2008 Woodie Awards
A night of nights for Pioneers
Saturday featured differrent emotions for the six regional teams
Brooks Kirchheimer
Issue date: 4/17/07 Section: Sports
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It was a moment that stood still on Saturday night, a moment that produced tears of joy, a moment that saw all the hard work and all the pain finally paid off, a moment that saw dreams come fulfilled and a moment that is sending the DU Pioneers to the NCAA National Championships.
Her toes clinched the light blue mat, her balance slowly came up-right, her hands went to the air to signal the end of her routine and her face showed signs of relief and then the smile slowly came to her face. It was a routine that saved the meet for the Pioneers, a routine that showed progress and strength in the career of junior Courtney Butler and a routine that help the Pioneers defeat Penn State by .05 of a point.
"I think everything made a difference, every tenth, actually without trying to pin-point one athlete, the real thing that made a difference in this meet was Courtney Butler saving that handstand in bars. Had she not done that it would have been over. She really is the one that got us to nationals to be honest with you, it was a team effort and you don't want to take anything away from the team, but Courtney Butler two years ago would not have fought that hard for a handstand, she did a fantastic job," said Head Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart.
It was a job that is sending DU to its second National Championship appearance and first in six years.
Saturday night featured pain as Georgia senior Ashley Kuppets tore her Achilles tendon during practice on the floor exercise. The injury left her in tears and completed her four year career at Georgia as she will be out for the remainder of the season.
Saturday night featured nerves as every athlete approached their event knowing that every move they make could help lead their team to the NCAA Nationals. Nerves that Penn State fully felt as they watched DU sophomore Nikki Brown perform the final event of the evening on beam, knowing that they and the Pioneers were just tenths of a point apart.
Saturday night featured disappointment as Penn State lost yet another heart-breaking meet, this time by .05 points to DU. Just two weeks earlier they had lost the Big Ten Championships by .1.
Her toes clinched the light blue mat, her balance slowly came up-right, her hands went to the air to signal the end of her routine and her face showed signs of relief and then the smile slowly came to her face. It was a routine that saved the meet for the Pioneers, a routine that showed progress and strength in the career of junior Courtney Butler and a routine that help the Pioneers defeat Penn State by .05 of a point.
"I think everything made a difference, every tenth, actually without trying to pin-point one athlete, the real thing that made a difference in this meet was Courtney Butler saving that handstand in bars. Had she not done that it would have been over. She really is the one that got us to nationals to be honest with you, it was a team effort and you don't want to take anything away from the team, but Courtney Butler two years ago would not have fought that hard for a handstand, she did a fantastic job," said Head Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart.
It was a job that is sending DU to its second National Championship appearance and first in six years.
Saturday night featured pain as Georgia senior Ashley Kuppets tore her Achilles tendon during practice on the floor exercise. The injury left her in tears and completed her four year career at Georgia as she will be out for the remainder of the season.
Saturday night featured nerves as every athlete approached their event knowing that every move they make could help lead their team to the NCAA Nationals. Nerves that Penn State fully felt as they watched DU sophomore Nikki Brown perform the final event of the evening on beam, knowing that they and the Pioneers were just tenths of a point apart.
Saturday night featured disappointment as Penn State lost yet another heart-breaking meet, this time by .05 points to DU. Just two weeks earlier they had lost the Big Ten Championships by .1.
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