University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHER GYMNASTS HOST BOISE STATE
3/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
MINNESOTA RANKED 18TH - Minnesota is ranked No. 18 in the seventh regular-season poll of the season, released Tuesday. The ranking of 193.9417 is based on the average of Minnesota's first nine meets this season. Minnesota was ranked fourth after the first week of the season, tying the team's highest national ranking ever (week 1, 1998).
OTHER TEAM RANKINGS - Minnesota is ranked the highest on the floor exercise, where the Golden Gophers are listed 10th with an average of 48.9500. The Gophers are also listed in the top 25 for vault (15th, 48.5417) and uneven bars (21st, 48.4694).
BEUCKENS RANKED ON FLOOR EXERCISE - Sophomore Megan Beuckens is the only Minnesota athlete ranked in the top 25 nationally. She is tied for 21st on the floor exercise with a season average of 9.8500. Beuckens was also ranked in the top 25 in the all around for the first six weeks of the season.
MINNESOTA RECENTLY -The Golden Gophers won all four events in defeating Iowa, 193.450-191.400, at the Sports Pavilion. The Golden Gophers swept the top four spots in the floor exercise, with sophomore Megan Beuckens (Brandon, S.D./Brandon Valley) winning with a score of 9.90. Sophomore Catie Christensen (Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) was second (9.825), senior Melissa Chang (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) third (9.80) and senior Judy Cavazos (Monterrey, Mexico/Mexicana del Noreste) fourth (9.775). The Gophers scored 49.025 on the floor exercise, their highest event total of the meet.
MINNESOTA HAS TOP FIVE VAULTERS - Minnesota had the top five finishes on vault. Newcomer Leigh Dixon (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./The Bishop's School) won the vault with a career-best score of 9.875, the fourth-best score in Minnesota history. Junior Shanyn Lancaster (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser) tied her season high with a 9.80. Sophomore MaryAnne Kelley (Barrington, Ill./Fremd) was third (9.775), senior Kristi Selinger (Aurora, Colo./ Gateway) fourth (9.75) and Megan Beuckens fifth (9.7).
CAVAZOS SETS SEASON HIGH - Judy Cavazos set a season high in winning the uneven bars with a score of 9.90. Melissa Chang tied for second with a score of 9.775.
1-2 ON BEAM - MaryAnne Kelley won the balance beam with a score of 9.80, with Kristi Selinger second at 9.725. Minnesota had to count three falls on beam and scored 47.125 on the event.
BEAM BLUES - The balance beam has been a tough event for the Golden Gophers this season, with only four team scores above 48.0 in Minnesota's 10 meets. With four falls on beam on Saturday, Minnesota recorded a season- low 47.125. The Gophers average 47.875 on beam, the only event below a 48.0 average.
DIXON STARS ON VAULT - First-year gymnast Leigh Dixon has been Minnesota's top vaulter in 2000. She set a career-best 9.875 Saturday against Iowa, her third straight personal best and her fifth score of at least 9.80. That mark is the fourth-best score in team history. Dixon won the vault in her first career competition, at home against Auburn, with a 9.825, which was then the seventh-best score in team history. She leads the team with a 9.773 average on the vault.
KELLEY BREAKS ALL AROUND RECORD AT ARIZONA - Sophomore MaryAnne Kelley (Barrington, Ill./Fremd) broke Judy Cavazos' three-year-old all around record of 39.30 with a score of 39.325 on Sunday. She also set a career high on the floor exercise with a 9.90 and tied her best vault score at 9.80. Kelley was Minnesota's highest finisher on the balance beam, tying for second place with a score of 9.85.
2000 INDIVIDUAL EVENT LEADERS - By Season High Vault Leigh Dixon 9.875 2/26 Uneven Bars Judy Cavazos 9.90 2/26 Catie Christensen 9.90 1/8 Balance Beam MaryAnne Kelley 9.875 2/6 Kristi Selinger 9.875 2/6 Floor Exercise Megan Beuckens 9.925 2/20 All Around MaryAnne Kelley 39.325 2/20 By Season Average Vault Leigh Dixon 9.773 Uneven Bars Judy Cavazos 9.830 Balance Beam Kristi Selinger 9.739 Floor Exercise Megan Beuckens 9.855 All Around Megan Beuckens 38.932 TWO SOPHOMORES EARN BIG TEN ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS - Sophomores Megan Beuckens and MaryAnne Kelley have each earned Big Ten women's gymnastics athlete of the week honors this season.
Kelley received her honor after winning the all around Feb. 6 at Iowa with a score of 39.175, the second-highest score in Minnesota history. In that meet, she also tied for first place on the vault and balance beam. Her score of 9.875 on the beam tied the third-best score in team history and improved her previous career- best mark of 9.775 and her 9.80 on the vault matched her career best.
Beuckens earned her honor following Minnesota's season-opening victory over Auburn. Her all around mark of 39.075 was then the second-best all-around score in school history and was the fourth-best score in the nation. It was just the second all-around competition of her career. Beuckens also won the floor exercise (9.90) and balance beam (career-high 9.85) and set a personal best on the uneven bars (9.65).
ABOUT BOISE STATE - The No. 24 Broncos have not competed since Feb. 19, when they placed third in a triangular at Penn State. Boise State's score of 193.375 was just above their season average of 193.325. In that meet, Jessica Berry scored a 9.925 on beam to place second. Boise State's season-high score was a 195.775 at home against Stanford on Feb. 13.
UP NEXT - Minnesota hosts the third of three straight home meets to close out the regular season. The Golden Gophers host Iowa State on March 11. The Big Ten Championships will be held March 18 at Penn State.
