MINNEAPOLIS - University of Denver freshman Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.) has qualified for the NCAA National Championships following her performance at NCAA Regionals on Saturday.
Brown returned the all-around for the first time in two months and scored a 39.525, finishing fourth overall. The top two all-around competitors not on an advancing team qualify for NCAA Nationals, and Brown earned the first spot.
"I'm very excited and honored to be in this position as a freshman," Brown said. "I'm excited to represent my team, and I hope I do it well."
Head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart added, "We're excited for Lynnzee to have this opportunity as a freshman. She'll gain valuable experience that she can bring back to the team in the future."
This continues Denver's streak of qualifying at least one gymnast to the NCAA National Championships for 19 straight seasons.
Following a bye in the first rotation, DU began its competition on floor, recording a new season-best road score of 49.350. Brown returned to the line-up for the first time in eight weeks, tying her career high with a 9.950 and finishing tied for second overall. Senior Nikole Addison (Fort Myers, Fla.) had DU's next highest mark with a 9.900. Sophomore Maddie Karr (Stillwater, Minn.) and freshman Mia Sundstrom (Boulder, Colo.) each earned a 9.850 while junior Claire Kern (Charlotte, N.C.) posted a 9.800.
Denver moved to vault, earning a 49.125 overall. All five of DU's counted scores were at least 9.800s, led by Sundstrom's career best-tying 9.850. Brown, too, posted a 9.850, and junior Kaitlyn Schou (Orlando, Fla.) had a 9.825. Karr and Addison added 9.800s.
After the team's second bye of the meet, DU moved to bars, scoring a 49.325 with five scores at or above 9.800. Freshman Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.) and Brown shared the team lead with matching 9.900s, which tied them for second overall in the meet. Karr was just off that pace with a 9.875, Sundstrom added a 9.850, and junior Claire Kern (Charlotte, N.C.) had a 9.800.
The Pioneers finished the meet on beam led by Schou and Brown, each scoring 9.825. Karr and Addison had the team's next-highest marks with matching 9.700s. Glynn's 9.425 ensured the team would not count a fall.
As the competition's No. 3 seed, Denver finished third overall with a 196.275--the second-highest score in program history at NCAA Regionals. Two of DU's event scores also became the second-highest NCAA Regionals scores in school history: 49.350 on floor and 49.325 on bars.
No. 1-ranked Oklahoma was first with a 198.000, and No. 2 seed Kentucky was second with a 197.050. Host Minnesota (196.100), Iowa State (195.925) and Iowa (195.050) rounded out the six teams.
After the meet, Brown said, "I'm sad my team won't be at Nationals with me. It'll be tough to be there without them, but I know they'll be supporting me."
Kutcher-Rinehart added, "We've had a lot of adversity this year, and I truly believe it will make us stronger and tougher in the future. We have a very young team and a bright future, and it's thanks to the contributions of our seniors (Nikole Addison, Leah Lomonte and Claire Hammen). They have bright futures and we are so grateful for all they've contributed to DU Gymnastics."
The NCAA National Championships are set for April 20-21 at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Brown will compete during the semifinals on Friday, April 20, when individual titles and postseason All-American honors are decided.
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