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After leading the Colonials gymnastics team to its second consecutive Atlantic 10 Conference championship, head coach Margie Foster-Cunningham began immediately setting her sights on a third-consecutive title. The Colonials seem prepared to deliver based on last year's results: all but one letterwinner returning from a team that established a school-record score of 194.650; boasts the 1998 and 1999 A-10 Coach of the Year and Rookie Performers of the Year; set school record marks on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise; and sent two gymnasts to the NCAA Regionals.
Leading the Colonials will be junior Darden Wilee and sophomore Devin McCalla. McCalla, an Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team member and the 1999 Rookie Performer of the Year, established a new school record in the all-around with a score of 39.300 against Towson and qualified for the NCAA Regionals. She finished eighth with a score of 38.875. "We are looking for record-breaking performances from Devin," Cunningham said. "Devin had a great summer and is ready."
Wilee, the 1998 A-10 Conference Rookie Performer of the Year, finished second at the conference championships in the all-around (39.100) and scored a career-high 39.200 against Towson. An NCAA Regional qualifier in 1999, Wilee holds the second highest all-around score in GW history.
Cunningham also will be relying on senior captain Erica Lewy's leadership and floor exercise skills. Lewy scored a 9.925 against Maryland, Florida and Rhode Island to win the event. Her score is the third highest in school history. Lewy's consistent performances are expected to propel the team to another A-10 Championship.
Cunningham will look to Lewy to anchor the team on three events and outside of competition.
"Much of the teams' strength is derived from her positive examples and 'never quit' attitude," Cunningham said.
Cunningham will look to the other juniors on the team for experience and depth. Amanda Forrest begins the season as an all-around performer. Forrest is healthy after undergoing foot surgery in August.
Stacie Evans will be strong and provide depth, especially on the balance beam. Stephanie Goldsmith is a powerful performer, who is superb on the vault and floor.
The sophomore class, anchored by McCalla, will provide three seasons of strong gymnastics. Jessica Mantak executes well on the bars, beam and floor. Cunningham said Mantak will be attempting the vault this year, as well.
Kelley Banks will be looked upon to provide strong performances on the bar, as well as being one of the strongest on the floor exercises. Jamie McNally figures to contribute more this year, especially on the floor and vault.
Maggie Suhanovsky, who sat out last year, will try to break into the lineup on the floor exercises, vault and beam.
Cunningham is expecting the two freshmen on the team to be immediate contributors. Christy Gerard performs well on the balance beam and should help on all four events. Melissa Suter will add depth to the balance beam lineup.
The schedule will be another challenging one this season, highlighted by the GW Invitational on Jan. 23. Temple, Radford, the University of Pennsylvania, the Tar Heels of North Carolina and William & Mary will come to the Smith Center.
The A-10 Championships are scheduled for March 18 at Massachusetts.
GW will again compete in Region VI, along with Georgia, Florida, James Madison, Maryland, William & Mary, Towson, NC State, North Carolina and Radford.
The two top scoring teams from each regional will automatically advance to the NCAA Championships in Boise, ID.
