Saturday, January 21
Berkeley, Calif.
5:00 PM
University of Washington
at
California, San Jose State
Photo by Susie Boyland
GymDawgs Hit the Road Saturday To Face Cal, SJSU In Tri-Meet
January 19, 2017 | Gymnastics
SEATTLE – After scoring a 195.175 last weekend at Ohio State (the GymDawgs highest opening meet score in three years), the Washington gymnastics team will hit the road again to face California and San Jose State in a tri-meet on Saturday, January 21 at 5:00 p.m. PT in Berkeley, Calif.
"We wanted to go out last week in our first meet of the season and set the groundwork," said head coach Elise Ray. "We did that. Now it's time to not just to compete, but compete well."
Junior Joslyn Goings got off to a great start this season after posting a career-high 9.925 on beam at the OSU quad, securing her first beam title of the season. Hailey Burleson competed in the all-around for the second time as a GymDawg and scored a career-best 39.200 in route to placing second in the AA.
The GymDawgs are led by senior captains Alexandra Yacalis and Kaitlyn Duranczyk. Duranczyk, a two-time husky captain and Pac-12 Conference bars champion last season, started the year with a solid performance, scoring a 9.825 after sticking her landing on her bar routine. Yacalis was a mainstay on vault and floor all season long in 2016 and posted a 9.775 on floor in the season opener at Ohio State.
"Our captains are seasoned, consistent competitors," said Ray. "They lead the team in how well they conduct themselves under pressure. Kait and Alex do a great job at setting a reassuring and energetic tone for the rest of the team."
Sophomores Kristyn Hoffa and Monica Riley returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering injuries in 2016. In their first meet back, Hoffa scored a 9.75 on her first ever floor exercise and Riley put up a 9.775 on her first bar routine.
"Kristyn and Monica have worked incredibly hard during pre-season to get to where they are," said Ray "They both are back with a vengeance and will have success this year because they are extremely dedicated. I am so proud and excited to have them back."
Meet Information
UW vs. California and San Jose State in Berkeley, Calif.
Saturday, Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. PST
TV: Pac-12 Networks
UW vs. California History
The Huskies have a 65-13 overall record against the Golden Bears. Washington had won ten straight meets against California until the last two times the teams faced. Most recently in 2015, the GymDawgs scored a 195.325 to California's 196.600.
Scouting the Golden Bears
The No. 13 California Golden Bears are off to a great start in 2017, placing first out of five teams in the Nor Cal Classic with a score of 195.325. In their second meet of the season they defeated Iowa 195.550-194.400. California was picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12 conference in the 2017 coaches poll and opened the season with a top-10 ranking for the first time in team history.
UW vs. San Jose State History
Washington has faced San Jose State 18 times in the past, with the most recent coming in 2014 where the Huskies scored a 194.825 to Spartan's 194.625. The GymDawgs have won 13 straight meets against San Jose State.
Scouting the Spartans
The Spartans opened the season at the Nor Cal Classic where they placed fifth out of five teams with a score 192.600. In the following meet they lost to Sacramento State 192.725-194.400. Spartan freshman Taylor Chan was named MPSF women's gymnastics freshman of the week, and three gymnasts placed first or second in all four events against Sac. State.
Event Previews
Vault – The GymDawgs return three gymnasts who recorded top-3 finishes on vault in 2016. Junior Hailey Burleson scored over a 9.8 in 7 of 12 meets to finish the year. Alexandra Yacalis and Joslyn Goings were also a big part of the vault lineup throughout the year. Yacalis posted a season high 9.875 at the 2016 NCAA Regionals, while Goings scored six 9.8's or better. Kristyn Hoffa and Monica Riley's return, and the presence of incoming freshman Madison Copiak will add to the GymDawgs' depth.
Bars – Duranczyk was the lone returning GymDawg to win a bars title in 2016, finishing atop the event seven times. Burleson and Goings both added major releases and have been consistently hitting their routines throughout the preseason. Janae Janik, who missed part of last season to injury, has beautiful lines and will be key contributors to the 2017 bars lineup. Freshman Maya Washington, who competed on bars at the OSU quad meet, will compete on bars throughout the season. Evanni Roberson, who won JO Nationals last year, and Copiak are both currently nursing injuries but are expected back to compete on bars this season.
