FORT WORTH, Texas – The No. 5-ranked University of Denver women's gymnastics team advanced to the NCAA National Team Final for the first time in program history.
DU finished second during Friday's NCAA Semifinal II with a 197.0375, shattering the team's previous record score at NCAA Nationals (196.475 in 2017). All four of Denver's event scores were also program bests at the national championships.
"We are thrilled for this opportunity to advance," head coach
Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "I'm incredibly proud of our team and our student-athletes. They have continued to show tremendous character, competitiveness and consistency, and we are incredibly proud."
Sophomore
Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.) captured a share of the national title on floor with a 9.950, becoming Denver's second NCAA national champion (Nina McGee on floor in 2016).
Speaking about what helped her win a share of the floor championship, Brown said, "I have had a little bit of mentorship from an alum – Nina McGee – and that's really helped me. It's brought out my personality. It's brought out my confidence. So just having her support and having her tell me, 'You know, you're going to do this. I'm so proud of you,' and just having her as a mentor has really been good for me."
Brown also finished in sixth in the all-around – a new DU record for highest finish at NCAA Nationals. Denver also earned podium finishes from freshman
Alexis Vasquez (Arcadia, Calif.) and junior
Maddie Karr (Stillwater, Minn.). Vasquez was tied for fourth overall on beam, and Karr was tied for sixth on bars.
DU began its meet on beam with a 49.2875. Vasquez led the Pioneers with a 9.9125 to tie for the session's highest score. Brown and senior
Kaitlyn Schou (Orlando, Fla.) followed up with 9.875s. Freshman
Alexandria Ruiz (Lake Mary, Fla.) had a 9.8375, and Karr added a 9.7875.
Brown's championship-winning floor routine highlighted the Pioneers' 49.2625 in the second rotation. All five of Denver's counted scores on floor were at or above the 9.800 mark. Schou's 9.850 was DU's second-highest score, and Karr followed with a 9.8375. Ruiz posted a 9.825, and senior
Claire Kern (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed a 9.800.
On vault in the third rotation, both Karr and Brown led the way for DU with matching 9.850s to help Denver to a team score of 49.100. Sophomore
Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.) was substituted into the lineup at the last minute and scored a career-high 9.825 in only her third vault appearance this season. Fellow sophomore
Mia Sundstrom (Boulder, Colo.) scored a 9.8125 while Ruiz closed out Denver's counted scores with a 9.7625.
Heading into the fourth and final rotation, Denver was tied with Oregon State for second with a 147.650. Senior and co-team captain Kern lead off the bars rotation with a 9.8375 to set the tone for the Pioneers. Ruiz scored a 9.875 in the second spot while Sundstrom and Glynn followed with 9.850s. Brown continued DU's momentum with a 9.900, and Karr clinched the team finals berth with her 9.9125.
In the all-around, Brown scored a 39.575 to finish third in the session and sixth overall. Karr posted a 39.3875 for fifth in the semifinal, and Ruiz's 39.300 was eighth-best in the session. Both Karr and Ruiz finished in the top 15 overall.
DU's 197.0375 was second only to No. 1 Oklahoma's 197.850. No. 15 Oregon State finished in third with a 196.900, and No. 8 Georgia was fourth with a 196.4625.
Joining Denver in Saturday's championship meet will be fellow Big 12 Conference team Oklahoma, meaning that half of the team finals field will be from the Big 12. Pac-12 school UCLA and SEC school LSU will also compete on Saturday after advancing out of the first semifinal on Friday.
Saturday's NCAA Team Final is set for 6:00 p.m. CT/5:00 p.m. MT and will be televised live on ESPNU.
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