Photo by: Michael Furman
The No. 20 Pioneer Gymnastics team from The University of Denver has been chosen to compete in the NCAA North Central Regional meet Saturday April 4 in Iowa City, Iowa. The other schools competing in the North Central Region are No. 6 Florida, No. 7 UCLA, No. 18 Minnesota, No. 23 Iowa State, and No. 28 Iowa, the NCAA announced Monday.
For the 11th season straight the University of Denver Gymnastics team will make a regional appearance. Even more remarkable, all 11 seasons as been under head coach, Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart. Going into the regional competition, Denver has reached a ranking of No. 20 in the nation according to this week’s Gym Info National Poll. Denver has averaged a score of 194.750 in 2009 and a season high of 196.650 points.
Denver is ranked 12th in the nation on beam, 27th on floor exercise and vault and 30th on bars.
All-American Senior Jessica Lopez (Venezuela) leads the team in all of the four events. Lopez is also ranked eight in the nation in the all-around competition (39.470). Among North Central Regional competitors, López’s regional qualifying scores rank her first in all-around, second on vault, third on bars, third on floor excersise and fourth on beam.
Denver does not have the benefit of having seen many of their opponents throughout the season that are competing in the regional. Minnesota is the only regional opponent DU has already met this season. In their only meeting, at the DU Winterfest Invitational, Denver defeated Minnesota by a score of 194.700-193.525.
The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors (not on an advancing team) from each regional meet will earn an automatic berth in the 2009 NCAA Championship. Also, the event winners at each regional will advance to the national if they are not part of a qualifying team or among the all-around qualifiers.
The 2009 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championship will be held on April 16-18, at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The University of Iowa will host the regional meet at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The competition is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. MT.
Tickets for the North Central Regional meet are available through the Iowa Ticket Office located at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
They can be purchased online at www.hawkeyesports.com” or by calling the Iowa Ticket Office.
