The No.5 University of Michigan women’s gymnastics team claimed the top spot to move on to NCAA Nationals in Los Angeles, Calif. with an overall score of 196.725. The University of Illinois claimed the No. 2 spot to head to nationals with a score of 196.025, upsetting the No. 2 seed Nebraska.

Nebraska finished the competition with an overall score of 195.875, followed by the University of Kentucky in fourth with an overall score of 195.575. Host team West Virginia finished in fifth with a 194.475 and the University of North Carolina in sixth with a score of 194.350.

Nebraska will be represented at NCAA Nationals by a few of its gymnasts that qualified individually at the Morgantown Regional. Emily Wong claimed the top all-around spot with a total score of 39.225, while Jessie Deziel lucked out as a result of a tiebreaker for the No. 2 spot. Her overall score was a 39.200. Brittany Skinner will compete on the vault at nationals, as she claimed the top spot at regionals with a 9.950 on the apparatus.

Team performances are as follows:

Michigan

The Wolverines got off to a solid start in the first rotation on vault, scoring 49.200 as a team. All six gymnasts in the rotation scored at or above a 9.800. After a bye in the second rotation, the team headed to the uneven bars in the third rotation. Once again all six gymnasts scored a 9.80 or better. Brittnee Martinez and Joanna Sampson tied for the event title with 9.900s. The Wolverines finished on beam strong after beginning with a fall by Shelby Gies. Freshman Briley Casanova, who was the anchor on balance beam pulled out a 9.725, preventing Michigan from counting a fall and sending it into their final bye with a team score of 147.625. The Wolverines finished strong scoring 49.100 as a team on floor.  

Illinois

After beginning the evening on a bye, Nebraska opened competition on uneven bars. The team was able to pull out a total score of 48.875, despite several mistakes. On to beam for the third rotation, the team earned a mark of 48.525. Wong led the way, bouncing back from a tough bar routine to earn an NU-best 9.825. Having an opportunity to regroup during a bye in the fourth rotation, the Big Red returned for floor in the fifth rotation, tallying a team score of 48.800. Ending the meet with an outstanding performance on vault, the Huskers earned the best NCAA postseason score in program history at 49.650. DeZiel, Wong and Skinner tied for the top spot in the event with identical scores of 9.95.

Kentucky

The team’s overall score of 195.575 is a program best for an NCAA Regional. Audrey Harrison almost made it to nationals as an all-around finalist, but lost the chance to claim the No. 2 spot as a result of the NCAA tiebreaking rules. The Wildcats began the competition on floor, totaling a 48.875 as a team. Harrison and Tiara Phipps led the team with 9.800s in the event. The team moved onto the vault in the second rotation, totaling for a 48.925. After a bye in the third rotation, the team headed to the uneven bars in the fourth rotation, receiving their lowest total score of the night with a 48.800. Finishing strong on beam in the fifth rotation, the Wildcats totaled for a 48.975.

West Virginia

The Mountaineers opened the meet on bars in the first rotation. Senior Kaylyn Millick led the team in the event with a 9.825, her second-best score of the season. Headed to the balance beam for the second rotation, the team got off to a shaky start with two large wobbles and a fall by Lia Salzano. Beth Deal anchored the event for the Mountaineers, earning a 9.825, tying for fifth overall in the event. The team tallied a 48.45 in the event. Having a chance to recuperate during a bye in the third rotation, the team headed to the floor, its strongest event, in the fourth rotation. Hitting five-for-six routines on floor, the team totaled a 48.525. Dazzling the crowd in her final performance in the coliseum, senior Alaska Richardson earned a 9.825. Just missing the top spot to head to nationals, Richardson tied for second place overall in the event. The Mountaineers had their top showing on vault and earned their only 49.0+ mark of the evening with a 49.025 score.

North Carolina

Starting on arguable the hardest apparatus in women’s gymnastics, the Tar Heels took on the beam in the first rotation, combing for a team total of 48.550. After a bye in the second rotation, Carolina headed to the floor in the third rotation, receiving a 48.525 team total. On to the vault in the fourth rotation, the Tar Heels recorded a season best total of 48.775. Finishing the completion on the uneven bars in the sixth rotation, after a bye in the fifth, the team totaled for a 48.500.

Full Meet Results