Beam – The Huskies boast two gymnasts who won beam titles in 2016 – Duranczyk and Goings. Sophomore Malory Rose posted a season high 9.875 in back-to-back meets against Western Michigan and SPU, and looks to be a key member of the beam lineup again this season but is currently making her way back from injury. Burleson has added a more difficult flight series and is showing nice consistency. Janik will be back on beam this season and will add great depth to the Huskies' lineup. Maya Washington and Monica Riley will also compete on beam.
Floor – The Huskies return five gymnasts who competed on floor in 2016. Schaefer has continued her steady performance and will lead off the floor lineup. Duranczyk and Burleson have shown improvements throughout the fall. Burleson will anchor Yacalis, who has a difficult (E) tumbling pass and should play a large role in rounding out the floor lineup. Kristyn Hoffa will compete on floor and vault after sitting out all last season with an injury
All-Around – Goings was all-arounder last season and won three all-around titles in 2016. She posted a season-best 39.375 against UCLA and finished with a 39.075 at the Pac-12 Championships, earning her All-Pac-12 First Team honors for the third time in the all-around. Burleson has improved all off season and will compete in the all-around for the second time as a GymDawgs this season, scoring a 39.200 in her first AA at the OSU quad meet. Copiak, Riley, and Goings will all compete in three events this season.
Last Time Out
The GymDawgs opened up the season with a score of 195.175, their highest opening meet score in three years. Goings won the beam title with a career-high 9.925, while Burleson finished second in the all-around and tied for third on beam.
Next Up
Washington will stay in Seattle for their first home meet of the season against Utah on Saturday, January 28th at 1:30 p.m. PST. The meet will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks. Following the meet there will be a Kid's Clinic, with a chance for aspiring young gymnasts to meet the 2017 team and coaches and learn from them on the competition floor.
Notes:
"We wanted to go out last week in our first meet of the season and set the groundwork," said head coach Elise Ray. "We did that. Now it's time to not just to compete, but compete well."
Junior Joslyn Goings got off to a great start this season after posting a career-high 9.925 on beam at the OSU quad, securing her first beam title of the season. Hailey Burleson competed in the all-around for the second time as a GymDawg and scored a career-best 39.200 in route to placing second in the AA.
The GymDawgs are led by senior captains Alexandra Yacalis and Kaitlyn Duranczyk. Duranczyk, a two-time husky captain and Pac-12 Conference bars champion last season, started the year with a solid performance, scoring a 9.825 after sticking her landing on her bar routine. Yacalis was a mainstay on vault and floor all season long in 2016 and posted a 9.775 on floor in the season opener at Ohio State.
"Our captains are seasoned, consistent competitors," said Ray. "They lead the team in how well they conduct themselves under pressure. Kait and Alex do a great job at setting a reassuring and energetic tone for the rest of the team."
Sophomores Kristyn Hoffa and Monica Riley returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering injuries in 2016. In their first meet back, Hoffa scored a 9.75 on her first ever floor exercise and Riley put up a 9.775 on her first bar routine.
"Kristyn and Monica have worked incredibly hard during pre-season to get to where they are," said Ray "They both are back with a vengeance and will have success this year because they are extremely dedicated. I am so proud and excited to have them back."
Meet Information
UW vs. California and San Jose State in Berkeley, Calif.
Saturday, Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. PST
TV: Pac-12 Networks
UW vs. California History
The Huskies have a 65-13 overall record against the Golden Bears. Washington had won ten straight meets against California until the last two times the teams faced. Most recently in 2015, the GymDawgs scored a 195.325 to California's 196.600.
Scouting the Golden Bears
The No. 13 California Golden Bears are off to a great start in 2017, placing first out of five teams in the Nor Cal Classic with a score of 195.325. In their second meet of the season they defeated Iowa 195.550-194.400. California was picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12 conference in the 2017 coaches poll and opened the season with a top-10 ranking for the first time in team history.
UW vs. San Jose State History
Washington has faced San Jose State 18 times in the past, with the most recent coming in 2014 where the Huskies scored a 194.825 to Spartan's 194.625. The GymDawgs have won 13 straight meets against San Jose State.
