University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Ranked No. 22 in Preseason Coaches Poll
12/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Dec. 1, 2011
Preseason Rankings
The 2012 GymInfo Preseason Coaches Poll came out Thursday morning, and the University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team sits No. 22 in the rankings. The Golden Gophers capped off the 2011 campaign also ranked No. 22 in the nation, so this year's sights are set on grabbing its first Big Ten Conference Championship since 2006. Even with returning nine gymnasts, head coach Meg Stephenson and company have stiff conference competition with 7-of-8 Big Ten teams receiving a Top 25 ranking in the poll.
Of the Gophers' 12 meets this season, 11 of them will house a nationally ranked opponent, including 2011 NCAA National Championship qualifiers No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 6 Nebraska, No. 10 Michigan and No. 11 Arkansas. The lone meet that doesn't involve one of the nation's top programs is the Maroon and Gold's annual "Best of Minnesota" quadrangular meet which includes Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline and Winona State.
Minnesota tumbles into action on January 2 for its annual Intrasquad meet, and then the Gophers welcome No. 18 Ohio State to the Sports Pavilion on January 7 for the first of six scheduled home meets for the 2012 season.
