Jan. 24, 2000

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The University of North Carolina gymnastics team were barely edged out on claiming the overall team title on Sunday afternoon at the George Washington Invitational as they finish in second place behind host team Geroge Washington University. The Tar Heels were once again led by junior Brooke Wilson as she claimed second place in the all-around title at the Invitational that featured six schools.

In claiming second place in the all-around competition, Wilson placed second on the balance beam (9.775), and bars (9.800), and third on the floor (9.750) and vault (9.550) for a total score of 38.875. All-around champion Devin McCalla from George Washington University finished in first place for the beam (9.800), bars 9.875), floor (9.85 and second on the vault (9.575) to finish with a total score of 39.100.

Also competing for the Tar Heels in the all-around competition were senior Meredith McDermott and sophomore Monica Middleton. McDermott finished in fifth place with a personal collegiate high 37.725 total score. Middleton, who last year reached the NCAA Regional Finals for the all-around competition, placed sixth in the field of 13 individual competitors with a score of 37.300.

On the beam, Wilson and McDermott (9.700) were the only Tar Heels to finish in the top six as McDermott placed fourth.

The uneven parallel bar event featured three Carolina gymnasts to finish in the top six. Wilson, senior Julie Pasqualini (9.750) and senior Megan Piper (9.650) all had strong performances on Sunday to finish high in the standings for the bars.

The Tar Heels also had a strong showing in the vault as they placed three more gymnasts in the top six spots for that event. Wilson finished third while Middleton (9.500) and Pasqualini (9.500) were in a three-way tied for fourth place.

Freshman Natalie Halbach recorded the best finish for a Tar Heel newcomer on Sunday as she completed the vault in a four-way tie for seventh place with a score of 9.475.

North Carolina heads to Kingston, R.I. for their next meet to face the University of Rhode Island on Saturday, January 29th. The meet will begin at 6:00 p.m. TEAM STANDINGS

1.  George Washington   191.875
2.  UNC                 190.650
3.  Pennsylvania        187.500
4.  Temple              183.675
5.  William & Mary      183.525
6.  Radford             182.750

1.  Devin McCalla (GWU) 39.100
2.  Brooke Wilson (UNC) 38.875
3.  Darden Wilee (GWU)  38.575

All-Around
2.  Brooke Wilson       38.875
5.  Meredith McDermott  37.725
6.  Monica Middleton    37.300

Vault
3.  Brooke Wilson       9.550
4.  Monica Middleton    9.500
     Julie Pasqualini   9.500
7.  Natalie Halbach     9.475

Uneven Parallel Bars
2.  Brooke Wilson       9.800
4.  Julie Pasqualini    9.750
6.  Megan Piper         9.650

Balance Beam
2,  Brooke Wilson       9.775
4.  Meredith McDermott  9.700
8.  Megan Piper         9.650

Floor Exercise
3.  Brooke Wilson       9.750
8.  Julie Pasqualini    9.600
11.  Lisa Companioni    9.525