In their 17th consecutive appearance at Regionals, the DU gymnastics team looked to punch their ticket to the NCAA Nationals on April 4. The team entered the match ranked no. 16 in the nation and was joined by five other top schools on the campus of Iowa State University.
The team needed a top two finish in order to advance to Nationals, yet they placed third. The Pioneers entered the meet as the third ranked university in the group, which matched their performance.
Individually, senior Nina McGee (Cincinnati, Ohio) did qualify for the nationals. She tied for second in the all-around with a score of 39.425.
The team began the day on the beam, where sophomore Rachel Fielitz (Walden, New York) turned in a team-high score of 9.80. Other notable scores came from McGee and sophomore Julia Ross (Henderson, Nevada), as they scored 9.750 and 9.775, respectively. Their total score was 48.750.
Next on the list came a transition to the floor, after a bye. Three solid scores fueled Pioneers in this section, as senior Ellese Sakai-Hart (Aptos, California) registered a 9.825, Fielitz posted 9.800 and freshman Nikole Addison (Lehigh Acres, Florida) also scored a 9.800. As a team, DU totaled 49.075 on the floor.
Fielitz was able to dominate the vault, the next event, with a score of 9.900. Ross also had a solid showing with a score of 9.875. This turned out to be the Pioneers’ best event, registering a solid score of 49.200.
The bars event concluded the night. McGee was able to shine, tying the high for the section with a score of 9.900. Ross again produced great results for the team with a team second best 9.825. The fifth rotation saw DU score a total of 48.925 points.
DU was unable to secure its fifth NCAA Nationals berth since 2008, but received outstanding efforts from its team members en route to a 16-6-1 record for the year.
“I’m really proud of the student-athletes and their performance tonight,” said head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart in an interview with the DU Athletics Department. “They showed their confidence and consistency not just tonight but all season long. We did not have to count a fall one time all year. I believe that shows their mental toughness, team chemistry and their competitiveness.
The season is still on for standout McGee, who will participate in Nationals April 17-19 in Fort Worth, Texas.
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The NCAA Tournament for both teams is scheduled to take place on May 15-25 in Waco, Texas.
