Weekly Release #11
3/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
This Week: No. 19 Michigan at the Big Ten Championships
Saturday, March 20 - at the Big Ten Championships (Minneapolis, Minn.), 6 p.m. CST
Next Week: No. 19 Michigan at the NCAA Regional Championships
April 2 or 3 - at the NCAA Regional Championships, Site TBD
Next Up for the Wolverines
The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team (8-6, 3-1 Big Ten) opens the postseason with the Big Ten Conference Championships at 6 p.m. CST Saturday (March 20) at the Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis, Minn. The Wolverines, who have won 12 conference titles, including 11 of the last 12, are the second-ranked team (by Regional Qualifying Score) in the conference and have the league's highest RQS on beam, while senior/junior Elise Ray (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake HS) enters the conference meet as the No. 1 beam competitor in the Big Ten.
This is the final meet which is eligible for consideration in the computing of Regional Qualifying Scores. U-M needs to tally a 195.725 or higher to increase its Regional Qualifying Score and possibly improve its position for the NCAA Regional seeding process.
Got Results
Visit mgoblue.com for the fastest and most reliable results from all of Michigan's competitions this season. In addition to results and event recaps, weekly releases, news releases, photos and other information can be found at mgoblue.com.
A Look at No. 17 Iowa
No. 17 Iowa (7-6, 2-0 Big Ten) is the only Big Ten team to have defeated the Wolverines in 2004. Iowa is also having its most successful season to date; as the Hawkeyes have broken six school records this year. All team records except for bars have been bested. Individual records that have been broken include the all-around and bars, while the floor record has been tied twice. Iowa's Alexis Maday tops the Big Ten all-around standings. Iowa posted its season-high score (197.150) in a win at Maryland (Feb. 14). The Hawkeyes are led by head coach Mike Lorenzen, who is in his fifth year directing the program. Iowa on the Web ... www.hawkeyesports.com.
A Look at Illinois
Illinois (10-7, 2-0 Big Ten) posted its season-high score (196.3) last weekend (March 13) at the State of Illinois Classic. This score was also an all-time school record for the Fighting Illini. Illinois is led by head coach Bob Markell, who is in his fifth year directing the Illini. Illinois is currently ranked seventh in the Big Ten. Illinois on the Web ... www.fightingillini.com.
A Look at No. 25 Michigan State
No. 25 Michigan State (17-11-1), is having one of its best seasons in program history. The Wolverines and the Spartans have met twice in 2004, with Michigan victorious both times. Michigan State gymnastics smashed its all-time university record for the second time in less than two weeks, posting 197.075 in a victory over second-place Boise State (196.925) and Pennsylvania (193.125) at Boise State on Sunday, March 7. The Green and White established its previous best-ever record in a 196.775 win over Ohio State (196.775) and West Virginia (195.975) at MSU's last home meet of the season on Feb. 28 at Jenison Field House. The Spartans smashed the school record after having tied their previous all-time best (196.575) to defeat Pittsburgh in East Lansing on Feb. 21. Michigan State is led by head coach Kathie Klages, who is in her 14th year at the helm of the Spartans. Michigan State is currently ranked fourth in the Big Ten. Michigan State on the Web ... www.msuspartans.com.
A Look at Minnesota
The University of Minnesota (4-10, 0-5 Big Ten) posted its best score in school history in a 198.125-197.700 loss to Arizona State. The Gophers' team total crushed the previous school-best score of 196.850, which was twice accomplished, most recently at Arizona in 2002. Minnesota also set a new school record for beam score with a 49.500. The Wolverines and the Gophers met on Jan. 17 in Minneapolis, where the Wolverines came out on top, 194.650-193.975. The Gophers as led by co-head coaches Jim and Meg Stephenson, who are in the 22nd and 12th years, respectively, directing the program. Minnesota is currently ranked third in the Big Ten. Minnesota on the Web ... www.gophersports.com.
A Look at Ohio State
Ohio State (9-7-1, 0-3-1 Big Ten) posted it season high score (195.950) in a tie with Penn State (Feb. 21). Last weekend, the Buckeyes posted a score of 195.275 to place second at the Eagle Classic in Ypsilanti, Mich. Head Coach Larry Cox, who is in his 25th season with the Buckeyes, collected his 250th and 251st wins. OSU is currently ranked sixth in the Big Ten. Ohio State on the Web ... www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
A Look at Penn State
Penn State (6-5-2, 1-0-1 Big Ten) posted its season high score (196.375) in a tie against New Hampshire (March 6). Its most recent victory came against Minnesota (Feb. 14), when the Nittany Lions edged the Gophers in Minnesota (195.100-195.075). The Nittany Lions are led by Steve Shephard, who is in his 12th year as head coach. Penn State is currently ranked fifth in the Big Ten. Penn State on the Web ... www.GoPSUsports.com.
Last Year at the Big Ten Championships
Last season 2003 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jenny Deiley (Dayton, Minn./Elk River HS) and Calli Ryals (Elyria, Ohio/Midview HS) led Michigan to a season-high 197.450 and helped the Wolverines capture their fifth consecutive Big Ten Conference title and 11th in the last 12 years. Deiley and Ryals tied for second place in the all-around with team-high scores of 39.575. In one of the closest team competitions in years, Michigan and Iowa battled for the lead throughout the evening. U-M trailed the Hawkeyes by .125 after each team's first event, as Iowa totaled a 49.250 on the uneven bars compared to Michigan's 49.125 on the vault. The Wolverines' effort on the uneven bars, a season-high 49.425 in the third rotation, helped them take a 98.550-98.375 lead over the Hawkeyes, who posted a 49.125 on the balance beam. In the fifth rotation, a 49.300 on the floor by Iowa allowed the Wolverines to extend their lead to 148.000-147.675, a difference of .325. The narrow margin nearly doubled after Michigan posted a 49.450 on the floor to defeat the Hawkeyes (196.850) by .600.
