Air Force Heads to Pittsburgh Invitational
1/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 14, 2009
The Air Force women's gymnastics team travels to senior Abbey Rogers' hometown of Pittsburgh, Pa., for its first road meet of the season on Saturday, Jan. 17. The Falcons will face Bridgeport, New Hampshire and Pitt at the annual Pittsburgh Invitational in Fitzgerald Field House.
Meet Notes 02: at Pittsburgh Invitational 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Both New Hampshire and Pittsburgh opened the 2009 season last weekend with dual meets. UNH defeated Rutgers by over six points, while Pittsburgh fell to Penn State by three points. Bridgeport will open the season this weekend.
WE'LL BE SEEING YOU
Air Force will face its upcoming opponents, Bridgeport and New Hampshire, once more this season, as it travels to the Fox Run Invitational in Durham, N.H., on Feb. 14. New Hampshire's quadrangular meet will also feature Yale. The Falcons will also face previous opponent Wisconsin-La Crosse once more this season, as they travel to La Crosse on Feb. 27 for a triangular meet that includes Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
ROGERS CLAIMS WEEKLY HONOR
Abbey Rogers was named the first MPSF Gymnast of the Week for the 2009 season on Jan. 13. In addition to winning the all-around, Rogers claimed a share of three event titles at the season-opening Air Force Triangular.
FALCONS TAKE TWO IN SEASON OPENER
Highlighted by three event victories and the all-around title from Abbey Rogers, the Falcons won the Air Force Triangular on Jan. 9. With a team score of 188.125, Air Force easily defeated Wisconsin-La Crosse (183.850) and Wisconsin-Eau Claire (171.500). The Falcons posted the top team score on every event, highlighted by a sweep of the top three spots on the floor exercise.
MIX AND MATCH
In just its first meet of the 2009 season, Air Force has equaled its win total from 2008. While increasing its season-opening score over two points since last year's opener, the Falcons have already collected as many wins as they had during the past two years.
ROGERS PACES FALCONS IN HOME TRI-MEET
In the season-opener, Abbey Rogers won the floor exercise outright with a score of 9.775, while tying for the top spot on the uneven bars (9.425) and balance beam (9.550). Rogers, who finished second on the vault with a team-leading score of 9.600, posted a combined score of 38.350 to win the all-around.
YOUNGSTERS SHINE IN DEBUT
The Falcons received strong scoring support from their youngest members at the AF Triangular, as freshmen claimed multiple top-three placements. Jenna Dudley placed second on the floor exercise (9.775) and tied with classmate Samantha Jones for third on the uneven bars (9.400). Fellow freshman Katie Shetley finished third on the vault (9.525).
FALCONS "FLOOR" THE COMPETITION
Air Force's strongest event of the opening night was the floor exercise, where the Falcons accounted for four of the top five placements and six of the top 10. Behind the one-two punch of Abbey Rogers and Jenna Dudley, sophomore Brittany Dutton finished third, while classmate Lisa Wong took fifth. Samantha Jones placed seventh and Aftan Boudreaux debuted on the floor with a 10th-place finish.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE FALCONS
Air Force will remain on the road, as it travels to Davis, Calif., for a Jan. 23 meet with Mountain Pacific Sports Federation foe, UC-Davis. The Falcons will have a quick turnaround, as they return to the Academy to host another MPSF opponent, Alaska-Anchorage, on Monday, Jan. 26.
