Cartwright, Neal Named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch
12/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Dec. 14, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State gymnastics sophomore Taira Neal and freshman Alina Cartwright were selected as Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch for the upcoming 2012 season, as announced by the league office on Wednesday. The Spartans were picked eighth in the preseason Big Ten coaches' poll.
In the Green & White Meet on Dec. 4, Neal led the Spartans on the vault with a 9.900. Neal was limited by injuries during the 2011 season, but showed promise over the final competitions. She was the top Spartan on the vault in the last two events, tying for 13th with a 9.775, at the NCAA Regional, while posting the same score at the Big Ten Championship. Neal redshirted the 2010 season due to a preseason injury.
Cartwright made an impressive initial reaction to the Spartan coaches at the Green & White meet, winning the all-around competition (39.100), while also posting a 9.800 to claim first place on bars. She joins the Spartan program from Naperville, Ill., where she competed for Legacy Elite Club and attended Neugua Valley High School. Cartwright finished first on the vault and third on the floor at the 2010 Illinois state championship, while also having success on the national level, placing eighth in the all-around, third on the floor and sixth on the vault at the 2010 Junior Olympic Nationals.
The Spartans are coming off their best finish at the NCAA Regionals last season, placing third in Corvallis, and enter the 2012 season receiving votes in the Gyminfo preseason national poll.
Michigan State scrimmages Western Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m. on the third floor of Jenison Field House, but begins the regular season on Jan. 6 at 6:30 p.m. against No. 16 Washington in Jenison Field House.
BIG TEN WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Nebraska
2. Michigan
3. Penn State
4. Ohio State
5. Illinois
6. Iowa
7. Minnesota
8. Michigan State
BIG TEN WOMEN'S GYMNASTS TO WATCH LIST
Kelsey Joannides, Sr., Illinois
Alina Weinstein, Jr., Illinois
Jessa Hansen, Sr., Iowa
Jessica Morreale, Fr., Iowa
Sachi Sugiyama, Fr., Michigan
Katie Zurales, Jr., Michigan
Alina Cartwright, Fr., Michigan State
Taira Neal, So., Michigan State
Shannon Golich, Jr., Minnesota
Kayla Slechta, So., Minnesota
Jessie DeZiel, Fr., Nebraska
Janelle Giblin, Jr., Nebraska
Colleen Dean, Jr., Ohio State
Sarah Miller, So., Ohio State
Madison Merriam, Jr., Penn State
Sharaya Musser, Jr., Penn State
Players Mentioned
