University of Minnesota Athletics
WGM: Minnesota Finishes Fourth at NCAA Regionals
4/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Utah won the regional competition with a mark of 196.800, followed by Brigham Young who placed second with a 195.975. The top two teams from the regional championship have qualified for the NCAA Championship. Oregon State placed third in today’s meet with a 195.675, followed by Minnesota (193.975), Southern Utah (193.450), and Iowa (192.350).
Laura Johnson and Carolyn Yernberg each led Minnesota on two events to pace the Gophers. Johnson was Minnesota’s top performer on the bars (9.800) and beam (9.700), while Yernberg was the team’s top performer on the floor (9.900) and the vault (9.825). Johnson placed fourth in the all around with a score of 39.150, and earned a trip to to the NCAA Championship. Minnesota was last represented at the NCAA Championship when the team qualified in 2002.
Minnesota started the meet with a bye in the first rotation, and moved to the bars in the second rotation. The Gophers earned a 48.450 on the event, led by junior Laura Johnson who tallied a score of 9.800 to tie for seventh place. The remaining scores for Minnesota were Rehana Russell (9.725), Stephanie Funk (9.700), Andrea Cornelius (9.625), Maria Opsahl (9.600), and Kim Womack (9.500). Utah won the team title on the bars with a mark of 49.325, while Ashley Postell of Utah was the individual champion with a score of 9.925.
Laura Johnson again led the Gophers in their second event, earning a 9.700 on the balance beam to tie for 16th place. Minnesota was forced to count a fall on the event en route to a team score of 47.825. Johnson was followed by Ashley Mutchler (9.625), Amanda Miles (9.600), Stephanie Funk (9.575), Ashley Stanton (9.325), and Kelly Ganchan (8.650). Ashley Stanton recorded her first fall of the season. Brigham Young won the team title on the beam with a mark of 49.250, while two BYU gymnasts tied for first in the event with scores of 9.900, Marie-Helene Claveau and Dayna Smart.
After another bye rotation, Minnesota had its highest score of the evening on floor, earning a 49.150. Carolyn Yernberg led the way for the Gophers, earning a 9.900 to tie for third place. Also placing in the top 10 was Laura Johnson, who earned a 9.850 to tie for ninth place. Other Minnesota performers on the floor were Stephanie Funk, Maria Opsahl and Ashley Stanton who each tallied a 9.800, and Kim Womack, who earned a 9.725. Annabeth Eberle of Utah was the event champion on the floor with a 9.950, while Utah had the highest team score on the event with a 49.525.
The Gophers finished the meet on the vault, earning a 48.550. Carolyn Yernberg was the top scorer for Minnesota with a 9.825 to tie for 10th place. Also performing on the vault for the Gophers were Laura Johnsono (9.800), Ashley Mutchler (9.775), Kelly Ganchan (9.600), Kim Womack (9.550), and Maria Opsahl (9.550). Annabeth Eberle led Utah to the team title on vault (49.425) with a 9.975 to win the event title.
Laura Johnson placed fourth in the all around with a score of 39.150. Annabeth Eberle was the all around champion with a total of 39.625.
Johnson will compete at the NCAA Championship in Auburn, Ala., on April 21-23.