Scouting the Spartans
The Spartans opened the season at the Nor Cal Classic where they placed fifth out of five teams with a score 192.600. In the following meet they lost to Sacramento State 192.725-194.400. Spartan freshman Taylor Chan was named MPSF women's gymnastics freshman of the week, and three gymnasts placed first or second in all four events against Sac. State.
Event Previews
Vault – The GymDawgs return three gymnasts who recorded top-3 finishes on vault in 2016. Junior Hailey Burleson scored over a 9.8 in 7 of 12 meets to finish the year. Alexandra Yacalis and Joslyn Goings were also a big part of the vault lineup throughout the year. Yacalis posted a season high 9.875 at the 2016 NCAA Regionals, while Goings scored six 9.8's or better. Kristyn Hoffa and Monica Riley's return, and the presence of incoming freshman Madison Copiak will add to the GymDawgs' depth.
Bars – Duranczyk was the lone returning GymDawg to win a bars title in 2016, finishing atop the event seven times. Burleson and Goings both added major releases and have been consistently hitting their routines throughout the preseason. Janae Janik, who missed part of last season to injury, has beautiful lines and will be key contributors to the 2017 bars lineup. Freshman Maya Washington, who competed on bars at the OSU quad meet, will compete on bars throughout the season. Evanni Roberson, who won JO Nationals last year, and Copiak are both currently nursing injuries but are expected back to compete on bars this season.
Beam – The Huskies boast two gymnasts who won beam titles in 2016 – Duranczyk and Goings. Sophomore Malory Rose posted a season high 9.875 in back-to-back meets against Western Michigan and SPU, and looks to be a key member of the beam lineup again this season but is currently making her way back from injury. Burleson has added a more difficult flight series and is showing nice consistency. Janik will be back on beam this season and will add great depth to the Huskies' lineup. Maya Washington and Monica Riley will also compete on beam.
Floor – The Huskies return five gymnasts who competed on floor in 2016. Schaefer has continued her steady performance and will lead off the floor lineup. Duranczyk and Burleson have shown improvements throughout the fall. Burleson will anchor Yacalis, who has a difficult (E) tumbling pass and should play a large role in rounding out the floor lineup. Kristyn Hoffa will compete on floor and vault after sitting out all last season with an injury
All-Around – Goings was all-arounder last season and won three all-around titles in 2016. She posted a season-best 39.375 against UCLA and finished with a 39.075 at the Pac-12 Championships, earning her All-Pac-12 First Team honors for the third time in the all-around. Burleson has improved all off season and will compete in the all-around for the second time as a GymDawgs this season, scoring a 39.200 in her first AA at the OSU quad meet. Copiak, Riley, and Goings will all compete in three events this season.
Last Time Out
The GymDawgs opened up the season with a score of 195.175, their highest opening meet score in three years. Goings won the beam title with a career-high 9.925, while Burleson finished second in the all-around and tied for third on beam.
Next Up
Washington will stay in Seattle for their first home meet of the season against Utah on Saturday, January 28th at 1:30 p.m. PST. The meet will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks. Following the meet there will be a Kid's Clinic, with a chance for aspiring young gymnasts to meet the 2017 team and coaches and learn from them on the competition floor.
Notes:
- The GymDawgs three seniors on the 2016 squad, All-Pac-12 Second Team bars and Pac-12 bars champion Kaitlyn Duranczyk, senior Janae Janik, and senior Alexandra Yacalis. Senior Jessica Nesis serving as a student coach for the GymDawgs this season.
- UW's freshman class consists of five gymnasts: Madison Copiak (Calgary, AB), Michaela Nelson (Montgomery Village, MD), Evanni Roberson (Puyallup, WA), Haley Roy (Tacoma, WA), and Maya Washington (San Jose, CA)
- UW head coach Elise Ray is in her 1st season as head coach with the Huskies.
- The Huskies added assistant coaches Caleb Philips and Chad Wiest to their 2017 coaching staff. Philips spent the last seven seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa, while Wiest spent three years as an assistant at the University of Illinois.
- The Huskies took seventh place at the 2016 Pac-12 Championships with a 195.300. The GymDawgs' season-high score in 2016 was a 196.650, recorded against Denver and Seattle Pacific.
Players Mentioned
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