The post season is OFFICALLY upon us. Saturday, April 2nd, six regional qualifying meets will be held. A total of 36 teams (six per regional) are competing and the top two finishers from each of the regionals will go on to the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth – April 15-16.
Expect some pretty intense competition going on in these regionals. Gone are the days where the top 12 ranked teams were a static number and unchanging. The level of parity between the top 30 teams is dynamic and there is bound to be some upsets. This is a brief overview of the regionals and what is to be expected.
NCAA Gymnastics Regionals – Saturday April 2 (start times listed based on local time zone of the host)
Iowa City, Iowa 4 CDT/5 EDT/3 MDT/2 PDT
Obviously, the most likely to qualify out if this regional is # 1 Oklahoma. They really focus on details and controlling the controllable aspects of the competition and not focussing on what the judges are doing or what the other team is doing. This is a very smart strategy and honestly, really good life lessons. Beyond Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa and Arkansas are separated by only 0.305 in their RQS. Based on their current rankings and their past performance this season, the teams to watch are Arkansas and Nebraska. Nebraska, currently ranked # 12 is a past NCAA Championships qualifier. Arkansas has qualified individuals before, but has not put up a full team.
Live Scoring/ Video General Stream, Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, Floor Exercise
Teams: Seed 1 Oklahoma 197.920 RQS Seed 2 Nebraska 196.635 RQS Seed 3 Arkansas 196.575 RQS *Iowa -196.330 Kent State Central Michigan
Individual All Around Qualifiers Anna Corbett – Western Michigan Kelsey Hood – Western Michigan Ashley White – Cententary
Individual Event Specialists: Vault Denasiha Christian – Ball State Jessi Buis – Western Michigan Sarah Ebeyer – Ball State Alternate – Jordyn Penny – Ball State
Uneven Bars Jordyn Penny – Ball State Jessie Peszek – Western Michigan Jessican Juncaj – Western Michigan Alternate- Kayla Beckler – Ball State
Balance Beam Rachel Underwood – Western Michigan Jessie Peszek – Western Michigan Baylee Bell – Ball State Alternate – Jordyn Penny – Ball State
Floor Exercise Denasiha Christian – Ball State Rachel Underwood – Western Michigan Sarah Ebeyer – Ball State Alternate – Audry Merritt, Western Michigan
Salt Lake City, Utah 6 MDT/5 PDT/8 ET/7 CDT
This is another loaded regional. Being at home, Utah is favored to definitely qualify out of, if not win this regional. UCLA is likely to qualify out of this regional as well, but if they’re not on their A game, Washington is in a great position to take advantage of UCLA. Washington is capable of scoring in the high 196 range and into the low 197 range and we’ve seen them slowly move up the rankings all season long. They’ve certainly been improving as the season progressed. If Washington doesn’t qualify the team, they could likely put up an individual to the NCAAs.
Teams: *Seed 1 Utah 197.205 Seed 2 UCLA 197.055 Seed 3 Washington Southern Utah Illinois Utah State
AA Maria Hundley – Seattle Pacific Kalliah McCartney – Seattle Pacific M’rcy Matsunami – Alaska Anchorage Lauren Rice – Sacramento State Alternate – Maddie Herr – San Jose State
Individual Event Specialists Vault Julia Konner – Sacramento State Katy Nogaki – UC Davis Alternate – Erica Matos – San Jose State
Uneven Bars: Alexis Brown – UC Davis Cassie Benning – Sacramento State Alternate – Dani Judal – UC Davis
Balance Beam Stephanie Stamantes – UC Davis Katy Nogaki – UC Davis Alternate – Alexis Brown, UC Davis
Floor Exercise Stephanie Stamates UC Davis Cassie Benning Sacramento State Alternate – Yasmine Yektaparast – UC Davis
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 4 CDT/5 EDT/3 MDT/2 PDT
Host Alabama is likely to easily qualify out of this regional. The big fight will be between Cal, Boise State and Kentucky. Cal is going into this regional as the second seeded team and the 10th ranked team in the NCAA. Last year, Toni Ann Williams qualified as an individual, but Cal is wanting to have the whole team go. Boise State is likely to give Cal a run for their money. Their biggest strength is bars. Kentucky has made big strides throughout the season too, and they could take advantage of Cal or Boise State if they suffer a mistake.
