The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/896287
NOVEMBER 2017 ■ 113 NC State welcomes five new freshmen to the program, three of them are in-state products — Olivia Hunter is from Hamp- stead, Lauren Kent is from Willow Springs and Sara Watson is from Tabor City — join Victoria Prati of Winter Haven, Fla., and Kasey Nelson of Marietta, Ga., with the former ready to make an immediate impact. "Prati has clean gymnastics, and she un- derstands that college gymnastics is about execution," Landrus said. "Every day you see that kind of attitude." Landrus also believes Kent will con- tribute immediately on bars and beam, and eventually could be an all-around per- former. "She is just a beautiful gymnast," the coach noted. NC State should benefit from one of the six NCAA Regional Championships being held at Reynolds Coliseum April 7. "I think it's huge competing at home, and it's always a thrilling experience to have your fans right behind you," Landrus said. "To be hosting an NCAA Regionals is such an opportunity for each one of them to compete in that. "I would think it will be a driving force throughout the season." ■ Three Gymnasts To Watch Senior Chelsea Knight Knight finished third in the all-around (39.175), including second in the floor routine (9.875), at the EAGL Championships last year. She was the top Wolfpack performer in the all-around at the NCAA Regional Championships, scoring a 38.950 to finish ninth overall. She had her top mark on the vault (9.825), which was 11th, and she also was 16th on the beam and 19th on the bars. She earned first-team All-EAGL in the vault, bars and all-around, and was second team on the beam. Junior Paris Phillips Phillips became NC State's 12th EAGL floor champion after she received a 9.900. She fol - lowed up by finishing 23rd in the vault (9.775) at the NCAA Regional in Gainesville, Fla. She earned first-team All-EAGL in the floor and second-team honors in the vault (second straight year) and all- around last season. Phillips also earned a spot on the All-EAGL scholastic team. Sophomore Melissa Brooker Brooker qualified for the NCAA Regional in Gainesville, Fla., on the bars and finished 39th (9.200) in the meet. She took fourth (9.800) on bars at the EAGL Championships, earning first- team all-conference. She also earned a spot on the All-EAGL scholastic team. Noting The Pack • Landrus didn't hesitate on whom NC State will need to knock off in the EAGL — defending cham- pion George Washington. NCSU finished third (194.875) last year behind first-place George Washington (196.275) and New Hampshire (195.075) at the conference meet. The Colonials finished fourth at the Morgantown (W.Va.) NCAA Regional — the top two teams qualified for the NCAA Championships in St. Louis. • Senior Nicole Wild was expected to be an im- pact performer last year, but suffered a season- ending injury after four meets. Wild was first-team All-EAGL on the beam in 2016 and qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the event. She also earned second-team all-league honors on the bars in her sophomore year. She competed on the bars and beam in 10 meets in 2016, and performed on bars in four meets before her injury last season. ■ By The Numbers 6 Wolfpack gymnasts were honored as Academic All-Americans by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches last year. Junior Mag - gie Tamburro and sophomore Hailey Mesmer both earned 4.0 grade point averages, and were joined by senior Nicole Wild (3.77), senior Mackenzie Itcush (3.60), sophomore Melissa Brooker (3.60) and junior Caitlyn Fillard (3.56). 10 First-place finishes in various meets for se- nior Chelsea Knight. 16 All-American's at Illinois under Kim Landrus, who was head coach there from 2011-17. Junior Paris Phillips became NC State's 12th EAGL floor champion last year, and received second-team All-EAGL honors in the vault and all-around. She also earned a spot on the league's scholastic team. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP Located directly across from the Belltower www.aloftraleigh.com 919.828.9900 Come Stay and Play with us... Aloft Raleigh Located directly across from the Belltower www.aloftraleigh.com 919.828.9900 Come Stay and Play with us... Aloft Raleigh