We are entering into our final weekend of competition, and the Race to the Regionals is heating up! Teams are chasing one of 36 spots available in post-season competition.
San Jose State celebrated Senior Night with a season high and their 2nd highest score in school history. Senior Thomasina Wallace led the way as usual, winning the bars, beam, floor and AA (39.55). Sac State frosh Kalliah McCartney won the vault. Besides winning the meet, the Spartans helped raise their RQS to a 194.69, with the high mark providing "head room" to raise it even further next week. Sac State also improved their RQS with a season high, improving to a 194.16. However, it appears their max score puts them out of reach of the Top 36.
Link: SJSU Release
Oregon State celebrated Senior Night with a big night from senior Leslie Mak. She won the bars, floor and AA (39.4) to lead the Beavers. Teammate Kelsi Blalock won the vault while Beaver Mel Jones won the beam. Neither Oregon State nor UNH improved their standings in the race to Regionals.
Link: Oregon State Release
Arizona posted a season high at home to help bolster their RQS (195.87, moving ahead of Missouri) and their hopes to gain a Top 18 seed. Aubree Cristello led the way, winning the vault and floor en route to a 39.475 AA win. Teammate Allison Flores won the bars while senior Britnie Jones won the beam. Bridgeport also inched closer to the Top 36 but will need a big effort next week.
Link: Arizona Release
Bama posted a 197.625 to close out the regular season with a Senior Night. The score moves their RQS to a 197.155, moving ahead of UCLA. UNC also took an important jump, dropping a low away score to improve their bid for the top 36. Bama senior Ashley Priess posted a career best 39.625 to win the AA. Priess also tied for the win on bars with teammate Ashley Sledge. The Tide's Diandra Milliner won vault while classmate Sarah DeMeo won beam. Bama senior Geralen Stack-Eaton took the floor.
Link: Bama Release
Both teams hit season highs, but Boise State's 196.85 was good enough to down SUU. Britanny Potvin-Green had a career night, posting a 39.575 in the AA, including wins on vault and floor. Teammate Amy Glass won the bars. SUU's Alyssa Click won the beam. Boise State's RQS improves to 195.99, inching them ahead of AU in the standings. SUU's chase for the Regional spot got brighter after a big season high (they have another meet this weekend), as their RQS rose to 193.87 with a new max ceiling established with the big score.
Link: Boise State Release
Iowa State nearly ruined Senior Night at Nebraska, but the Huskers used a strong floor rotation to seal a win after problems on beam. Husker Janelle Giblin led her squad, winning the bars and vault en route to a 39.525 AA win. Teammate Jessie DeZiel tied for honors on floor with ISU's Celine Paulus. Cyclone Michelle Browning won the beam. NU did not increase their RQS, but Iowa State's big road score elevates them to a 195.275.
Link: NU Release
Senior Kacy Cantanzaro won the AA with a 39.225 in her final home meet. She also won the beam and the floor as she celebrated Senior Night. GWU's Elena Corcoran won the vault while Penn's Dana Bonincontri won the bars.
Link: Towson Release
LSU celebrated Senior Night by matching their season high, and pushing their RQS ahead of Arkansas. Frosh Rheagan Courville led the way, winning the AA with a 39.5 and capturing the vault title. Classmates Randi Lau and Lloimincia Hall won the beam and floor, respectively. Tiger Sarie Morrison won the bars. WVU also improved their RQS with a road season high.
Link: LSU Release
Auburn easily defeated BYU on Senior Night, but neither program raised their RQS. AU's Petrina Yokay led her team, winning the AA with a 39.15. Teammates Brianna Guy, Allyson Sandusky and Toi Garcia added wins on vault, bars, and floor, respectively. BYu's Natalie Eyre-Pickard won the beam.
Link: AU Release
Host SEMO defeated TWU on Friday night, 194.2 to 193.7. Taryn Vanderpool posted a career-high 38.825 to lead the Redhawks to the win. She also won bars while teammate Taylor Westrick won beam. For TWU, Kristin Edwards won floor while teammate Bethany Larimer and Kayla Jones tied for the vault title.
Link: TWU Release and SEMO Release
Florida posted a season-high 197.9 to easily defeat the Utes, who posted a season road-high of 196.475 despite counting a fall on bars. Florida's Alaina Johnson won the AA with a 39.675, just ahead of teammates Marissa King (39.65) and Ashanee Dickerson (39.625). Johnson tied with Dickerson for the bars title, with King for the beam title, and with Utes Georgia Dabritz and Kailah Delaney for the vault title. King and teammate Kytra Hunter tied for honors on floor, where the Gators posted a 49.6. Florida's RQS inches up to 197.395 after the win, while Utah rises to a 196.705.
Link: Utah Release
Michigan closed out the regular season with a big win over in-state rival MSU. Katie Zurales and teammate Joanna Sampson tied for the AA title for the Wolverines, who competed just seven athletes. Zurales won beam and floor for Michigan, while Sampson took the bars. MSU's Taira Neal won the vault. Their 196.025 lifts their RQS to a 195.71.
Link: Michigan Release
Missouri celebrated Senior Night with a win over Arkansas, 196.1 to 195.45. Jaime Pisani led the injury-plagued Gym-Backs, winning vault, beam, floor and the AA (39.6). Teammate Mariah Howdeshell won the bars. Missouri improved their RQS to 195.825, while Arkansas remained unchanged.
Link: MU Release
A solid 195.45 boosts NC State's RQS to 195.715 as they defeated Rutgers and W&M. Five different NC State athletes split the titles: Brooke Barr won vault, Rachel Fincham the bars, Jess Panza the beam and Diahanna Ham took the floor. Stephanie Ouellette's AA win completed the sweep.
Link: W&M Release