The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1177236
108 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JACEY ZEMBAL A group of experienced returnees will help NC State challenge for an EAGL title this season. The Wolfpack have four se- niors and seven juniors on its 18-woman roster this season. Senior Drew Grantham and junior Lauren Kent, both dec- orated gymnasts with a string of All-EAGL honors, are hoping to reach the NCAA Championships this year. Grantham is the Wolfpack's top performer in the all-around, which covers the bar, beam, floor routine and vault. "Drew is super driven and knows exactly what she wants," head coach Kim Landrus said. "She knows what she wants to do and needs to do to make a splash this year. "We can tweak things if we need to tweak things. She just gets it. She understands that we are a perfection-based sport. She'll do everything she can so those little 'tenths' are not taken." Landrus sees a difference with working with such an experienced team. She can tell members of the team took care of business during the offseason during voluntary prac- tices. "You can tell they are buying in, and it is just easier when you know what to expect," Landrus said. "They are just able to have a better understanding of what we are doing and why we are doing it. "They can execute it and come prepared to get the job done every day." Kent was stellar on the uneven bars and flashed her potential on the beam last season. Seniors Alexis Beucler and Melissa Brooker could help on the beam and uneven bars, respectively. "Kent just has nice lines and a good level of difficulty," Landrus said. "She really ex- ecutes everything she does super well, and not just in bars but other events too. "She is a very strong beam worker and her floor has come along well." Kent, Beucler, and freshmen Chloe Ne- grete, Alexis Ortega and Emily Shepard could end up in three different events or be in the all-around. "Lauren and Drew at the end of last season did the all-around," Landrus said. "Alexis Beucler was limited last year, but she's back and better than ever." Senior Drew Grantham won 16 event titles, and earned first-team All-EAGL accolades in the vault, floor and all-around in 2018-19. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS GYMNASTICS PREVIEW AN EXPERIENCED UNIT A Veteran Group Of Four Seniors And Seven Juniors Will Lead The Pack "They are just able to have a better understanding of what we are doing and why we are doing it. They can exe- cute it and come prepared to get the job done every day." Head coach Kim Landrus on her veteran team