by David F.P. [Video Coverage is up on Gymnastike][Modest Image Gallery] (Note: Coverage was filmed prior to terrible Flosports management decisions that started in 2014. All coverage filmed for FloGymnastics is their property by law. Linkage is not an endorsement of current FloSports management or management decisions. The reporting staff of FloGymnastics remains an excellent group however despite upper management failures.)

MORGANTOWN, WV- It was senior day and West Virginia honored their four seniors as well as the graduating student athletic trainer on Friday night. Chelsi Tabor, Shelly Purkat, Ashley Wilson, and Kiersten Spoerke all received recognition in front of their family and friends as they close out their careers. Though if things go well, they will compete at regionals on the floor of the coliseum one last time.

But tonight the Bridgeport Purple Knights were in town having made the long trip down from the nutmeg state. UB has been posting high scores at home and on the road on their own voyage to USAG Nationals and in Coach Byron Knox’s ongoing pursuit to provide new challenges to the team.

The result would be a 194.725 for the Mountaineers and a 190.850 for UB. WVU’s Amy Bieski won the all around with a 38.850, followed by UB’s Miranda Der, and Lorraine Galow. Bieski has been EAGL gymnast of the week four times this year, which is a feat rarely ever accomplished. She also won Floor with a 9.875, posted 2nd on Vault with a 9.825, and Uneven Bars with a 9.8. She also made it onto the WVU all time career points list due to her meet’s performance.

Senior and 2009 EAGL vault champ Chelsi Tabor went out with a bang when she hit a 9.9 on Vault to win that event, she added 9.775 on Floor as well as part of WVU’s high impact FX lineup. Her teammate Nicole Roach scored a 9.825 to win the Bars competition, and senior Shelly Purkat of Mountaineers tied for 1st with a 9.850 on the Beam, including hitting her triple element connection. Bridgeport’s Emily Repko also posted a 9.850 to highlight a tougher than usual day for the Purple Knights.

More highlights for WVU included Alaska Richardson hit a 9.8 on Vault, senior Ashley Wilson scored a 9.7 to place 3rd on the Bars, and fellow senior Kiersten Spoerke placed 3rd on Beam with a 9.775 to put all four WVU seniors within the top 3 of at least one event. On the floor, Chelsea Goldschrafe posted 2nd with her 9.825, in addition to Bieski, Purkat, and Tabor’s scores, Tina Maloney flipped to a 9.750 and Spoerke a 9.725 putting the entire rotation above 9.7. Tabor also exhibitioned on the Bars despite not training on the event or competing on the event in years.

For Bridgeport, Monica Mesalles led the team on Vault with a 9.775, Tiara Land and Miranda Der were close behind. Lorraine Galow’s 9.6 was the top score on the Bars. In addition to Report’s 1st place tying score, Mesalles and Breanna Collins both posted 9.725s. On the floor, Der led the team with a 9.725, followed by Mesalles and Galow’s 9.7. Der has moved to anchor the rotation with her full in.

West Virginia entered the meet ranked 1st in the EAGL entering the meet and made a strong case for staying atop the ranking. They have won their last three meets. They will be at EAGL Championships next week in New Hampshire to take on the rest of the league.

Bridgeport heads home to host ECAC D2 Championships next week and continues to prepare for USAG Nationals.