ATHENS, Ga. The University of Denver gymnastics team made its second-consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships Thursday night, scoring a 194.200 and finishing sixth in the second session of the NCAA Championships and 12th overall in Stegeman Coliseum. Three-time defending national champion Georgia won the meet with a 197.625 and Utah (196.950) and Stanford (196.900) will join them in the Super Six on Friday. UCLA (196.725) finished fourth and Michigan (196.075) finished fifth.
“We finished in the top-12 of the country and not many teams can say that,” head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. “I’m happy with the way we finished our season.”
DU competed in Olympic order in the meet, beginning on vault where the Pioneers posted a team score of 48.625. Senior Courtney Butler (Naperville, Ill.) led the way with a spectacular 9.85 that was tied for 10th overall in the session. She was followed by junior Jessica Lpez (Caracas, Venezuela) with 9.8 and junior Lauren Garan (Cos Cobb, Conn.) was next for DU with a 9.7. Sasha Sullivan (Glen Allen, Va.) turned in a 9.65.
The Pioneers were better on uneven bars, posting a team score of 48.85 that included a 9.85 from Butler that was tied for 21st in the meet. Right behind her with a 9.8 was Lpez, and sophomore Ellen McCarthy (Aurora, Ontario) and Sullivan each scored a 9.75 as the Pioneers were in sixth place following each team’s first two events with a team score of 97.475.
DU’s third event of the evening was balance beam, and the Pioneers were forced to count a fall and scored just a 47.95 on the event. Junior Nikki Brown (Louisville, Ky.) led the way for the Pioneers with a 9.75 followed by Sullivan with a 9.675 and Garan and freshman Taylor Sanford (Omaha, Neb.), who both posted a 9.6.
DU wrapped up the meet on floor exercise and scored a 48.775. Sullivan posted DU’s highest score with a 9.825 followed by freshman Kristina Coccia (Bethlehem, Pa.) with a 9.775 and Lpez and junior Liz Meals (Pittsburgh, Pa.), who both scored a 9.75.
“Our student-athletes gained valuable experience from this competition and in this atmosphere,” head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. “I think it’s a good stepping stone for our program and I think our future is bright. We will definitely miss our four graduating seniors, they have done a great job of getting us into this position. Going forward, we need to learn to capitalize on these opportunities.”
DU’s best individual finish was Butler’s tie for 10th place on vault, as she just missed out on an All-American finish. The top eight plus ties earn All-America status.
In Thursday’s first session, Florida (196.900), Alabama (196.650) and LSU (196.575) advanced to Friday’s Super Six competiton.
