The Road to Lincoln: Regional Preview

The Road to Lincoln has one final test for 36 teams: they battle this weekend for one of twelve slots at the National meet.  There are six Regional meets all across the country, all held on Saturday, April 12th.  From each Regional, the top two teams from each Regional will advance on to the Nationals in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Also at stake are advancement opportunities for individuals on nonqualifying teams.  The top two All-Around competitors from all non-advancing teams (regardless of overall placement) in each region also advance to Nationals.  In addition, an individual on a non-advancing team can qualify if they win the individual event championship in their region.  This last method is the only method by which specialists on non-advancing teams can qualify to Nationals.  

The rotation order at the Regionals was determined by a random draw conducted by the NCAA.  This has resulted in an unusual situation in which the #2 Seed in each Region has the least preferred rotation, while the #3 Seed has arguably one of the best.  This serves to make an already competitive race for the 2nd Nationals slot even tighter.  The #2 Seed opens on FX and ends on BB before heading to an early bye before the other teams have finished competing.  The #1 Seed opens on the bye before FX and finishes in the last round on BB.  The #3 Seed starts on V and ends on FX in the last round, which is usually considered a favorable draw.  Conventional wisdom says that scores tend to rise in the later rounds and that ending on BB is the most pressure-packed.

Let's take a look at each Region, starting from the East..

Southeast Region at UGA:  #4 Georgia hosts the field at the Southeast Regional and are once again favored to advance.  Injuries have played a factor with the top seeded GymDawgs this season, with several key competitors sitting out from time to time.  However, UGA's depth has allowed them to weather the storm, and in the process several gymnasts have stepped up their contributions.  Most notably, calm and powerful Chelsa Byrd continues to impress as a top AAer, supported capably by a finally healthy sophomore Kinsey Rowe.  Former NCAA vault champ Cory Fritzinger, an intense and exciting competitor, has added a 10.0 on BB this season.  However, she has been battling pain from a recent stress reaction.  Florida, after a strong start, has been limited recently by the loss of team members to injury and other reasons.  Sometime AAer Kara Waterhouse is just one of several Gator gymnasts that may be sidelined for Regionals.  Unlike UGA, Florida's roster is a bit depleted from other injuries and retirements, leaving a much smaller core group.  However, the Gators are still expected to advance powered by sr. Lindsey Miner and sophs Orley Szmuch and Erinn Dooley.  If they falter, any one of the four remaining teams may challenge.  Ohio State has broken through this season to post some impressive scores.  Unusually, a trio of frosh AAers led the Buckeyes in the recent Big-10 championships:  Jill Weber, Kaylin Schlect and Shelby Warner.  UNC has impressed audiences this season with a high level of difficulty, especially on FX.  Standouts like Anna Wilson and Courtney Bumpers have already scored 10.0s this season.  NC State has surprised some people with an injection of talent from transfers Kelly Kello and Leah Sabo, plus frosh Kylah Bachman.  Maryland has been led by standout frosh Rachel Martinez, and has continued their improvement all season.
Keep an eye out for...  Byrd's (UGA) whip to full-in mount on FX and world-high Yurchenko Full...  Fritzinger's (UGA) Ono turn on UB...  Rowe's (UGA) Rulfova on BB... Smith's (UGA) bhs, back tuck full on BB... Bumpers (UNC) double layout punch front... Stucky's (UF) bhs, Onodi and unique Y-scale en releve... Szmuch's (UF) in-bar Gienger... Janke's (OhSU) round-off back layout mount to immediate back layout on BB...  Wilson's (UNC) double arabian on FX...  

