MINNEAPOLIS (Apr. 1) - The University of Denver women's gymnastics team missed out on making history by the slimmest of possible margins on Saturday night as the Pioneers finished third by 0.025 points at the NCAA Region 2 Gymnastics Championships at the Sports Pavilion on the University of Minnesota campus. The Pioneers, who were attempting to become the first small private school to qualify for the NCAA National Championships with either a first or second-place finish, scored 195.450 points to finish third behind Utah (196.325) and West Virginia (195.475). Host Minnesota was fourth (194.750), with Utah State (192.950) and Southern Utah (191.800) rounding out the team scores.
The Pioneers hit on 23 of 24 of their routines without a fall for the first time this season and also set a school record for team postseason score, yet were unable to earn one of two qualifying spots from the regional to the NCAA Championships, April 13-15 in Boise, Idaho. The third-place finish is still Denver's best-ever placing since moving to Division I in 1984.
"Tonight was an unbelievable competition," said head coach Melissa Kutcher. "The meet absolutely came down to the final rotation, and the result doesn't come any closer than that. To hit on 23 of 24 routines without a fall is unbelievable. It hurts to be so close and not make it, but I'm so very proud of this team. They fought all season long and we still might have competitors at NCAA Nationals."
Junior Jenny Ebdon (Marietta, Ga.) tied for the floor exercise title with her 9.85 routine. As an event champion, Ebdon is now in a pool of potential individual qualifiers to the NCAA National Championships. Despite hitting all six routines for the first time this season, the Pioneers scored an aggregate 48.55 for only their eighth-best floor score this season.
Minnesota and West Virginia went into the final rotation tied for second place with the Pioneers in fourth by half a point. Two falls on the balance beam put Minnesota out of contention, and a rough vault rotation put the No. 2-seeded Mountaineers at risk of being upset. The Pioneers put together a 49.2 on bars to make for the thrilling ending. Senior Sachi Ena (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) and sophomore Melanie Schiff (Highland Park, N.J.) both scored a 9.9 to lead the Pioneers. In addition, freshman Jacquelin Young (Colorado Springs, Colo.) set a career-high with her 9.725 routine.
The Pioneers began the meet on the balance beam - a traditionally tough start in gymnastics but one that Denver has thrived on this season. Senior Kara Clothier (Lake Forest, Calif.) and Ebdon led the Pioneers with scores of 9.85 to help Denver to a combined team score of 49.0 to tie the sixth-best total in school history.
On the vault the Pioneers put together another solid performance, totaling 48.7 points on the apparatus. Sophomore Jill Gunter (Lincoln, Calif.) led the way for Denver with a 9.775 while Ena tied her career high with a 9.7.
For the second straight season, a University of Denver coach earned regional plaudits as Pioneers assistant John Figueroa was named Region 2 Assistant Coach of the Year. Former assistant Michael Valentine earned the same honor in 1999.
DENVER GYMNASTICS - at NCAA Region 2 Championships, Minneapolis
FINAL TEAM SCORES: 1. Utah, 196.325; 2. West Virginia, 195.475; 3. DENVER, 195.45; 4. Minnesota, 194.75; 5. 192.95; 6. Southern Utah, 191.8.
ALL-AROUND: 1. Diedra Graham (UT), 39.475; 3. Jenny Ebdon (DEN), 39.15; 4. (tie), Sachi Ena (DEN), Megan Beuckens (MN) and Denise Jones (UT), 39.125; 7. Melanie Schiff (DEN), 39.075.
VAULT: 1. Diedra Graham (UT), 9.875; 6. (tie), Jill Gunter (DEN) and Amanda Halovanic (WV), 9.775; 8. (tie), Jenny Ebdon (DEN), Melanie Schiff (DEN) and Angelika Schatton (UT), 9.75.
BARS: 1. Jenny Schmidt (UT), 9.975; 5. (tie), Sachi Ena (DEN), Melanie Schiff (DEN) and Kelly Foley (WV), 9.875.
BEAM: 1. (tie), Diedra Graham (UT) and Ashley Kever (UT), 9.875; 3. (tie), Kara Clothier (DEN) and Jenny Ebdon (DEN), 9.85; 5. (tie), Sachi Ena (DEN), Megan Beuckens (MN), Denise Jones (UT), Angelika Schatton (UT) and Danielle Lilly (WV), 9.800.
FLOOR: 1. (tie), Jenny Ebdon (DEN), Megan Beuckens (MN) and TeShawne Johnson (WV), 9.85.
