Down to Duluth: NCAA Regionals Spotlight

The teams that will compete for a 2012 NCAA Championship in women’s gymnastics are set. There weren’t many surprises throughout regional competitions this past weekend…some close battles, but nothing that disrupted the natural flow of the top two seeds from each regional moving on to gymnastics’ big dance. We’ll take a closer look at the teams moving on from the Champaign, Auburn and Salt Lake City Regionals here. 2012’s NCAA field marks one of the deepest seen in recent years. It will be a fight for many uber-talented teams to make it out of the nerve-wracking preliminary rounds.  

In the Champaign Regional, Oklahoma University snuck just over the 197 mark, with a 197.025. A solid number for the Sooner squad that really has not had a bad meet thus far in 2012. Paced by Megan Ferguson’s wins on balance beam and floor exercise, the Sooners look to move confidently in the direction of their dreams; standing atop the awards stand in Duluth. In order to do so, though, especially against SEC and Pac12 powers, the Sooners will need to raise their first couple scores on vault and bars from Regionals. They’re most definitely capable of doing so, but they’ll need to be starting their lineups at the 9.775-9.800 range if they want to be securely near the top of the nation’s best. Oklahoma boasts epic strength on balance beam and floor exercise as a team, hitting 49.450 on the 40x40 this past weekend.

Moving on from Champaign, as well, was the Stanford Cardinal. Having to finish their night on beam, the Stanford squad hit a few bumps in their final event, but stayed consistent to easily hold off an Illinois squad hoping to capitalize on the home gym advantage. Stanford’s Nicole Pechanec wowed with her seldom seen free-hip Geinger release, while Amanda Spinner nabbed a share of the beam crown with a 9.900. The Cardinal heads down South with consistent displays of aesthetically pleasing gymnastics, but not necessarily the most difficult sets. What Stanford does have is a host of athletes who we suspect are capable of upgrading their difficulty around all the apparatus as Pechanec showed on bars at Regionals. Stanford might have to take a gamble in order to make it to Super Six…we see upping their difficulty as the main factor in doing this.

The University of Georgia seemed cool and collected as they took the Auburn Regional after a disappointing third place finish at SECs. Georgia’s methodical Regionals performance wasn’t their best or the most thrilling, but it still saw the Gym Dogs rise above the 197 mark, finishing with a solid 197.100. As at SECs, the crowd will have a strong contingent of rabid ‘Dogs fans, capable of sparking something magical for the UGA team. Interestingly, Lindsey Cheek made her season debut at Regionals, competing on vault. With Cheek’s fantastic freshman bid, we wonder if they’re going to add events to Cheek’s lot at NCAAs. Otherwise, Georgia needs to capitalize on chest-positions on floor landings and building their uneven bars’ scores early if they hope to break into the top three in the country.

Oregon State University narrowly held off Michigan in the final rotation, taking second by 0.125 over the Wolverines. The Beavers were paced emphatically by Leslie Mak, who was notably off in warm-ups, but beyond steady when it came competition time. OSU’s floor presentation and music selection were the cream of the Auburn Regional crop. This team will need to erase some beam connection issues and bouncy floor landings in Duluth to stake their claim in the Super Six.

The University of Utah felt the same comforts of home as they did at the Pac 12 Championships, that were also held in Salt Lake City. This time, though, the Utes claimed 1^st and the Regional title. Standout Corrie Lothrop seemed to have a bit of an off night for the Utes, her usual vault and beam performances would have probably lifted Utah above 197. However, the Utes displayed the consistency coaches want to see at this stage of the game. The lowest score for Utah was a 9.725, otherwise, they were solid. From Regionals, if they can focus on getting those 9.7’s to 9.8’s as we think they’re capable of, Utah has a shot at a title in Duluth.

Accompanying Utah from the meet in Salt Lake City are the Cornhuskers of Nebraska. Coming off an easy Big Ten Conference title, the Big Red utilized just seven athletes to qualify on to NCAAs. Dipping below 49.000 on balance beam was likely the swing factor for Nebraska at Regionals. Paced by so many outstanding all around athletes, fatigue might be a question heading into a possible three days of competition in Duluth. However, they’ve made it this far with a shining record and a Big Ten Championship, to boot. A mid-196 total at Regionals and improvements very likely means the Nebraska can flirt with a 197 tally and a berth into the Super Six.

Check back tomorrow as Inside Gymnastics delves into the Fayetteville, Seattle and Raleigh Regionals!

 Photo: Megan Ferguson, OU. Credit: OU Sports Communications

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