NCAA (W) Nationals:  A Preview of the Prelims

by Greg

We're finally here!  After three-plus long months of competition, twelve teams have made it to the NCAA National Championship Meet.  As you know by now, this year's meet is being held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  On Thursday, April 18th, 12 teams will battle it out in two sessions for spots in the coveted Super Six.  In each session, six teams will battle for three spots in the final round.  All of the teams should be congratulated and be proud of qualifying to the top 12.  The increasing parity in the NCAA became obvious in the abundance of close Regional races this year.

Let's take a look at how the sessions stack up.  This preview will also serve as a viewing guide for fans lucky enough to witness the competition in person.  Others can follow online at a variety of live update links... these will be linked from the main page of CollegeGymFans.com.

The Afternoon Session

The sessions were assigned this year according to a set criteria.  Three Regional Champion teams were randomly selected and placed in one group.  A second trio of Regional Runner-ups were randomly selected and placed in the group to form two groups of six teams.  The group containing host Alabama was assigned the evening session.

Because of this draw and the minor upsets at Regionals, we have a highly competitive and exciting Afternoon session.  This year's draw guarantees that one of last year's Super Six finalists will be sitting in the stands on Friday night.  In this session, Arizona, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska and Utah will battle it out for the three slots in the finals.  

Arizona is led by senior Randi Liljenquist and frosh Monica Bisordi and Katie Johnson.  Liljenquist shines on FX (triple full) and BB (ff, ff, lo), where her grace and style shine through.  Look for Johnson's dynamic floor exercise (2 1/2 twist punch front, double pike) and Bisordi's consistent, dynamic approach on all four events (Hristakava on V; double pike and front double full on FX).  Also look for powerful standout Andi McCabe (Yurchenko Full vault, pike full-in on floor) and Pac-10 BB co-champ Stevie Fanning on BB.  Arizona has achieved so much this season, and this young crew will get great "battle" experience in a fiercely competitive session.

Georgia is always in the mix for the team championship, and this year is no exception.  Slowed by injuries, the Bulldogs will be no doubt ready to fight.  Defending vault champ Cory Fritzinger leads UGA, especially on UB (watch for her invert work and double front 1/2 dismount) and BB (ff, ff, whip), where injuries have taken their toll.  Fellow soph Marline Stephens has stepped it up this year, (high Yurchenko Full, Double Layout on FX) excelling on three events.  Sierra Sapunar has continued to work through injury, even stepping into an AA slot at Regionals.  Big skills are the norm for Yoculan's crew, and Chelsa Byrd (double layout on FX, layout Tsuk full on V), and Eileen Diaz (full twisting double layout, Gienger on UB) also deliver the goods.

LSU has bounced back this year to challenge for a spot in the Super Six.  Led by a pack of experienced seniors, LSU is looking to break through.  Nicki Arnstad leads the Tigers, especially on FX (triple full, double pike dismount) and V (Phelps).  Look for fellow senior Marina Degteva's UB work (two major releases, including a sky high Deltchev) and expressive FX (double pike).  Yet another senior, Beth Boudreaux shines on three events, adding FX after being limited by injury early in the season..  This talented and experienced core of seniors would very much like a trip to the Super Six.  To help them out, frosh Lauren Campanioni (up to three events), sophomore Kristen Uransky (Hristakaeva on V) and others will be certain to help out.

Michigan will look to secure a spot in the finals behind the leadership of defending co-AA champ Elise Ray and National RQS AA leader Calli Ryals (another sophomore).  This potent one-two punch is backed up by plenty of talent, although the Wolverines have seen their share of injuries.  Ray shines on UB (hop full to Tkachev) and in her beautiful lines on FX and BB.  Balanced Ryals is especially notable for her FX (2 1/2 punch front, double pike).  Senior Shannon MacKenzie will look out to close out a fine career with strong performances, especially on V (Yurchenko Full) and BB (beautiful lines, including a front aerial).  Injuries have taken their toll, but a strong fight at Regionals has prepared Michigan for another battle.

Nebraska will take a deep, consistent and talented lineup into a situation they have faced before.  Especially noted for their depth, Nebraska has survived the loss of top AAer Ingram in the preseason through a balanced approach, and the emergence of transfer Richelle Simpson.  Simpson leads the Huskers on FX (double layout) and BB (ff, lo, ff).  She is capable support by AAer Tami Harris, plus a bevy of other All-Americans, including AJ Lamb (triple full, double pike on FX) and Gina Bruce (V).  Also competing three events for the Huskers is Libby Landgraf, who throws front step out to triple twist mount on floor.

The Utah Utes are known for handling pressure, and this small but experienced squad looks up to the task.  Injuries have depleted the Utes numbers, but not their talent.  Former AA champ Theresa Kulikowski leads the Utes with outstanding lines and execution.  This is especially evident on UB (Jaeger, Tkachev) and BB (front aerial; ff, ff, lo).  Look for sr. Shannon Bowles on BB (ff, ff, lo; punch front) and frosh Annabeth Eberle (huge Hristakaeva; 2 1/2 punch front and double pike on FX).  Senior Deidre Graham continues to work through stress fractures in her back, and is especially needed at her best on V (pike front half when healthy).   Sophomore Melissa Vituj adds an expressive punch, especially on FX (completed triple full).