Last Weekend Against Alabama
The No. 19-ranked Wolverines came out on the wrong end of a highly competitive meet Friday (March 12), falling on Senior Night to the No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines performed well but could not surpass an outstanding performance by the visiting Tide in a 197.725-197.025 loss. Junior/Senior Elise Ray (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake HS) was second in two events and second in the all-around.
Final Results
| Team Scores | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| 1. Alabama | 49.600 | 49.400 | 49.250 | 49.475 | 197.725 |
| 2. MICHIGAN | 49.100 | 49.350 | 49.225 | 49.350 | 197.025 |
Wolverines in the NCAA Rankings
Michigan's score of 197.025 against UCLA raised its Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) to 196.470. This score is the 19th-best in GymInfo's rankings (March 15).
Wolverines in the Big Ten Rankings
Michigan is currently the No. 2-ranked team in the Big Ten. Elise Ray is ranked in the top five on all four events and the all-around, including a No. 1-ranking on beam and No. 2-rankings on bars and in the all-around. Calli Ryals is ranked fifth on vault and fifth in the all-around.
What is a Regional Qualifying Score (RQS)
A team's regional qualifying score is based on the six highest team totals, three of which must be from away competitions. After dropping the highest score, the remaining five are averaged to determine the regional qualifying score.
Michigan's RQS Counting Scores ...
197.075 (vs. Michigan State, Jan. 31)
197.125 (host Michigan Classic, Feb. 6)
197.025 (vs. Alabama, March 12)
196.325 (at Iowa, Jan. 24)
196.200 (at WVU with Maryland, Feb. 22)
195.725 (at UCLA, March 7)
Total Before Dividing By Five ...
982.350
Michigan's RQS ...
196.470
Why The RQS Is So Important
Six teams will vie for NCAA Championships berths at each of six NCAA Regional Championships. The Top 18 teams (ranked by RQS) received seeded positions in each regional, with the remaining three spots filled by the next three highest ranked teams from the region. Since the top two teams advance to the NCAA Championships out of each region, seeded teams benefit from this procedure. Michigan, standing at No. 19, stands within striking distance of No. 18 Denver, No. 17 Iowa and No. 16 Okalahoma. However, the Wolverines cannot focus solely on those teams sitting ahead; No. 20 Auburn sits mere hundreths of a point behind the Wolverines.
Playing The Numbers Game
In 2003, Michigan posted its season-high team score (197.850) at the Big Ten Championships. If the Wolverines were to put on a season-best performance in 2004, the team's RQS would jump to 196.750. Depending on how other teams fared, this score could place the Wolverines as high as 16th, ensuring a seeded position for the NCAA Regional Championship. However, even a solid score of 196.2 could theortically edge out No. 18 Denver, if no other teams post scores that would increase the RQS.
Ray Among Nation's Top All-Around Gymnasts
Elise Ray has consistently earned top all-around scores this season. Their all-around regional qualifying scores of 39.515 is the 15th-best in the NCAA, and second-best in the Big Ten.
Crowding Crisler
Back-to-back record crowds saw Michigan beat intrastate rival Michigan State (Jan 31) and take the State of Michigan Classic (Feb. 6). The attendance of 3,903 for Michigan State is the largest crowd to attend a U-M dual gymnastics meet, eclipsing the previous mark of 3,854 set in 2001 vs. UCLA (March 9). The State of Michigan Classic attendance of 4,089 is the third-largest all-time and highest regular-season crowd. These attendance figures bested last season's highest home meet attendance by more than 1,000 and more than doubled the 2003 average home attendance.
Making Her Mark
Freshman Lindsey Bruck (Marietta, N.Y./Marcellus HS) has been a solid addition to the Wolverine lineups on beam and floor. This season, she has earned four scores of 9.900 or higher on beam, winning the event title twice. On floor, she has scored 9.850 or higher nine times.
Adding Depth
Freshman Carol McNamara (Hastings, Minn./Hastings HS) and sophomore Becca Clauson (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham HS) have provided needed depth for the Wolverines on several events. McNamara set a career high on floor (9.850) against Georgia (Feb. 27), and she has regularly contributed to the team's vault score. Clauson tied her career high (9.900) on beam and has competed solidly on floor, with eight scores of 9.800 or better. McNamara's season average on vault (9.811) stands just a hair behind leader Ray's (9.812).
Competing Against the Best
The Wolverines faced all of last year's Super Six NCAA Championships teams during the regular season. The Wolverines faced Nebraska on Jan. 11, Utah on Feb. 14, Georgia on Feb. 27, UCLA on March 7, and Alabama on March 12.
Kroll and Ray Selected as Captains
Junior Chelsea Kroll (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny HS) and Elise Ray will serve as co-captains for the 2004 Wolverine squad. Ray was a co-captain in 2003.
Contact: Jesssica Steyers (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
