University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
NCAA Regionals
Gophers Wrap Season at NCAA Regional
4/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
The University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team finished fourth with a score of 195.575 at the NCAA Regional meet in Lincoln, Neb. on Saturday evening. Placing outside the top two ended the Gophers' season.
LSU won the regional meet with a 197.540, while host Nebraska followed with a score of 196.625. Boise State placed third with a 196.625. Despite being the sixth seed at the meet, the Gophers finished ahead of Arizona (195.500) and Iowa State (195.250).
As the top-two finishers, the Tigers and Cornhuskers will advance to the 2017 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships later this month in St. Louis, Mo. Iowa State and Boise State each qualified an individual all-around competitor to the championship meet.
"The team went into this meet having fun," head coach Jenny Hansen said. "It wasn't perfect, but there were a lot of great performances. It was a good representation of who we are, and I am proud of this team to come in sixth and finish fourth."
The Golden Gophers scored 48.950 on vault, 49.000 on uneven bars, 48.750 on beam and 48.875 on floor.
On vault, freshman Paige Williams and senior Bailie Holst each scored a 9.850 to tie for fifth. Ciara Gardner posted a 9.800 for 16th.
Rookie Ivy Lu paced Minnesota on bars with a beautiful personal record of 9.900 to earn a share of second place. Holst posted a 9.875 to tie for fifth, while Hannah Hitchcock earned a share of 10th with a 9.850
Gardner was the Gophers' top beam performer after scoring a 9.850 to tie for sixth. Sophomore Selena Ung had a strong 9.800 for a share of 13th. Kaitlin Rahon and Julia Huebert each scored a 9.725 to share 26th overall.
Rahon led Minnesota on floor with a 9.800, which placed 11th overall. Teammates Bailey Abernathy, Holst and Williams each tied for 17th with scores of 9.775.
In the all-around competition, Holst placed eighth with a 38.650. Gardner tied for 11th with a 38.475.
"I was glad our team had this team to finish out the year with," Hansen said. "There were a lot of ups and downs this season, but this young team learned a lot. The women that will return next season will be ready."
Players Mentioned
