EAGL Championship Highlights Historic 2016 Gymnastics Season
5/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
PITTSBURGH – On March 19, 2016, the University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team made its way to the podium in front of its home crowd at the Fitzgerald Field House to be awarded its first place trophy at the 2016 EAGL Championship, a feat that has never been reached before in program history.
It was a moment that will not be forgotten, as the Panthers huddled in their corral, gazing at the scoreboard, watching the final scores for their opponents be revealed. It was only a few minutes later that cheers, tears and pure happiness had come about as the team realized their overall score would not be matched or surpassed.
The EAGL Championship was one of many moments that highlighted the 2016 season. Alongside it, Panther fans got to witness standout Lindsay Offutt create a lasting legacy, four Pitt gymnasts qualify for Regionals and head coach Debbie Yohman complete her 30th season at the helm.
A Year of Improvement
It was a year of improvement for the Pitt gymnastics team as the Panthers failed to record a single outright victory during the regular season and finished dead last at EAGLs in 2015.
Following a rocky start in 2016, the team settled in and began to show what they were capable of. Not only did they make history at EAGLs, the Panthers concluded the season with four outright victories.
“On one hand, 2016 was one of the most up and down seasons we’ve had,” Yohman said. “Even though we were healthy for the most part, the team wasn’t putting together complete meets. We seemed to have problems on every event at different points throughout the season.”
“However, what I liked most about this group of gymnasts was that they didn’t quit. They stayed focus on their goals, and when it came down to the most important meet of the season they simply did what we all knew they were capable of [doing], the way it was supposed to be done. It wasn’t anything over the top special. It was easy but we just took the long way to get there.”
2016 EAGL Championship
Entering as an underdog, Pitt posted its best meet of the season, a 195.675, to outscore its five EAGL opponents.
“That EAGL Championship was something we worked long and hard for,” Yohman said. “And to do it unexpectedly, that is to everyone but ourselves, at home, in front of all of our fans and support staff, made it that much sweeter.”
The Panthers were powered by a 49.100 on vault and 49.025 on beam, both of which were season highs. Pitt had three Panthers place within the top-five including Offutt, senior Miya Dotson and junior Tracey Pearson.
Offutt, who made her mark on the Pitt gymnastics program in her final season, finished first in the all-around with a 39.525. She also placed first on beam with a 9.950 and tied for second on floor with a 9.900.
Dotson took home the share of the title on bars scoring a 9.850, while Pearson tied Offutt for third place on vault with a 9.850.
2016 NCAA Ann Arbor Regional
The Panthers saw four gymnasts qualify for the NCAA Regional meet which was held in Ann Arbor, Mich. Offutt and Pearson competed in the all-around, while Dotson was a specialist on bars and junior Kelly Burak was an alternate on beam.
Offutt’s floor routine garnered a 9.900, giving her a share of the title in the event and pushing her onward to Nationals. She finished 13th overall in the all-around with a 38.250.
Pearson placed 14th overall in the all-around with a score of 38.125, while Dotson’s 9.350 on bars placed her 41st overall. Burak did not compete.
2016 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships
Offutt concluded her career at the 2016 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.
She was Pitt’s lone national qualifier, making for the sixth Panther all-time to accomplish the feat and the first since Andrea Arlotta qualified in the all-around in 2007.
Lindsay’s Lasting Legacy
After becoming the face of the Pitt gymnastics team, Offutt leaves the University of Pittsburgh as one of Pitt’s most prolific student-athletes in recent years.
After a slow start her freshman and sophomore seasons, she became the ultimate leader and contender for the Panthers.
“Lindsay Offutt showed exactly what you want to see from your best student-athlete,” Yohman said. “She progressed and got better every year and showed maturity in her performances, training and leadership.”
A two-year captain, Offutt’s rise began her junior year as she stepped up to lead Pitt individually, winning her first EAGL title on beam and qualifying for the first round of regionals in the event.
“She displayed a competitive fire that never went out,” Yohman said. “We could not have secured that first one without her.”
Offutt’s success only grew in 2016, her final year at Pitt. She was the backbone of the EAGL Championship team that made history and individually became one of the top gymnasts in the nation.
It showed as she was awarded EAGL Senior Gymnast of the Year and Northeast Regional Gymnast of the Year.
Along with her three postseason titles, Offutt posted an additional 20 first-place finishes this season and set career-high scores or tied her current best on all four events and in the all-around.
She shattered the Panthers’ all-around record (39.400) with a score of 39.575 against Towson and Penn on February 12th which previously stood for 17 years.
Looking Ahead
Pitt will be without six seniors when they pick up competition again next winter as Offutt, Dotson, Lisa Soto, Tiara Chadran, Nicole Pearson and Jacqueline Lucci all concluded their gymnastics careers.
Expected to lead the way for the Panthers in 2017 are Tracey Pearson, Burak and Erika Reichert, who will be the seniors of the group.
Soon to be juniors Maegan Higdon, Dani Hall, Taylor Laymon and Julia Schindel will also return, along with sophomores Lucy Brett, Brittany West, Charli Spivey, Krista Collins, Kensleigh Owens and Meagan Oscar.
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Players Mentioned