Northeast Region at Michigan:  #10 Michigan hosts an interesting Regional battle featuring much-improved top seed ASU.  ASU, the nation's #3 team, has been led by a trio of AAers including sr. Ashley Ellsberry, junior Maggie Germaine, and frosh Ashley Kelley.  ASU reportedly trained through the recent Pac-10 Championships, where they finished 3rd in a talented field.  ASU's strength continues to be an impressive array of consistent BB routines and well-choreographed and danced FX sets.  However, the Sun Devils have to travel north and battle host Michigan.  The Wolverines are a team that always seem to peak in the post season.  They've battled through a variety of injuries, most prominently to former Olympian and NCAA AA Co-Champ Elise Ray.  In her place, senior Janessa Grieco, junior Calli Ryals, and super frosh Jenny Deiley have risen to the occasion.  Deiley, the Big 10 Frosh of the Year, has impressed from the very first meet, adding long lines and a graceful style that beautiful complements the more petite, yet equally elegant Ryals.  A youthful Iowa State team has matured quickly over the season, rapidly overcoming a slower start.  The ISU team has been led by powerful frosh Erin Detloff, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.  They will be waiting in the wings, along with a strong Penn State team.  Penn State has recovered from last season's injury plagued year to log an impressive finish at the Big 10 Championships.  Penn State also boasts top AAer Katie Rowland, who has competed as an AAer in every meet of her career.  Her execution and difficulty sets a high standard anywhere.
Keep an eye out for...  Deiley's (UM) elegant FX...  Ryals (UM) Spanish flavored FX with 2 1/2 to punch front mount...  Clauson's (UM) tuck full in...  Germaine's (ASU) 5'-8" frame in a whip to double pike... BB sets from Kelly and Ellsberry (ASU)... Kelly's elgrip work on UB...  Muth's Endo 1/2 on UB... Rowland's (PSU) triple full on FX and pike front 1/2 vault...  Ilg's (PSU) front handspring onto the springboard to fhs front tuck vault... Powell's (ISU) great lines on BB and UB...

Central Region at Alabama:  Defending National Champs and Regional host Alabama (#5) will be heavily favored to continue their string of National appearances.  Bama has suffered their share of injuries to key gymnasts, and is getting healthy just in time for Nationals.  All season long, the grace jr. Jeana Rice and exemplary sr. Kristen Sterner have provided the type of leadership and top AA scores you come to expect from Bama veterans.  They have played a critical role in setting this team up for future success.  A large class of talented frosh have already made an impact, but will continue to impress in the years to come.  In particular, frosh Ashley Miles has become a clear end of the lineup performer on FX and V.  With a late season charge, Oklahoma finished the regular season as the #7 ranked team.  Led by sr. Patricia Aoki, the Sooners have strung together an impressive string of 197 scores.  Most recently at the Big 12 Championships, the Sooners competed an amazing 14 different gymnasts, and no AAers.  The Sooners will use this depth to try to hold off teams that include top challenger Auburn.  The Tigers are yet another turnaround story, sparked by AAers Courtney Puckett and Kaycie Stein, both demonstrating the efforts of a strong training program.  AU may also get a boost from the familiar confines of the competition site, and a strong local fan base.
Keep an eye out for...  Miles' (Bama) roof scraping double layout...  Bayer's (Bama) lines on BB, BB, and FX.... Rice's (Bama) bhs, lo, lo on BB... Sterner's (Bama) roundoff double pike BB dismount...  Aoki's 2 1/2 front pike on FX... Tamayo's (OU) bhs, lo, lo on BB...  Landis' (OU) beautiful lines on UB and BB...  Alexander's (MSU) full-in and triple full on FX...  Stein's (AU) bhs-less FX routine including a roundoff 2 1/2 twist mount... Lancaster's (AU) beautiful lines on BB and UB...  

South Central Region at Missouri:  #1 UCLA heads east to Missouri, per the rules of the NCAA Regional Seeding criteria.  UCLA, fresh off a victory at the Pac-10s, have been without the services of NCAA AA Champ Jamie Dantzscher.  In her place, former NCAA AA Co-Champ Onnie Willis, sophomore Jeanette Antolin, and Pac-10 Frosh of the Year and AA Champ Kate Richardson have been more than enough for competitive teams to handle.  Dantzscher was reportedly ill at the Pac-10s.  #12 Oregon State will face a stiff challenge from the #13 Iowa Hawkeyes.  Oregon State will attempt to shrug off the effects of the long travel to put forth a consistent effort.  The Beavers finished 5th at the Pac-10s, but included two 10.0 Championship efforts from sr. UB specialist Elizabeth Jillson and ultra-flexible frosh Chrissy Lamun.  Juniors Lindsay Nelson and Tanya Ricioli have been key and consistent AAers for the deep Oregon State squad.  Pushing Oregon State, will be an ever-improving Iowa squad.  The Hawkeyes recently finished 2nd at the Big 10 Championships, led by standout jrs Alexis Maday and Stephanie Gran.  Consistency will be a key for both teams in this hotly contested battle.  Also in the picture is host Missouri.  Led by powerful sophomore Alisha Robinson, the Tigers have the natural advantage of the home arena.  In the recent Big 12 Championships held at Missouri, the Tigers pushed to within 0.375 of #7 OU.  
Keep an eye out for...  Richardson's (UCLA) double layout on FX... her entire BB set...  Tousek's (UCLA) FX choreography...  Antolin's Yurchenko Full on V and Kochetkova on BB....  Willis' bhs, bhs to double tuck off BB... Lamun's (OSU) FX and BB sets that showcase her flexibility...  Jillson's (OSU) flighty Pike Jaeger, Shaposhnikova and double layout on UB...  Gran's (Iowa) floaty double layout... Robinson's (MU) floaty double layout...   full twisting double layouts off UB by Rue (Iowa) and Nelson (OSU)...  Maday's triple full (if thrown this time)....

