The Pioneer gymnastics team placed 12th at the second-straight appearance in the NCAA national championships in Athens, Ga., on Thursday by scoring 194.200 and finishing sixth in the second session.
“We are continuing to lay the foundations and traditions, and then in addition to finish 12th in the country it shows our consistency and how we have maintained a consistent ranking,” said Head Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart.
The University of Georgia won the title for the fourth consecutive season, posting a 197.450 at the Super Six on Friday.
“It was just an incredible growing and learning experience for this team and the program to be competing out on the floor with teams like Georgia,” Kutcher-Rinehart said.
Denver began the night on the vault, posting a team score of 48.625. Senior Courtney Butler led the Pioneers with a 9.85, which placed her tied in 10th place and just missing out on an All-American finish. Also contributing to the team score were juniors All-American Jessica Lopez who recorded a 9.8, and Lauren Garan with a 9.7, followed by senior Sasha Sullivan with a 9.65.
The Pioneers improved slightly as they moved to the uneven bars, where they recorded a team score of 48.85. Butler again led the way with a 9.85 placing her in a tie for 21st in the meet. Lopez continued to follow behind with a 9.8 and sophomore Ellen McCarthy and Sullivan posted a 9.75.
Denver went on to the balance beam, and posted just a 47.95 after being forced to count one of the two falls. Junior Nikki Brown led the way with a 9.75 followed by Sullivan with a 9.675, while both freshman Taylor Stanford and Garan scored 9.6.
“Jessica had an off night,” said Kutcher-Rinehart. “She fell on balance beam and struggled. She just didn’t have her night. She works the hardest on each team. She has been preparing for nationals and the Olympics, and so when someone like Jessica doesn’t have her night per se, you feel sad. It just goes to show that on any given night you can’t have an off performance.”
The Pioneers concluded the evening on the floor exercise as Sullivan posted Denver’s highest score of 9.825, freshman Kristina Coccia followed with a 9.775 and junior Liz Meals and Lopez both recorded a 9.75, contributing to the team score of 48.775.
“I feel great about the future of the program,” said Kutcher-Rinehart. “We will have a better idea of who we are and what we want to accomplish and Nilson and I will be able to work together with a clear picture of where we want to get better and how to improve the program.
“It’s big to bring the program from 30th to 12th, and it is going to be another big thing to bring it from 12th to 8th. The future looks very bright, I’m very passionate and excited about it. certainly we want to continue growing the program here.”
