraser popped her shoulder back in to continue competing and she won the vault with a score of 9.700.
"So far, she hasn't had any problems training or competing," Kassabian said. "It's pretty remarkable."
Fraser placed third in the floor exercise on Friday with a score of 9.750. Sophomore Danielle Lee placed behind Fraser with a score of 9.725.
Senior Erica Heaney won the uneven bars against William & Mary with a score of 9.875. URI edged out William & Marry in this event 48.175-47.850.
Lee helped the Rams take the balance beam with her first place score of 9.750. Junior Jordana Ginsburg took second with her score of 9.725. URI had a total score of 47.450 to William & Mary's 46.625.
"It was just nice to see them build and they kept getting better throughout the meet," Kassabian said.
Even freshman Danielle Riportella, who has not competed in a meet since URI's last home meet on March 7, was ranked in the all-around because of her scores in previous meets. Riportella injured her knee warming up on the balance beam before the last home meet and will be out for the rest of the year. "She has a torn ACL and will be scheduling surgery soon," Kassabian said.
The Rams competed in two other meets during the break last week. On March 14, the Rams won the meet at Brown with a score of 189.125. Brown followed in second (186.550), with Southern Connecticut State University in third (186.375) and the University of Bridgeport in last (178.025).
Then on March 19, the Rams lost to the University of Pennsylvania, 190.200-188.075.
This week, the Rams have been training for the ECAC Championships that are on Saturday in Williamsburg, Va.
"It's actually going to be a real exciting competition," Kassabian said. All of the eight schools competing have similar ranks.
The Rams will be returning to Williamsburg after scoring their season-high total of 192.000.
"They've done a great job," Kassabian said. "They've had lots of ups and downs and that hasn't stopped them from doing what they love to do. I give them credit."
"It was just a really exciting meet," head coach Chelle Kassabian said. "We had some really outstanding performances. It was a lot of fun."
URI won places for the uneven bars and the balance beam, tied William & Mary on the vault and placed second on the floor.
"They were all really, really solid," Kassabian said about her team's events. "They hit everything really well."
Sophomore Ananda Fraser tied for first on the vault with a score of 9.750. Fraser was the recipient of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Coaches Choice Award last week after her performance at Brown University. She dislocated her shoulder during the floor exercise on her last tumbling pass but still managed to match her career-high score of 9.825.
"That was amazing," Kassabian said. According to the head coach, Fraser popped her shoulder back in to continue competing and she won the vault with a score of 9.700.
"So far, she hasn't had any problems training or competing," Kassabian said. "It's pretty remarkable."
Fraser placed third in the floor exercise on Friday with a score of 9.750. Sophomore Danielle Lee placed behind Fraser with a score of 9.725.
Senior Erica Heaney won the uneven bars against William & Mary with a score of 9.875. URI edged out William & Marry in this event 48.175-47.850.
Lee helped the Rams take the balance beam with her first place score of 9.750. Junior Jordana Ginsburg took second with her score of 9.725. URI had a total score of 47.450 to William & Mary's 46.625.
"It was just nice to see them build and they kept getting better throughout the meet," Kassabian said.
Even freshman Danielle Riportella, who has not competed in a meet since URI's last home meet on March 7, was ranked in the all-around because of her scores in previous meets. Riportella injured her knee warming up on the balance beam before the last home meet and will be out for the rest of the year. "She has a torn ACL and will be scheduling surgery soon," Kassabian said.
The Rams competed in two other meets during the break last week. On March 14, the Rams won the meet at Brown with a score of 189.125. Brown followed in second (186.550), with Southern Connecticut State University in third (186.375) and the University of Bridgeport in last (178.025).
Then on March 19, the Rams lost to the University of Pennsylvania, 190.200-188.075.
This week, the Rams have been training for the ECAC Championships that are on Saturday in Williamsburg, Va.
"It's actually going to be a real exciting competition," Kassabian said. All of the eight schools competing have similar ranks.
The Rams will be returning to Williamsburg after scoring their season-high total of 192.000.
"They've done a great job," Kassabian said. "They've had lots of ups and downs and that hasn't stopped them from doing what they love to do. I give them credit."