Teams: *Seed 1 Alabama 197.400 Seed 2 California 196.77 Seed 3 Boise State 196.570 Kentucky West Virginia Bowling Green
Individual All-Around Qualifiers – Alexis Brawner – Southeast Missouri State Mikailla Northern – University of Illinois – Chicago Allie Sallas – Arizona State Lauren Israel – Southeast Missouri State Alternate – Jenna Squillo – University of Illinois – Chicago
Indvidual Event Qualifiers Vault Taylor Allex – Arizona State Andie Van Vorrhis – Northern Illinois Alternate – Schyler Jones – Texas Women’s University
Uneven Bars Jamyra Carter – Northern Illinois Lauren Africano – Northern Illinois Alternate – Ashley Potts – Northern Illinois
Balance Beam Amanda Mohler – Illinois State Megan Greenfield – Northern Illinois Alternate – Beka Conrad – Arizona State
Floor Exercise Taylor Allex – Arizona State McKinzie Jones, Southeast Missouri State Alternate – Anna Martucci – Northern Illinois
Minneapolis, Minnesota 4 CDT/ 5 EDT/ 3 MDT/ 2 PDT
This is another big regional. Florida is the number one seed and they are likely to qualify out of this regional. Denver, currently the second seed in this regional is definitely wanting that spot. They’ve gained a lot of consistency over the course of the season and have consistently scored in the mid 196’s all season. However, Minnesota is hosting the regional on their home turf and as we’ve seen before, these teams are equally matched. Denver’s best strategy for qualifying out of this regional is to focus on the small details, form, landings etc and not give away any tenths to Minnesota.
Teams: Seed 1 Florida 197.795 Seed 2 Denver 196.725 *Seed 3 Minnesota 196.495 Missouri Ohio State BYU
Individual All-Around Qualifiers: Hayley Young – Iowa State Kara Witgen – Air Force Meaghan Sievers – Iowa State Jamie Lewis – Air Force Alternate – Courtney Pickett – UW Whitewater
Individual Event Qualifiers: Vault Sydney Converse – Iowa State Briana Ledesma – Iowa State Alternate – Sarah Townsend, Iowa State
Uneven Bars Hilary Green – Iowa State Mackenzie Smith – UW – Whitewater Alternate – Amy Enright – UW – La Crosse
Balance Beam Alex Marasco – Iowa State Sydney Converse – Iowa State Alternate – Sarah Neumann – Air Force
Floor Exercise Briana Ledesma – Iowa State Kelsey Paz – Iowa State Alternate – Courtney Middlekoop – Iowa State Ann Arbor, Michigan 6 ET/3 PT/4 CT/5 MT
This is anoter highly competitive regional. Michigan is the host and they tend to do very well at home and they’re previous NCAA qualifiers, so they are likely to do very well. They’re up against Auburn, who made their first Super Six appearance last year since 1993. With the progress they have made this season, they are no doubt looking not just to qualify to NCAAs but to make another Super Six berth. There is also Stanford to consider. While they have been rather inconsistent this season, this team is very good about peaking at the right time. However, since they’re competing with Michigan and Auburn, two top ranked teams that have had the benefit of performing consistently, they may have their work cut out for them.
Teams: Seed 1 Auburn 197.150 *Seed 2 Michigan 197.130 Seed 3 Stanford 196.335 Eastern Michigan Penn State New Hampshire
Individual All-Around Qualifiers: Lindsay Offutt – Pittsburgh Majesta Valentine – West Chester Libby Groden – Rutgers Tracey Peasron – Pittsburgh Alternate – Kelsey Campbell – Bridgeport
Individual Event Qualifiers : Vault Nicolette Wilson -Rutgers Michelle Amoresand – Rutgers Alternate – Rihanah Ali – Rutgers
Uneven Bars Christine Liautauo – Bridgeport Miya Dotson – Pittsburgh Alternate – Mackenzy Shank – Rutgers
Balance Beam Kaitlyn Green – Cornell Brianna Comport – Bridgeport Alternate – Kelly Burak – Pittsburgh
Floor Exercise Brianna Comport – Bridgeport Randi Cutolo – Bridgeport Alternate – Rihanah Ali – Rutgers Athens, Georgia 4 EDT/3 PDT/2 MDT/1 PDT For the final regional, there is two legendary SEC teams against Oregon State. LSU is the top seeded team in this regional and no doubt they are the favorite to qualify in first from this regional. The biggest battle should be against Oregon State and Georgia. Georgia has suffered from balance beam inconsistencies all season long. Oregon State has lost top performers to injury. However, that hasn’t kept this team from fighting and they have had a surge of good luck going into the post season. But, Georgia is competing at home and they will not let a nationals berth go without a fight. Video (ESPN)
Teams:
Seed 1 LSU 197.695 *Seed 2 Georgia 197.010 Seed 3 Oregon State 196.575 Arizona George Washington Michigan State
Individual All-Around Qualifiers: Brittni Watkins – North Carolina State Tyra McKellar – Towson Morgan Lane – North Carolina Brittany Stover – William & Mary Alternate – Chelsea Knight- North Carolina State
Individual Event Qualifiers: Vault Kathy Tang – Maryland Chelsea Knight – North Carolina State Alternate – Dominiquea Trotter – Maryland
Uneven Bars Abbie Epperson – Maryland Kaitlynn Hedelund, North Carolina Alternate – Evelyn Nee – Maryland
Balance Beam Mary Elle Arduino – Towson Nicole Wild – North Carolina State Alternate – Evelyn Nee – Maryland
Floor Exercise Kathy Tang – Maryland Macey Roberts – Maryland Alternate – Emily Brauckmuller – Maryland
- Denotes the host
Article by: Maria Layton