DENVER – The No. 17 ranked senior all-around competitor Moriah Martin (Lake Mary, Fla.) earned her third-consecutive trip to the NCAA National competition in Birmingham, Ala. Martin marks the 16th consecutive individual Pioneer to advance to Nationals after earning a 39.225 in the all-around at regionals. The No. 20 University of Denver women’s gymnastics squad finished third at the 2014 Regional Championships in Seattle, Wash., with a team score of 195.625.
“While we’re disappointed we didn’t advance to nationals as a team, we are pleased to have finished third, behind the number fourth and ninth ranked team in the county,” head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. “There were four great things that happened in the last quarter of our season to build on for the future: a fantastic senior night in Magness Arena, winning the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Championships, finishing higher than we were seeded at Regionals and the probability of moving up in the rankings. This senior class has showed tremendous leadership this season, helping us to only count one fall, one time throughout the entire year.”
Martin led the Pioneers in the all-around, finishing with a 39.225. Martin’s performance was highlighted by a 9.900 on vault and on bars. Junior Nina McGee (Cincinnati, Ohio) ended the competition with a 38.650 in the all-around. McGee posted a 9.900 on bars and a 9.875 on floor. Martin would eventually finish eighth in the all-around.
McGee led the Pioneers to open up the evening on floor, posting a 9.875. Martin and senior Kaitlin Moorhead (Palo Alto, Calif.) brought in a pair of 9.775’s and junior Ellese Sakai-Hart (Aptos, Calif.) and senior Jorie Hall (Denver, Colo.) added two 9.750’s. Denver finished the rotation with a team total of 48.925. McGee went on to finish fourth on the event.
Denver moved to vault, where they posted a 49.000 as a team. Martin anchored the Pioneers earning a 9.900, her 20th consecutive vault over 9.800 and her sixth vault over 9.900 of the season. Moorhead brought in a 9.825, with freshman Rachel Fielitz (Walden, N.Y.) adding a 9.800. Freshman Leah Lomonte (Katy, Texas) added a 9.750, followed by senior Melodie Pulgarin Linero (Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain) who added a 9.725 to Denver’s team total. Martin would eventually finish fifth on the event.
After a bye in the third rotation, Denver came back on bars, where Martin and McGee earned team-highs of 9.900. McGee’s 9.900 was a season-high and Pulgarin Linero tied her season-high with a 9.875. Sophomore Katie Menhinick (Paramus, N.J.) tallied a career-high 9.775 and freshman Julia Ross (Henderson, Nev.) added a 9.750 to round out the Pioneers 49.200. The 49.200 ties DU’s season-high for the third time in 2014. Martin and McGee finished fourth on the event.
To finish out the competition, Denver posted a 48.500 on beam. Hall led the way with a 9.750 with Ross and McGee adding a pair of 9.700’s.
“We’re thrilled to be attending the National Championships with Moriah, as I believe she has a chance to repeat as an All-American. The most difficult part of tonight is saying goodbye to all but one senior.”
The National Championships will take place in Birmingham, Ala., April 18-20 in the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.
-EXPERIENCE DENVER ATHLETICS-
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