North Central Region at Utah:  The #8 Utah Utes are the hosts of the North Central Region, which boasts the deepest Regional field.  All six participants in the Region are ranked in the Top 25.  The top seed is #6 Stanford, fresh off their impressive runnerup finish at the Pac 10 Championships.  The Cardinal appear to be peaking at the right time, blending expressive veterans like Lise Leveille and Lindsay Wing with outstanding newcomers like Glyn Sweets and Natalie Foley.  Stanford particularly excels at the BB, blending top notch difficulty with good execution.  The host Utes look to keep their string of National appearances alive, with a consistent effort in front of a large home crowd.  Energetic junior Melissa Vituj and super soph Annabeth Eberle have assumed the roles of lead AAers, while former NCAA AA champ Theresa Kulikowski battles a never-ending series of minor injuries.  These two teams are formidable competitors for the deep field of teams, but the final order of finish for all six teams is nearly impossible to predict.  Third seed Cal, the #18 team, has blossomed under the tutelage of new Head Coach Cari DuBois.  Led by the elegant MyLan Dodd, Cal looks to keep close to the front runners while fending off the rest of the field.  Denver just missed Nationals last year, and looks to score an upset, led by super twister Emily Bankhead and the dynamic Michelle Kasuga.  BYU recently gained back sophomore star Jaime Mabray, and will look to her to return to her early season form and help lead the Cougar charge.  Finally, Minnesota, despite an array of unfortunate injuries (including All-American Annie Laatsch and Mary Skokut), looks to make a strong statement with a good performance.      
Keep an eye out for...  Sweet's (S) unusual BB choreography and positions...  Wing's (S) bhs, layout, Korbut and switch ring leap on BB...  Foley's (S) full-in on FX... Leveille's loaded BB set...  Vituj's (UU) triple full on FX... Kulikowski's (UU) BB and UB sets for one of the last few times....  Hoffman's (UU) Riverdance FX.... Dodd's (Cal) fluid arms on FX and BB...  Chang's (Cal) packed FX set...  Shible's (DU) eponymous vault...  Bankhead's (DU) triple full on FX...  Yernberg's (UMN) front full to double tuck on FX... Mabray's (BYU) bhs to Kochetkova and Onodi on BB...   

West Region at Washington:  Top seed Nebraska has one final trip out West before they can secure their host slot at Nationals.  Despite their #2 ranking, they will seek to stay consistent in this meet to stay above the fray as one of the most interesting Regional battles takes place.  All season long, the Huskers have been led by the spectacular Richelle Simpson, the National leader in the AA standings.  But the Huskers are loaded with an experienced array of All-Americans, making them one of the favorites to advance to National Title consideration.  Host Washington, the #2, has a double advantage in having the host gym, and the confidence of a regular season victory over the Tigers.  However, many factors come into play, including the health of athletes at any given time.  The Huskies have been led recently by dual sport athlete Carly Dockendorf, the Pac-10 UB co-champ.  Depending on the health of key athletes like the consistent jr. Emily Pritchard and standout frosh Kelly McDonald, the Huskies could put up another solid effort.  LSU, is a young and talented team that has continued to improve as the team has matured.  April Burkholder, the SEC Freshman of the Year, has been a spectacular AAers for the Tigers, with difficulty on BB and FX a step ahead of her teammates.  However, with a large and deep crew, balance is the key for the Tigers.  Like all 3rd Seeds, they have the advantage of the preferred rotation.
Keep an eye out for...   Simpson's (NU) whip to double pike dismount on FX... and her double layout mount.... Houk's packed UB set, one of the toughest in the NCAA... Landgraf's (NU) front to triple full FX mount and triple full dismount...  Dockendorf's (UW) intriguing FX... and her double arabian mount...  Pritchard's (UW) Yehzova/Pritchard transition on UB....  Wong's (UW) gainer double full off BB... Burkholder's (LSU) packed BB set including a bhs, lo, lo, a side somi, and double tuck dismount... Martinjak's (LSU) grace and toepoint on FX and BB...  

On to Lincoln!