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North Carolina
Towson
Hester Leads Gymnastics Team To Victory Over Towson
March 12, 2003 | Women's Gymnastics
March 12, 2003
TOWSON, Md. - Freshman Mikel Hester (Lexington, S.C.) of the University of North Carolina finished first in the all-around competition with a career high 39.300 score to lead the Tar Heels (20-2) to a close victory over the Tigers(11-10) in the Towson Center.
Ranked 30th in the nation, the Tar Heels earned their highest road score of the season while beating the Tigers. North Carolina posted a 195.700 score to edge Towson by nine-tenths of a point. Competing in their first home meet since January 17, the Tigers had a 194.800 team score.
En route to winning the first all-around title of her career, Hester finished third in vault with a 9.85 score and tied for sixth place on bars (9.80). She also finished in a three-way tie for first place on the balance beam with a 9.825 score. Hester took fourth place on the floor exercise with a 9.825 score.
The Tar Heels jumped out to a lead of more than 1.50 points after two rotations as they earned a 49.175 score in vault and a 49.175 score on the bars.
However, the Tigers came on strong in the final two rotations, beating the Tar Heels on beam and floor. But, it wasn't enough to overcome the lead that North Carolina had built in the first half of the meet.
Senior Kristen Presutti had another strong meet for Towson as she took first place in three events. She finished first in vault with a 9.95 score, marking the sixth straight meet in which she won the vault competition. She was also part of the three-way tie for first place on beam (9.825). Presutti also finished first on the floor exercise with a 9.925 score. However, a fall on her dismount off bars cost her the all-around title. She took third in the all-around with a 38.95 score.
Competing as an all-arounder for the 49th consecutive meet, Tiger senior JENN BAIERLEIN (Hicksville, N.Y.) finished second on bars (9.90) and floor exercise (9.90). She also took sixth place on beam (9.775). Baierlein also finished sixth in the all-around competition with a 38.90 score.
Junior Anna Wilson(Newland, N.C.) also excelled for the Tar Heels as she tied for first place on beam with Hester and Presutti. Each had a 9.825 score. Wilson, who was second in the all-around (39.125), finished fifth in vault (9.80) and tied for sixth on bars (9.80). She also took ninth place on floor with a 9.70 score.
Sophomore Juliya Kovaliova of Towson contributed a first place finish on bars. She matched her career high by winning the bars competition with a 9.925 score.
Freshman Courtney Bumpers (Stone Mountain, Ga.) of North Carolina finished second in vault (9.925), fourth on bars (9.850) and fifth on floor (9.80). However, she fell on her dismount off beam and finished fifth in the all-around (38.900).
Sophomore Nicole Groccia of Towson, a transfer from the University of Massachusetts, had a career high in the all-around competition. She tied for third in the all-around with a 38.95 score.
College Gymnastics: North Carolina 195.700; Towson 194.700
Vault: 1. Kristen Presutti (TOW), 9.950; 2. Courtney Bumpers (UNC), 9.925; 3. Mikel Hester (UNC), 9.850.
Uneven Bars: 1. Juliya Kovaliova (TOW), 9.925; 2. Jenn Baierlein (TOW), 9.900; 3. Olivia Trusty (UNC), 9.875.
Balance Beam: 1. Kristen Presutti (TOW), 9.825; Mikel Hester (UNC), 9.825; Anna Wilson (UNC), 9.825.
Floor Exercise: 1. Kristen Presutti (TOW), 9.925; 2. Jenn Baierlein (TOW), 9.900; 3. Olivia Trusty (UNC), 9.850.
All-Around: 1. Mikel Hester (UNC), 39.300; 2. Anna Wilson (UNC), 39.125; 3. Kristen Presutti (TOW), 38.950; Nicole Groccia (UNC), 39.950; 5. Courtney Bumpers (UNC), 38.925; 6. Jenn Baierlein (TOW), 38.900.
Players Mentioned
