July 3, 2003

DENVER - The University of Denver has been selected to serve as host for the 2004 NCAA North Central Regional Gymnastics Championships, the NCAA Championships Cabinet announced today. Denver joins five other universities in hosting the regional meets, which will take place on Saturday, April 3 and serve as the final competition before the NCAA National Championships, April 15-17, at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"We are very excited to be bringing such a high profile event to the University of Denver for the second time," Director of Athletics and Recreation Dr. M. Dianne Murphy said. "It is an opportunity to showcase the University of Denver and Magness Arena to the NCAA as well as provide gymnastics fans in Colorado the opportunity to see the highest levels of competition."

Denver was selected along with Louisiana State (Central Regional), Penn State (Northeast), Arizona (South Central), North Carolina State (Southeast) and Oregon State (West) as regional hosts.

The Pioneers hosted the North Central Region Championships in 2002 and the event drew 3,479 fans, a record for Magness Arena in any athletic event other than hockey. Denver finished third in that regional, just 0.125 behind Georgia and Stanford, who advanced to Nationals. Denver also finished third in this season's Regionals, held in Salt Lake City. The top two teams from each regional earn invites to Nationals.

"I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to host the NCAA North Central Regional Championships in 2004," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "This is part of building and continuing to build on the tradition of women's gymnastics here at Denver. The event was such a huge success in 2002 that we couldn't wait to bring it back to Magness Arena. We are excited to be hosting such a high-profile event that brings the best collegiate gymnastics in the country."