Weekly #14: Wolverines Look to Survive and Advance at Regionals
3/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
This Week
Saturday, April 4 -- at NCAA South Central Regional Championships (Fayetteville, Ark.), 6 p.m. CDT
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The No. 16-ranked and Big Ten champion University of Michigan women's gymnastics program (19-5, 10-0 Big Ten) advances to the NCAA South Central Regional as the three seed, traveling to Fayetteville, Ark., in hopes of securing a berth at the NCAA Championships in Lincoln, Neb., in two weeks. The top two finishers in each regional meet earn the right to move on to Lincoln and the competition will be fierce in Arkansas. Michigan is one of just four programs in the nation (Alabama, Georgia, Utah) to advance to each of the last 16 NCAA Championships and the Wolverines will put that streak on the line this week.
The top seed, No. 4 Stanford, highlights the field in the South Central region, followed by the second-seed, the No. 10-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks, who will defend their home floor. Rounding out the six-team field are No. 25 Arizona, Arizona State and Southern Utah. Stanford has had a dominant season thus far, posting a season-high 197.175 led by the nation's 13th-best all-arounder, Carly Janiga, who is among the nation's top 10 on the uneven bars and balance beam. Arkansas is looking to advance to the NCAA Championships for the third time in four seasons, posting a season-best 196.900 thanks to a trio of all-arounders who rate among the nation's top 25 (Casey Jo Magee, Michell Stout and Jaime Pisani). Michigan denied Arkansas a trip to nationals in 2007 at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, knocking off the Razorbacks at Crisler Arena.
Arizona managed a season-best 195.750, while Southern Utah (listed 27th) and Arizona State (listed 31st) scored season highs of 195.675 and 196.000, respectively.
Michigan captured the program's 17th Big Ten title two weekends ago thanks to an all-around team effort that produced a season-high 197.075 score. Look for the sophomore tandem of Kylee Botterman (Big Ten Floor Exercise Champion, Runner-Up in the All-Around) and Trish Wilson (Big Ten Uneven Bars Champion, Runner-Up on Vault) to play a big factor in the meet.
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Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
