University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
NCAA Regionals
Gophers Advance to NCAA Championships
4/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
MINNEAPOLIS - After finishing second in the NCAA Regional with a 196.175, the University of Minnesota Women's Gymnastics team advances to the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.
The No. 16 Gophers finished behind No. 2 Florida, who scored 196.725. No. 20 Mizzou (195.850), No. 11 Denver (195.700), No. 28 Ohio State (194.775) and No. 31 BYU (194.075) rounded out the competition.
Senior Lindsay Mable claimed the lone event title for the Maroon and Gold, placing first on Uneven Bars.
This is the first time since 2013 that the Maroon and Gold has advanced to the Championships - the freshman season of the current senior class.
"It's hard to put into words how proud I am of the team," said head coach Jenny Hansen. "We've done everything we could do to be at this level. I'm just so happy for the girls and proud that they've reached another one of the goals we've have since the beginning of the season. They were absolutely capable and they believed it right from the start; they never wavered on that and it all paid off. With our team first mentality, we need everybody. Everyone has a role and everyone is important to the success of this team. We hold everyone to the same standard, everyone is accountable. I think that is a big reason why we have had so much success this season."
"I think it's really hard to put into words how happy I'm feeling right now," said Mable. "I think it was pretty visible to everybody that this team put their heart and soul into every routine, not just when they were out there performing, but into each other's performances. That really says a lot about this team and how dedicated we are to this sport, our team and each other. It really paid off today and we couldn't be more thrilled."
Minnesota started the day on Floor, where they earned a 48.900. Denver's Nina McGee and Mizzou's Kennedi Harris occupied the top two spots with 9.950 and 9.875, respectively. Junior Bailey Abernathy claimed third place after scoring 9.850. The next highest score for the Gophers came from sophomore Ciara Gardner, who tallied a 9.825. junior Kaitlin Rahon was third on the team with a 9.775.
On Vault, the team finished with a 49.175. Two Gators, Alicia Boren and Alex McMurtry, and Iowa State's Meaghan Sievers all tied for first, each earning marks of 9.900. Abernathy finished with the highest mark for the Gophers, placing fourth with a 9.875. Mable earned the second highest team score with a 9.850 followed by junior Bailie Holst with a 9.825.
Halfway through the meet, Minnesota was in second place with a 98.075.
The Gophers moved to Uneven Bars for the third rotation, where the team scored 48.950. Mable tied McMurty for top honors, each scoring 9.875. Senior Madeline Hanley notched a 9.825, good enough for seventh place. Holst tallied 9.775, the third highest score for the Maroon and Gold.
Minnesota locked up a trip to the NCAA Championships with their performance on Balance Beam. The team earned a 49.150. Bridget Sloan of Florida placed first with a 9.950. Seniors Hanna Nordquist and Mable tied for second in their final meet at the Sports Pavilion, each scoring 9.925.
With her outstanding performance throughout the season, Mable was named Minneapolis Regional Gymnast of the year.
"This was our biggest goal of the year," said Hansen. "We will head into the Championships doing what we've been doing all year long, hit our routines, just have a great time and enjoy the experience."
"We couldn't be more excited that our season is still going and now, we'll focus up and work hard in the gym to prep," said Mable. "We're going to enjoy every moment that Nationals has to offer and this amazing opportunity."
LOOKING AHEAD
The Gophers head to Fort Worth in two weeks to participate in the NCAA Championships. The two-day meet starts on Fri., April 15 and concludes Sat., April 16.
FOLLOW THE GOPHERS
Are you following the Gophers on the road or from home? Make sure to follow @GopherWGym on Twitter and use the team's hashtag #AlwaysGolden. You can also check for updates on Facebook and Instagram by "liking" Minnesota Women's Gymnastics on Facebook or following the Gophers on Instagram.
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Players Mentioned
