DATE: Friday, April 18, 1997                TAG: 9704170147

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 22   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   84 lines

PRINCESS ANNE GRAD COMPETING IN NCAA MEET ERIN SHANLEY JUST HOPES TO DO HER BEST.

ERIN SHANLEY IS hoping for one more day.

The former Princess Anne High standout began competition Thursday in her first NCAA gymnastics championships at the University of Florida.

If her last fling in the sport is to continue one more day to Saturday's final round, she had to do well yesterday.

``I just want to go and do my best,'' she said earlier in the week. ``If I do well, I do well, just so long as I do my best.''

Lately, her best has been pretty good.

Shanley broke Towson State's career scoring record at the Southeast Region championships two weeks ago in qualifying for the NCAAs. She followed that up last weekend with a second-place finish at the National Invitational Tournament for teams that didn't qualify for this weekend's NCAA event.

During one of her vaults at the NIT, one judge awarded her her first-ever perfect 10. After scores were averaged, she finished with a 9.975 - a career high that beat several 9.925s on three different events.

She was voted the top senior gymnast at the event.

A chance to compete in tomorrow's championship round would be fitting for the end of the best collegiate career of any Virginia Beach gymnast in history.

``This is probably the end of the road for me,'' said the mass communications major. ``Competing in my last meet will be hard, but I want to go out with a good effort.

``And to win? Oh my goodness . . if it happens, it happens. I don't want to even think like that.''

If she should do well, it won't be the first time in her career.

As a junior at Princess Anne, Shanley won state championships on bars and vault and finished second all-around. She was fifth all-around as a senior, but captured a national uneven bars title and was third all-around in a meet for graduating seniors.

``I've worked hard over the years to increase my skills,'' said Shanley, who received most of her training at the Gymstrada Gymnastics Club in Virginia Beach. ``I've especially made them more difficult this year.''

Even so, she expressed surprise that she had finally made it to the NCAA meet.

``I was surprised, but now I'm hoping to place high,'' she said. ``I missed qualifying by one-tenth of a point last year.''

The fact that Shanley has done so well is reason enough for celebration. But coupled with the fact that she wasn't offered any scholarships out of high school makes her status as the Tigers top gymnast in the history of the school even more of an accomplishment.

Shanley was a walk-on at Towson, but quickly made a name for herself with high school levels and consistent performances.

She has been the team's co-captain the last two years and holds school records on bars, average score on bars and all-around average.

She is also a candidate for All-American honors.

``When I came here as a walk-on, I just wanted to be part of a team,'' she said. ``The private club stuff is so individual and most of my high school successes came without my team around me.

``I just looked forward to being part of a team. I had no idea I would do so well.''

She finds it hard to believe that it is almost over.

``The four years went by so fast,'' she said. ``I graduate next December and I'm going to do an internship with a local TV station next semester. I want to get into sports broadcasting.

``But I guess gymnastics is about over.''

While she is happy about her personal performances, she is saddened that she had to travel to Florida by herself.

The Towson State team missed qualifying by three-tenths of a point.

``It's going to be very different not having my team around to cheer me on,'' she said. ``I really wish the entire team was going to be there competing. I think we all did so much better with everyone around. It's better to have them there.

``As it is, it's just going to be me and the two coaches.''

Towson State should again do well next year. A strong Hampton Roads flavor is helping.

Even though Shanley will have graduated, teammates Katherine Creswell and Liane Williams will be back.

Creswell won a state all-around title her senior year at Menchville and Williams - a Gymstrada teammate from Bayside High - was on her way to sweeping all four events and an all-around title when she slipped on beam. ILLUSTRATION: File photo

Erin Shanley was a walk-on at Towson State, but quickly made a name

for herself.

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