University of Denver senior gymnast Michelle Kasuga ended her impressive gymnastics career April 24 as she finished in 21st place in the NCAA National Championships hosted by the University of Nebraska.

Her finish was not enough to advance her to the finals. Her score was 38.500. Winning the national competition this year was the University of Nebraska’s Michelle Simpson. UCLA was ranked No. 1 team.

Kasuga was Denver’s lone gymnast to qualify for the nationals.

Not having competed on the vault since her freshman year, Kasuga was still able to score a 9.175 in the event, placing her in 42nd.

Following the vault, she then scored a 9.75 on the uneven bars, tying for 16th in the event.

Her best score came on the balance beam, where she scored a 9.8 and placed 14th.

Following this she scored a 9.775 on floor exercise, placing her 23rd for the event.

Although she did not qualify for the finals, Kasuga said she was satisfied with her performance.

“There were so many amazing gymnasts there,” Kasuga said, “But it would have been more fun if we had made it as a team to nationals.”

Joining the team as a freshman walk-on, Kasuga became a team asset.

Her scores have gradually improved, and her senior year has been a complete turning point in her gymnastics career.

She leaves DU as one of its highest scoring gymnasts of all time.

As the only gymnast on the team to win each of the four events this season, she currently holds the school record of 39.725 for the all-around.

She surpassed the old school record of 39.500, previously held by herself and junior teammate Ashley Shible.

“Michelle was a very prominent performer this season,” said Assistant Coach John Figueroa. “We will never forget the night she scored two perfect 10s, and she also managed to break the school record, which is amazing.”

“Michelle has broken all the records and has been an asset to the team,” said Head Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart.

Kasuga became only the second gymnast in DU history to score two perfect 10s in one meet — on the uneven bars and the floor exercise.

“There have been ups and downs this season, but I think it was a very fun season and probably the best one I’ve had,” said Kasuga.

“Ashley [Shible] is ready to break some records, so is Emily [Bankhead]. I think that everyone is ready to step up and turn some heads,” said Kasuga.

The Denver gymnastics team is popular with fans and usually attracts a crowd of about 1,500 fans for most meets held in Hamilton Gymnasium. The gymnasts hope that next year will be even better, and they hope to eliminate this year’s weaknesses.

“I wish them luck and I hope they have a good season next year, I am definitely going to come back next year and watch,” Kasuga said.

“I feel that I have made some amazing friends here and I will always have ties to the team. I love them all.”

Kasuga, a real estate major with a minor in business, plans to take a year off to work, most likely in her hometown of Defiance, Ohio, before she attends graduate school.