University of Minnesota Athletics
GYMNASTS HEAD TO AUBURN FOR FINAL REGULAR SEASON MEET
3/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The National Ranking
Minnesota is ranked No. 13 in the March 12 edition of the GymInfo national ranking, based on regional qualifying score. RQS is determined by taking the top three road scores and the next three best scores, dropping the highest score, and averaging the remaining five scores. The Gophers moved up two spots this week after posting a school-record score of 196.850 on Saturday.
Saturday's opponent, Auburn, is not ranked among the nation's top 25 teams this week. The Tigers have an RQS of 194.410. The Golden Gophers have faced top-25 teams in eight of the team's 10 meets this season.
Minnesota is one of five Big Ten Conference schools listed among the nation's top 25 teams. The Gophers are listed fourth among conference teams, behind Michigan (No. 6), Penn State (No.11) and Iowa (No. 12). Ohio State rounds out the conference teams at No. 17. Michigan State and Illinois are the only Big Ten schools not ranked this week, although both teams were ranked among the top 25 teams earlier in the season.
North Central Region Rankings 1. Utah 197.040 2. Iowa State 196.035 3. Iowa 195.830 4. Minnesota 195.780 5. BYU 195.460 6. Denver 194.880 7. Utah State 194.300 8. Southern Utah 192.880 Big Ten Rankings 1. Michigan 196.590 2. Penn State 195.860 3. Iowa 195.830 4. Minnesota 195.780 5. Ohio State 195.590 6. Michigan State 195.045 7. Illinois 194.155 Alf Among Top 10 In Balance Beam Rankings
Sophomore Jenny Alf (Ripon, Wis./Ripon) is ninth on the balance beam in this week's national rankings. She has an RQS of 9.890 this week, her second week in the national rankings, and ranks second in the Big Ten. With scores of 9.9, 9.9 and 9.925 the last three road meets, respectively, her next three highest scores are 9.9 (Jan. 27 vs. Iowa), 9.875 (Feb. 10 vs. Best of Minnesota) and 9.875 (March 10 vs. Arizona).
Kelley Ranks High In The Big Ten
Junior MaryAnne Kelley (Barrington, Ill./Fremd) is tied for second in the Big Ten on floor exercise with an RQS of 9.910 and listed fifth in the all around with an RQS of 39.295. Kelley is listed among the top 25 individuals nationally on both lists this week. She is 12th in the all around and tied for 14th on floor exercise.
The Last Meet: Gophers Reset School Record
In the final home meet of the season, No. 15 Minnesota set a school record and defeated No. 20 Arizona, 196.850-194.675, Saturday at the Sports Pavilion. The Golden Gophers outscored the Wildcats on all four events. Minnesota broke the school record of 196.525 that was set against Iowa State on Feb. 24 at the Sports Pavilion.
Saturday's meet marked the first time in school history that Minnesota scored at least 49.0 on all four events. The Golden Gophers have recorded at least 196.000 seven times in school history.
Vault Is Also A Record
The Gophers set a team record on vault, recording 49.175 to top the previous score of 49.125 set at Missouri on March 9, 1997, the team's oldest event record. Junior Courtney Norman (Minneapolis, Minn./Cretin- Derham Hall) recorded a career high on the vault with a score of 9.90 on a vault with a starting value of 10.0 to win the event. Norman's score marks the highest vault performance this year for the Gophers and places her in a tie for second on Minnesota's all-time performance list.
In her last home meet as a Golden Gopher, senior Shanyn Lancaster (Bloomfield, Mich./Lahser) tied her season-high with a 9.85. First-year gymnast Tara Schroeder (Rogers, Minn./Maple Grove) scored a career-high 9.8 on the vault, while sophomore Leigh Dixon set a season high with a 9.8. MaryAnne Kelley scored 9.825.
Kelley Wins Three Titles
Junior MaryAnne Kelley won her fifth all around title of the season, scoring 39.450. Kelley scored her third straight 9.925 on floor exercise, a season high, to win that event for the sixth time this season. She also scored 9.875 on bars to tie for her first uneven bars title of the season and 9.825 on both vault and balance beam.
Kelley has won or tied for first on eight individual events this season, in addition to the five all around titles, in 10 meets. She has eight of the top 11 all around scores in school history.
With 9.925 scores on floor exercise the last two weeks, preceded by five straight 9.90 scores, Kelley averages 9.898 on floor exercise. (Her RQS is 9.910). Kelley has improved her season averages from 9.707 her first season to 9.793 last year and 9.898 this season.
Laatsch Records Minnesota's Fifth 9.90 On Floor
The floor exercise has traditionally been Minnesota's strongest event, and this year is no exception. The team has scored higher on floor exercise than the other three events in eight of the team's 10 meets.
Newcomer Annie Laatsch (Lakeville, Minn./Burnsville) recorded a career high floor exercise with a 9.90, becoming Minnesota's fifth gymnast this season to record at least 9.90. She joins MaryAnne Kelley (five times), Jenny Alf (March 2), Megan Beuckens (March 2) and Courtney Norman (Feb. 2).
Beam Sets Season High
Minnesota set a season-high on beam with a score of 49.025. Annie Laatsch set a career high on beam with a 9.825. Frosh Mary Skokut (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) also tied her career best on beam, scoring 9.825. Alf won her fifth beam title of the season, scoring 9.875. MaryAnne Kelley, Skokut and Laatsch tied for second.
Minnesota did not have to count a fall on beam. However, the Golden Gophers have had to count at least one fall on beam in all four road meets this season.
About Auburn
The unranked Tigers have an RQS of 194.410. The team set a season-high 195.700 Feb. 16 at home, and scored at least 194.25 the three following meets. Auburn is ranked 24th in the nation on floor exercise with an RQS of 49.090.
Minnesota hosted Auburn in the opening meet last season, with the Golden Gophers defeating the Tigers, 194.800-192.450.
Up Next
The Big Ten Championships will be held March 24 in Ann Arbor, Mich.
