DENVER – The University of Denver gymnastics team is ranked No. 11 in the Week 8 Road to Nationals rankings, which were released on Monday.
 
Denver wrapped up February by resting more of its student-athletes in its meet at BYU on February 23 and improving its NQS with a 196.900 team total.
 
This is the first week that rankings are determined by National Qualifying Score (NQS), which is calculated using the six highest scores of the season, at least three of which must be from away meets. The highest of the six scores is dropped, and the remaining five scores are averaged.
 
DENVER'S NQS
198.000 – Home
197.775 – Home
197.350 – Away
197.175 – Home
197.150 – Away
196.900 – Away
NQS: 197.270
 
DU's NQS of 197.270 is the highest initial NQS in program history, topping 2023's 197.195. It is just the fourth time that Denver has registered its first NQS in the 197 range.
 
The 197.270 also already ranks as the fourth-highest overall in Denver history, behind the final NQSs from 2019 (197.545), 2023 (197.445) and 2021 (197.344).
 
TEAM NATIONAL RANKINGS
Overall: No. 11 (197.270 NQS)
Vault: No. 13 (49.285)
Bars: No. 4 (49.440)
Beam: No. 11 (49.250)
Floor: No. 13 (49.450)
 
In addition to its overall team NQS, DU set new program records for initial NQS on vault, bars and floor – with the floor mark coming in nearly a tenth and half higher than the previous record (49.310 in 2004).
 
DU once again continued its upward momentum on floor, again moving up in the rankings to a season-best No. 13 and rising from week to week as it has since Week 2. The bars squad continue to hold a top-five ranking as it has for four weeks in a row.
 
INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RANKINGS
Senior Jessica Hutchinson
All-Around: No. 8 (39.630 NQS)
Bars: tie-No. 22 (9.900)
Beam: tie-No. 11 (9.915)
Floor: tie-No. 17 (9.925)
 
Senior Rylie Mundell
Bars: tie-No. 22 (9.900)
 
Freshman Madison Ulrich
All-Around: No. 19 (39.445)
 
Despite not competing in the team's last meet, Hutchinson maintains national rankings in the all-around and on three of the four events. Her initial NQS in the all-around already ranks among the top five overall in program history, tying for fourth with Maddie Karr's final NQS from 2018.
 
Mundell continues her streak of being nationally-ranked on bars as she has for every week this season, and Ulrich moved up to her highest all-around ranking so far in her young career.
 
No. 11 Denver hosts its final home meet of the year when it welcomes San Jose State, Lindenwood and Air Force on Sunday, March 3, at 1:45 p.m. MT.
 
TICKETS:
Tickets for the 2024 University of Denver gymnastics season are now on sale and can be purchased online, by calling 303-871-4625 or by visiting the Ritchie Center Box Office.
 
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