Jan. 2, 2007

PITTSBURGH - One Team. One Dream. That's the mantra of the 2007 Pitt squad as they approach the season with a new work ethic and winning mentality. A successful off-season has brought the team closer and made workouts more competitive with every gymnast vying for a spot on each event. This year, the team is returning three All-EAGL selections and has one of its top recruiting classes to date.

"Not only are our incoming people getting better, but the demands being put on the athletes have increased," said Head Coach Debbie Yohman. "It's not just the athletes but our level of expectations for them. We want the kids to think competitively. It's not good enough to try your hardest and still have a fall on the beam. You have to do better than that. If doesn't count just because you want to do it. You have to put in the homework, preparation and time. You have to have a passion"

Leading the team in 2007 will be senior co-captains Andrea Arlotta and Jessica Garber. Arlotta was a unanimous All-EAGL selection in the all-around last season, and Garber was a key contributor as a vault, beam and floor specialist.

"Dre and Jess are doing a great job, obviously as team captains, but also as team leaders," said Yohman. "What we have told the kids and what we are trying to get them to internalize, is that we are not raising the bar. The bar has already been raised. And if they are not up to the level of our expectations, they are going to get left behind. Dre and Jess have been good in underscoring that point for us. The two of them are competitors; they are hard workers. They are setting the tone for everyone else and letting it be known that it isn't acceptable to not be ready every day that you come into practice."

Assistant Coach Michael Rowe echoed the shift in the team's focus by saying, "In the past, we used to know our lineup at the beginning of the season, but this year the gymnasts will always be competing for a spot in the lineup, indeed for their spot on the team. It is nice to know we have this kind of depth because in any event, we could have an injury and there is still someone who can step up to the plate and do the job with a routine that is comparable. The group of freshmen that came in have new life, new blood and new energy. They give every body else a boost. You can hear the girls talk about how refreshing the life and energy and enthusiasm is in the gym. It is very positive."

VAULT
Pitt started off its 2006 season with a solid vault lineup, hitting its peak midseason. As injuries began to pervade the team, new faces emerged in the mix, and the team began to rely on some consistent powerhouses to carry the team.

Arlotta and sophomore Victoria McGugian-Carl were the team's top two vaulters last season and will look to lead the team again in 2007. Arlotta was an all-conference selection, hitting a career-high 9.875 on January 21 against Rhode Island. McGuigan-Carl had a career-high 9.825 in the same meet. Panther fans can expect to also see some increased execution from sophomore Anya Chayka as well as big skills from several newcomers.

"The girls we have the on the team are really improving on their vaulting," said Yohman. "We have more difficulty and more depth. Our goal is still to get more, but it is definitely a step up from last year. This is an event where we've constantly asked the gymnasts to step it up. Now they're doing so and getting some help from the newcomers."

UNEVEN BARS
The Panthers lost two of their bar workers to graduation last season but come back with upgraded routines from some of the veterans as well as early contributions from some of the freshmen.

"We lost two bar workers, but we did a good job replacing the bar routines that we lost," said Yohman. "Our goals are to have more conditioning, more endurance and better lines on bars. We were consistent last year, but we need to get those extra tenths from hitting handstands the way we are supposed to and finishing with big dismounts."

Arlotta leads the way on this event as well, garnering All-EAGL first team honors last season after reaching a season-high mark of 9.825 in two meets. Also returning is junior Samantha DeBone, an all-conference second team selection who reached a career-high 9.825 as well. Gymnasts who have upgraded their routines significantly in the off-season include Alix Croop and Kaitlin Harrison. Also looking to return to the lineup will be junior Brittany Baldwin who was injured last season.

BALANCE BEAM
Not only do the Panthers have several gymnasts returning and competing for a spot in the balance beam lineup, but the newest additions to the team are stepping in with some difficulty and grace that makes the Pitt lineup an exciting one in 2007.

"Beam is going to be very competitive," Yohman said. "Every freshman that is doing beam, does great beam. If you don't stay on the beam, you won't be in our lineup. We have too many kids doing great stuff on beam and a lot of depth and difficulty."

The Panthers have two All-EAGL honorees returning with Arlotta and Chayka. Arlotta had a career-high 9.875 last season while Chayka hit a career-high 9.750 against New Hampshire. Also competitive on this event last year was DeBone who had a team-high score of 9.900 in Pitt's quad meet against SUNY, Maryland and Ohio State.

