WVU Mountaineer Sports: Basketball | Football | News |2011-12 Gymnastics Schedule Revealed

West Virginia University Director of Athletics Oliver Luck announced today the 2011-12
gymnastics schedule.

       The Mountaineers' slate is one of their most challenging in
recent history, as the team will face seven teams that finished the 2011
season ranked in the top 25, including three squads from the
Southeastern Conference, two NCAA Championships participants and one
Super Six squad.

       "The WVU gymnastics team has a proud tradition of competing
against the nation's top programs, and this year's schedule
certainly puts that philosophy at the forefront," says Luck. "I am
excited to watch coach Jason Butts lead his first Mountaineer team
throughout the 2012 season."

       WVU's schedule features 11 regular-season meets, including
five at the WVU Coliseum, and a unique preseason intrasquad at Pitt in
December. In total, the Mountaineers will face 18 teams, including 2011
NCAA Championships participants Michigan and Arkansas; the Wolverines
advanced to the Super Six Championships and finished in sixth place.

       "This schedule is difficult on purpose – I believe the team
is only as good as its competition, and this competition is some of the
best we have faced over the last 10 years," says first-year
Mountaineer coach Butts. "I am excited to raise the bar for this team.
I believe this schedule provides us with an opportunity to highlight the
changes that have been made within Cary Gym. I am excited for the
challenges that are ahead, and I know the team welcomes the change and
is anxious to rise to the occasion.

       "I'm especially happy to have the opportunity to compete
against multiple Southeastern Conference members this year. WVU's
proximity to the SEC gives us a great advantage to compete against some
of the best competition in gymnastics. These programs have rich
histories, and my staff is hoping to pattern the future of Mountaineer
gymnastics after their successes."

       The Mountaineers open 2012 with back-to-back home meets, as they
play host to East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) foe Maryland and
Penn State, the Big Ten runner-up, on Jan. 8, at the WVU Coliseum; the
Nittany Lions just missed qualifying for the 2011 NCAA Championships and
finished the season ranked No. 14. The squad will then welcome EAGL
member Rutgers on Jan. 15.

       WVU will welcome four squads ranked in the final top 25 from
2011, including Ohio State, Auburn and Arkansas, the NCAA North Central
Regional champion and a national championships contender. Also visiting
the WVU Coliseum this season are George Washington, Towson and Ball
State.

       "Bringing high-level teams into the Coliseum to entertain the
Mountaineer faithful is a no-brainer," Butts explains. "We strive to
give our loyal fans a great show each time we complete, and I believe
we're in store for a memorable home season this year."

WVU opens its road schedule at Bowling Green on Jan. 21. In total, WVU
makes six road trips before the EAGL Championship, including visits to
Michigan, Maryland, New Hampshire, Denver and LSU; the Pioneers ended
the season ranked No. 17, while the Tigers were No. 20.

Three of the host teams finished the 2011 season ranked in the top 15
in attendance, with LSU at No. 9 (2,990 average), Michigan at No. 10
(2,762 average) and Denver at No. 15 (1,911 average).

The Mountaineers open their postseason with the EAGL Championship on
March 24 in Pittsburgh. The championship will be WVU's only meeting
this year with North Carolina, the two-time defending league champions,
NC State and Pitt. WVU has won six league championships since the
EAGL's inception in 1996, including the 2008 title, the team's
last; the Mountaineers have never gone more than four years without
winning an EAGL championship.

       Butts, the Mountaineers' associate head coach last season,
inherits a team that finished 13-10 in 2011 with a fourth-place finish
at the EAGL Championship and a sixth-place showing at the NCAA Southeast
Regional.

       "I'm really excited to get into the competition arena with
this team and to show off all of the hard work they have already put
into the 2012 season," adds Butts. "We're bringing in great
schools and making some exceptional road trips. I expect nothing short
of an exciting and promising first season as head coach."

       Nine Mountaineers return this season, including senior all-EAGL
honorees Tina Maloney and Nicole Roach. Also returning is sophomore Hope
Sloanhoffer, a three-time first team all-EAGL honoree, six-time EAGL
Rookie of the Week and the league championship's vault and beam
runner-up.

       Eight newcomers are set for their WVU debuts this season,
including sophomore transfer Erica Smith, a former junior international
elite gymnast.