UA earns spot in NCAA Championships

DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PRESS SERVICES

Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2008

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MINNEAPOLIS — The 11 thranked Arkansas gymnastics team vaulted its way into the NCAA Championships with a second-place finish Saturday at the NCAA North Central Regional Championship.

No. 2 Utah won the NCAA Central Regional meet, finishing with a score of 196. 950 to move on to the NCAA Championships. Arkansas scored a 196. 125, tying a school record with a 49. 30 on vault in the team’s final rotation of the night.

The NCAA Championships will be held April 24-26 in Athens, Ga. It will be the second time in the six-year history of the program that the Lady Razorbacks have advanced to the national championship.

“What a thriller,” co-Coach Rene Cook said. “We were on fire tonight, and I think we stuck more landings tonight than we have all season. We fought all year and finished strong, and now we’re going to nationals.”

No. 28 Minnesota was third with a 195. 275, with No. 14 Arizona (194. 275 ), No. 27 Southern Utah (193. 575 ) and No. 23 Iowa (192. 450 ) rounded out the scores.

Arkansas sealed its finish on vault after a solid floor routine started the momentum. The Lady Razorbacks scored a 49. 225 on the floor behind a 9. 90 performance from senior Samantha Cortez. Sophomore Michelle Stout also tied her career-best with a 9. 90 on vault.

Stout tied for second on the vault, while Cortez tied for fifth. Stout and sophomore Casey Jo Magee tied for second on bars, and Cortez finished second on the floor. Magee finished third as an all-arounder.

“Michelle and Sam really had great meets tonight,” Cook said. “Their individual performances along with Jo really stood out, but it was a complete team effort tonight.”

Cook said she was nervous before the start of the meet, but the Lady Razorbacks didn’t seem to feel that way, opening with a 48. 875 on bars. Sophomore Sarah Nagashima scored a season-best 9. 725, while Magee and Stout scored 9. 825. They were followed by senior Emily Peacock’s 9. 775 and sophomore Amy DeFilippo’s 9. 725.

“It was a good start,” co-Coach Mark Cook said. “Nothing flashy, just solid gymnastics and a good starting place for the meet.”

Arkansas battled through a couple of wobbles in the beam rotation but hung on for a 48. 725. DeFilippo tied her season-best with a 9. 825, and Magee finished with a team-best 9. 85.

The Lady Razorbacks had a bye in the third rotation, then turned in a 49. 225 in the floor exercise. Cortez led the team with a 9. 90, and Arkansas got 9. 85 s from Magee and Alexandra LaChance. Stout contributed a 9. 825 and Peacock a 9. 80 as Arkansas took control of second place.