University of Minnesota Athletics
MEGAN BEUCKENS TO COMPETE AT NCAA GYMNASTICS MEET
4/5/2000 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Beuckens tied for fourth in the all around at the NCAA Region 2 Championships on Saturday with a total of 39.125. She also tied for first on the floor exercise with a score of 9.85. In the national rankings, Beuckens is tied for 20th on the floor exercise with a regional qualifying score of 9.90. She was also ranked in the top 25 in the all around the first six weeks of the season.
Beuckens is Minnesota's first individual to qualify for the NCAA Championships since Marie Roethlisberger in 1990, when she won the uneven bars title. The Golden Gophers qualified as a team in 1997, finishing 10th.
MINNESOTA RANKED 16TH NATIONALLY - Minnesota is ranked No. 16 in the 11th regular-season poll of the season, released Tuesday, March 21. The ranking of 195.400 is based on the regional qualifying score from Minnesota's first 13 meets this season.
MINNESOTA ENDS SEASON AT REGIONALS -Minnesota placed fourth at the NCAA Region 2 Championships held at the Sports Pavilion on Saturday. The Golden Gophers were tied with West Virginia for second place heading into the final rotation, but Minnesota had to count a fall on beam and scored 48.0 points to West Virginia's 48.725 on vault.
Sophomore Megan Beuckens tied for first place on the floor exercise, Minnesota's first individual title at the regional championships since Marie Roethlisberger won both the all around and uneven bars in 1990. Beuckens also tied for fourth in the all around with 39.125 points and qualified for the national championships in the all around. She was Minnesota's top finisher on the balance beam, tying for fifth place with a score of 9.80.
Newcomer Leigh Dixon (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./The Bishop's School) and sophomore MaryAnne Kelley (Barrington, Ill./Fremd) tied for third on the vault at 9.825, a personal best for Kelley. Seniors Judy Cavazos (Monterrey, Mexico/Mexicana del Noreste) and Melissa Chang (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) led the Gophers on uneven bars by tying for eighth at 9.875.
THE TEAM COMPETITION - No. 4 Utah won the Region 2 Championships with a score of 196.325, with No. 9 West Virginia second at 195.475. Both teams advanced to the NCAA Championships. No. 19 Denver just missed a trip to the national meet by .025 points.
Utah 196.325 West Virginia 195.475 Denver 195.450 Minnesota 194.750 Utah State 192.950 Southern Utah 191.800