 Evening Session

The Evening Session is certain to be the loudest, with host Alabama leading the way.  UCLA, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon State, and Stanford complete the evening field.

Host Alabama will feature the home crowd and senior Andree Pickens.  Pickens is in the hunt for the first AA title of her career, and will depend on a tough UB set (four D+ releases), consistent BB (ff, ff, lo; double tuck) and a big vault (Yurchenko full).  Fellow senior Raegan Tomasek will look to finish her career with a team title, and will play a big part on UB, BB and FX (big Arabian double front).  Sophomore AAer Jeana Rice is another key for the Crimson Tide, especially on V (Yurchenko full) and BB (ff, lo, lo).  Another routine to watch for is senior Natalie Barrington on UB.  Her beautiful lines, invert work, and flighty Pak salto ensure a top score.  Powerful junior Kristen Sterner, returning from injury, competed on UB (Shoushunova) and BB (double pike dismount) at Regionals.  Last but not least, dynamic frosh Alexis Brion was the co-champ on V at Regionals (pike front 1/2).

Two time defending champion UCLA will be looking to extend its streak to three.  But first things first, they must qualify to the team finals with a strong showing Thursday night.  Last year's co-champ in the AA, Onnie Willis remains strong for the Bruins, despite being slowed by recurring ankle problems.  Vault (Yurchenko full) and Floor (front full step-out to double tuck mount) demonstrate her power, but she is also a balanced AA threat.  Jamie Dantzscher holds the nation's top score in the AA, and set a record earlier this year with seven straight scores of 10.0 on the FX (double layout mount).  V (Yurchenko full) and UB (Shaposhnikova to Pak) are other highlights of her 10.0 arsenal.  Defending UB Champ (Kim pirouette to pike Jaeger; Hindorf to Pak Salto; double layout dismount) Yvonne Tousek also tied for 3rd AA last year, and can be counted on in pressure situations.    

The Florida Gators will be looking for a Super Six slot behind the leadership of senior Hillary Thompson.  Watch for Thompson's dynamic floor ex (whip, whip to double pike mount; 2 1/2 twist to punch front dismount).  Frosh Orley Szmuch has injected energy into the Gators this season, and her bright personality and original approach shines through even on UB (Gienger between bars) and BB (handstand step down to consecutive layouts, double tuck dismount).  BB will be a key for the Gators, where they throw a high degree of difficulty, including AAers Kara Waterhouse (ff, lo, lo; double tuck dismount) and Thompson (two foot bhs, bhs, whip; 2 1/2 twist dismount).  

Minnesota will battle through the distractions of the last several weeks to focus on a first ever Super Six slot.  MaryAnne Kelley remains a key for the Gophers, and excels on FX (full-in mount).  Fellow senior Courtney Norman adds power on V (Phelps) and FX (double layout mount).  The tall and elegent Annie Laatsch uses her lines to great effect, especially on UB (giant full to Tkachev, full-in dismount).  Other highlights include Mary Skokut on UB (Shoushunova) and "10.0" walk-on Carolyn Yernberg on V (Tsuk layout full).  Minnesota will likely be in a tight race for a slot in the finals, as all the teams in the final sessions have been scoring in similar ranges this year.  

Oregon State suffered the cruelest blow when top AAer Annie Campbell was stricken with a torn Achilles just after Regionals.  The Beavers excelled at Regionals, edging higher ranked Oklahoma for the Nationals slot.  The rest of the Beavers will need to step it up to make up for the loss of Campbell.  Sr. Jerra Lopez is especially charasmatic on FX and should not be missed.  Elizabeth Jillson does a picture perfect pike Jaeger on UB, plus a Shaposhnikova and double layout dismount.  Tanya Ricioli has come on strong late in the season as she covers from her own Achilles injury suffered last season.  Her pike front 1/2 vault and strong UB at Regionals (invert work to pike Jaeger) will be needed once again.  

Stanford welcomed back Caroline Fluhrer at the Regional Meet, just in time to qualify for Nationals.  The elegant Fluhrer added an instant boost, especially on UB (beautiful invert work), and FX (front double full mount).  Lindsay Wing added the AA to her repetoire late in the season, with the addition of a rare tuck 3/2 twisting Yurchenko.  She is a must see on BB (ff, lo, Korbut) and FX (whip 1/2 to Rudi, 5/2 twist).  Lise Leveille is another key for Stanford, especially on BB (front tuck to wolf; ff, lo, lo; tuck jump to punch front; double tuck) and FX (5/2 to punch front; double pike dismount).  BB will be a key for the Cardinal, who will need to master their nerves and a high level of difficulty (three gymnasts throw ff-lo-lo as their series).  

Good luck to all teams this weekend!