University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHER GYMNASTS HOST IOWA STATE IN LAST REGULAR-SEASON EVENT
3/7/2000 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
MINNESOTA RANKED 16TH - Minnesota is ranked No. 16 in the eighth regular-season poll of the season, released Tuesday, Feb. 29. The ranking of 194.625 is based on the regional qualifying score from Minnesota's first 10 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 ninth with a regional qualifying score of 49.060. The Gophers are also listed in the top 25 for vault (11th, 48.695) and uneven bars (16th, 48.775).
THREE INDIVIDUALS IN THE TOP 20 - Sophomore Megan Beuckens (Brandon, S.D./Brandon Valley) is the highest- ranked Minnesota individual in the national top 25 lists. She is tied for ninth place on the floor exercise with a regional qualifying score of 9.885. Beuckens was also ranked in the top 25 in the all around for the first six weeks of the season.
Sophomore MaryAnne Kelley (Barrington, Ill./Fremd) is tied for 23rd in the all around with an RQS of 39.025, while sophomore Judy Cavazos (Monterrey, Mexico/ Mexicana del Noreste) is tied for 22nd on the uneven bars with an RQS of 9.860.
MINNESOTA RECENTLY -Minnesota recorded the second- highest uneven bars score in team history in defeating Boise State, 194.450-193.350, at the Sports Pavilion on Saturday.
HIGH BARS - With all five counting scores at least 9.80, the Golden Gophers scored 49.275 on the uneven bars. That score is the second-best in team history. Junior Megan Skokut (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) won the event with a 9.90, tying her personal best. Judy Cavazos placed second at 9.875. Senior Melissa Chang (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) and MaryAnne Kelley tied for third at 9.85. First-year gymnast Leigh Dixon (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./The Bishop's School), in her first career appearance on bars, recorded a 9.80.
BEUCKENS RECORDS 9.90 ON FLOOR - Sophomore Megan Beuckens won the floor exercise with a 9.90, her third consecutive score of at least 9.90. Melissa Chang and MaryAnne Kelley tied for second at 9.825.
OTHER WINS AGAINST BOISE STATE- Leigh Dixon won the vault with a score of 9.85, her fourth straight score of at least 9.80. MaryAnne Kelley won the all around with a total of 38.70. First-year gymnast Jenny Alf (Ripon, Wis./Ripon) was Minnesota's highest finisher on the balance beam, placing second with a personal-best score of 9.775.
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 11 meets. Minnesota recorded a season-low 47.125 a week ago and 47.675 on Saturday. 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 Iowa a week ago, her third straight personal best. That mark is the fourth-best score in team history. With a 9.85 on Saturday against Boise State, Dixon has scored at least 9.80 six times this season, including four straight. 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 9.780 average on the vault.
KELLEY BREAKS ALL AROUND RECORD AT ARIZONA - Sophomore MaryAnne Kelley broke Judy Cavazos' three-year-old all around record of 39.30 with a score of 39.325 at Arizona on Feb. 18. 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 Megan Skokut 9.90 3/4 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 * School record By Season Average: Vault Leigh Dixon 9.780 Uneven Bars Judy Cavazos 9.834 Balance Beam Kristi Selinger 9.734 Floor Exercise Megan Beuckens 9.859 All Around Megan Beuckens 38.872 ABOUT IOWA STATE - The No. 13 Cyclones are coming off a win at Iowa on Friday, 195.425-192.950. Junior Betsy Hamm won the all around with a total of 39.450. She also won the uneven bars (9.925) and tied for first on the floor exercise (9.875) and is ranked No. 20 in the nation in the all around. Senior Kelli More, who is ranked No. 2 in the nation on the balance beam, won the event with a 9.90. The Cyclones swept the top five spots on vault in winning all four events.
UP NEXT - Minnesota travels to the Big Ten Championships at Penn State on Saturday, March 18.
