Heels complete successful season.

Oct. 28, 1998

The University of North Carolina women's gymnastics team had one of it's most successful seasons ever, finishing with an overall record of 8-1 (as of 3/10) and an average team score of 189.768.

The season was highlighted by Carolina receiving it's highest national ranking on any single event in the national gymnastics poll released on February 4th. The Tar Heels were ranked sixth nationally on the balance beam with an average score of 48.162 and were also ranked 16th on vault, with an average score of 48.119. The Carolina gymnasts also won the UCSB Invitational on March 6, the Cal State Fullerton Invitational on March 14 and had a second place finish at the Hearts Invitational on February 13.

Two Carolina gymnasts, freshman Brooke Wilson and senior Amanda Mitchell, were each once named EAGL Gymnasts of the Week. Wilson, a native of Sumter, S.C., received the honor during the week of January 20 after leading the Tar Heels to a victory over William and Mary. Mitchell, a native of Altamonte Springs, Fla., was awarded the honor during the week of February 3, after leading Carolina to a victory against Radford University.

This year's squad also had several members record some of the school's highest scores on individual events. Wilson scored a 9.825 on beam three times, against Radford University on January 10 and 30 and also at the Hearts Invitational on February 23. That score tied her for fourth place on the school's top-10 list in beam competition with sophomore teammate Meredith McDermott. Wilson also received the highest all-around score for the Tar Heels this season, earning a 38.625 at the Hearts Invitational. The 38.625 was the second highest all-around score in Carolina history.

Junior Shelley Austin received a 9.850 on bars versus George Washington University on February 27, placing her fifth on the school's top-10 list in bars competition. Junior Joni Smith earned a place in the Tar Heel record books by receiving a 9.775 on vault versus William and Mary on February 21. Smith's score was the fourth highest vault score in Carolina history. Current school floor record-holder junior Ashley Simpson put herself in the record books again by scoring a 9.800 on February 21 versus William and Mary, which placed her in a three-way tie for the fourth highest score on floor in Carolina history.