Still, the Panthers have Garber competing for a spot in the lineup as well as Andrea Konesky who broke into the lineup late last season. Sophomores Pam Bender and Nicole Kujawski will also compete to break into the lineup as well this season.

FLOOR EXERCISE
After a season of injuries, the floor lineup was thin at the conclusion of 2006, but the coaches have brought in a lot of fresh talent while also incorporating more difficulty and unique choreography into the existing routines.

"We've upgraded our floor as well," Yohman said. "Injuries hit us hardest on the floor last year. We finished the season without a full lineup. We have put difficulty back in this event. We have a lot of skill and choreography. Our difficulty has improved and our routines should be exciting to watch. And conditioning will play a huge role here too for those who want to do Pitt floor."

Pitt returns veterans Arlotta and Garber on this event. Both were consistent throughout the season last year as Arlotta garnered all-conference honors and Garber put up a season-high 9.825. McGuigan-Carl's powerful tumbling also added to the mix, and Chayka was a frequent competitor in the lineup. Panther fans can expect to see some new faces emerge on this event in 2007 as several of the incoming gymnasts have routines packed with excitement.

ALL-AROUND
Pitt's all-around lineup will also see some new faces in 2007. Croop and McGuigan-Carl worked hard over the summer to get all their skills back or upgrade on each event and both are training to compete on all four events. "Alix is a finesse gymnast while Victoria is strong and powerful--we'd like to see both get the time in the lineup as all-arounders," said Yohman.

NEWCOMERS
Dani Bryan joins the team from Germantown, Md. where she was a 2006 Junior National Team member after placing fourth at nationals. She was additionally the runner-up at junior nationals on the vault and floor. "Dani is a terrific performer who really knows how to turn it on in competition," Yohman said. "She will be one of our top all-arounders, but her floor and vault especially will be impressive."

Jessica Byich hails from Nicktown, Pa. where she was a four-time Level 10 regional qualifier. "Jessi is a solid all-arounder with one of those positive attitudes who just loves hard work!" said Yohman. "She is so much fun to watch on beam and floor and is sure to be a crowd pleaser."

Kirsten Dahlberg is a local gymnast from Gibsonia, Pa. A three-time junior national competitor, she was a national qualifier and the state champion on the balance beam. "A very elegant gymnast, Kirsten has so many things she is capable of putting in routines that we will have a hard time choosing what to use," Yohman said. "She can make an immediate impact for us on vault and beam."

Shannon McConnell is also from the Pittsburgh area, coming from Allison Park, Pa. She was a Level 10 national qualifier last season. "Shannon has grown up wanting to be a Panther gymnast," said Yohman. "She's talented, yes, but what we like so much is that she's hungry to be a high level competitor. She's very focused, and she works hard on her all-around strengths as well as weaknesses"

Leah Musulin is another local gymnast from Bethel Park, Pa. Last year was a Level 9 national qualifier. "As an uneven bar specialist, Leah has the opportunity and the talent to be our best athlete on that event," Yohman said. "What an awesome routine she'll have if she does what she's capable of doing."

Krista Rubini comes to the Panthers from Newtown, Pa. She was a Level 9 and Level 10 national qualifier, placing seventh at the regional championships last year. "Krista is the unknown, coming off a knee injury, and will be specializing on three events," said Yohman. "She has the potential to help us on each one."

Sarah Thompson of Shokan, N.Y., competed in the 2005 junior national championships and was a three-year Level 10 gymnast. "Also an unknown who's training now at a higher level than in the past, Sarah has all-around talents and potential on all four events," Yohman said. "She could help us out where needed and even end up being a new star for us!"

The freshmen add difficulty to Panther routines, particularly on vault & floor where the squad has been thin. They will also add a lot of very competitive depth on beam, which will play a part in making Pitt more consistent. With this talented group of newcomers and a renewed sense of enthusiasm among the returning gymnasts, the Panthers are looking forward to a productive 2007 season.

"I think we are going to be an underdog and we are going to surprise people," said Assistant Coach Jessica Bartgis. "I've been very impressed in the short time I've been here. I think people are going to say `Where did Pitt come from?'"