University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
NCAA Championships
Gophers Close 2016 Campaign at NCAAs
4/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
FORT WORTH - The University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team finished twelfth in the nation at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas and officially brought a close to the exceptional 2016 campaign.
"We fulfilled one of our goals and that was to be back at the NCAA Championships as a team," said head coach Jenny Hansen. "I'm really proud of these girls. I know it didn't go as exactly as planned, but we had a lot of great performances and I'm really proud of the way the team responded after a difficult rotation. I think the team learned a lot from this experience and I'm hoping the returning team is as motivated as the coaching staff is to get back in the gym and be even stronger next year."
"To be at the NCAA Championships as a team is a huge step for our program and I think it was a really special experience and opportunity for the whole team to be together," said senior Lindsay Mable. "It's so much better to be here as a team than just making the trip as an individual for the support, love and energy that the team brings. To go out on that note as a senior was really incredible."
"I think that for us to qualify and get to this level and have some really standout performances at the national level really speaks to what Minnesota gymnastics is all about," said Mable. "We have made it our goal this whole year to be at nationals and we didn't stop at anything to make it happen. To be among the twelve best teams in the country at the end of the year is amazing and really solidifies everything we've worked for. It was all worth it."
In session one, the Maroon and Gold (194.9875) went up against Florida (197.4750), LSU (197.3375), Georgia (196.7250), Stanford (195.5750) and Auburn (195.1000) with the Gators, Tigers and Gymdogs all advancing to tomorrow's Super-Six team finals.
The Gophers collected event scores of 49.0375 (Vault), 47.6625 (Bars), 49.250 (Beam) and 49.0375 (Floor).
Seniors Mable and Hanna Nordquist both earned First Team All-American nods with Mable earning honors on Bars, Floor and in the All-Around and Nordquist on Beam. Mable also collected Second Team All-American status on Vault.
The five honors is the most the Gophers have ever had in a single season.
The second session of the day featured Oklahoma (197.7875), Alabama (197.3875), UCLA (196.7000), California (195.8500), Nebraska (195.7750) and Utah (195.7625) with the Sooners, Crimson Tide and Bruins all solidifying Super-Six berths.
Individually, Mable finished fourth overall on Bars with a score of 9.9000 and fifth overall in the All-Around finals after notching a 39.5375 on the day. Nordquist finished fourth in the nation on Beam with her 9.9125 performance.
Along with the All-American status, the Aurora, Colo. native was the recipient of the AAI Award, which is considered the Heisman trophy in gymnastics. The award is presented to an outstanding senior gymnast and is voted upon by all of the collegiate coaches.
With many accolades attached to her name, Mable's career as a University of Minnesota gymnasts has come to a close.
"I think that there has been a lot of amazing and totally unexpected supporters along my journey as a U of M gymnast the last four years and to have them behind me not only today, but for every day during my career has been so incredible," said Mable. "I think it's really hard to put into words knowing that I'm officially done. Even though my gymnastics chapter is now over, those supporters will still be cheering me on far beyond the competition floor."
"We're losing a phenomenal class, which is going to be hard to replace, but we built a lot this year and our standards have been raised to a much higher level," said Hansen. "We're going to expect our current team to help lead our incoming freshmen and help bring them along so that the new girls can step in and help fulfill those roles. They're going to have to fill some big shoes and I think they're ready and excited for the opportunity. With knowing where we've been and what we're capable of, that's going to help lead us into the next chapter for Minnesota gymnastics."
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