Heinz, Noonan, Moraw look to become first All-Americans in program history
Three Chippewa gymnasts will need to have a good Friday if they want their season to be alive Sunday.
Senior Emily Heinz, junior Taylor Noonan and junior Halle Moraw will all be traveling to Birmingham, Ala. to participate in the NCAA Gymnastics Championships as individuals on balance beam.
“The goal is to make finals,” said head coach Jerry Reighard. “I feel we are in really good position to do that. All three of these athletes feel very confident that they are in the running.”
The top four individuals from both the afternoon semifinal and the evening semifinal will advance to Sunday’s individual event finals.
The eight that advance will be named first-team All-Americans, with the following eight being named second-team All-Americans. There will be 90 gymnasts competing on beam.
“To be honest with you, one or all three has to have to have the perfect meet of their life,” Reighard said.
The Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex has a capacity of 19,000, which would be the largest crowd the Chippewas have seen all season.
The NCAA Regional in Athens two weeks ago was the first time the team competed in front of an audience with more than 1,100 people all season.
“I think it’s more exciting than nervous to have that many fans,” Heinz said before the regional. “We’re there to perform for them, not worry about them watching us.”
With Heinz, Noonan and Moraw winning the beam title at regionals in front of nearly 10,000 fans, they’re getting used to performing under the spotlight.
“If the timing is correct, and I think it will be, our three will be in a solo position,” Reighard said. “There’ll be nothing else going on. That’s going to be a different feeling. The spotlight is on you. You’re the only one competing. However many fans that are there, there is only one thing to watch and that’s you.”
Moraw has been in the final position on floor—one of the longest events—all season, so she's used to being the only one performing.
“You can’t be in gymnastics and not love all that attention,” Moraw said. “I think all of us really center in on it. We love to be what everyone’s got their eye on.”
The Chippewas will be competing in Friday’s second semifinal at 8 p.m. Eastern and can be seen on ncaa.com/liveschedule. Sunday’s Individual Event Finals are at 3 p.m. Eastern and can be viewed on ESPN3 or the WatchESPN app.
The audio stream will be available all three days at wvuafm.ua.edu.
Heinz:
Senior Emily Heinz was an underdog to win the beam title going into regionals, but Reighard claimed her routine was the best of the six Chippewas on beam.
“I would be very pleased if Heinz and the other two perform as well as they did at regionals,” Reighard said. “I don’t think we can ask anymore than that.”
Heinz’s 9.85 was the highest she had scored on beam since Feb. 16 against Kent State. The senior said she’s excited to not be finished with gymnastics yet and is excited to go to nationals and finish off her career with two of her teammates.
While she sits at 80th in the nation on beam, don’t sleep on the senior. She’s performed the best this season when the pressure’s been the highest. Heinz will be competing with host Alabama.
Last five meets on beam:
3/2: 9.800
3/8: 9.825
3/15: 9.825
3/22: 9.825
4/5: 9.85
Noonan:
It’s no surprise that junior Taylor Noonan is advancing to nationals on balance beam. At No. 17 in the nation, Noonan has been one of the most consistent beam workers in college gymnastics.
Noonan hasn’t scored below a 9.8 since Jan. 26 and has four scores of 9.9 or above this year on beam.
The Colorado native has the best shot of the three on paper to become an All-American and possibly be competing on Sunday for the Individual Championship on balance beam.
Last five meets on beam:
3/2: 9.900
3/8: 9.875
3/15: 9.825
3/22: 9.875
4/5: 9.85
Moraw:
Junior Halle Moraw is most recognized for her skills on the floor routine, where she’s scored a 9.825 or higher at every meet except one in 2014. She also earned a 9.9 or higher on floor at seven meets this season, including the regional.
While she hasn’t hit a 9.9 on balance beam in her career, she has consistently scored in the 9.7 and 9.8 range. Reighard believes all three Chippewas have an equal shot of moving on Friday.
“I don’t think the advantage goes to any one of the three,” Reighard said. “They all have their unique skills that really set them apart. That was evident from the finish at regionals.”
The Clarkston native is tied with Emily Heinz at 80th in the country on beam and will be competing at the end of the No. 1 Florida Gators routine on beam, who are ranked first in the country on beam and have the top individual beam worker in the country, Bridget Sloan.
Last five meets on beam:
3/2: 9.175
3/8: 9.850
3/15: 9.875
3/22: 9.850
4/5: 9.85
