Women's Regionals Preview:  2005

April 5th, 2005

South Central Regional, hosted by Nebraska

#1 Seed Nebraska will seek to use the home gym advantage to secure a Regional Championship.  Led by former NCAA AA Champ Richelle Simpson and sophomore Kristi Epsosito, the Huskers have received strong contributions from their talented frosh class.  Despite dealing with some offseason injuries, the frosh have quickly adapted to collegiate competitions.  The Huskers throw a high level of difficulty, particularly on FX, with three double layouts.  

Looking to challenge the Huskers are BIg 10 Champs Michigan.  Michigan's Elise Ray, in her fifth season, looks to lead the squad to National title contention.  Knocking off NU would be a big step in that direction.  Supporting Ray are two additional AAers, junior Jenny Deiley and sophomore Lindsay Bruck.  Troubles on the BB at the Big 10s nearly cost Blue the title.  These two teams match up very well, and it could come down to the best performances on UB and BB.  

If the top two seeds aren't consistent, then Pac 10 runnerup Arizona could pull a surprise.  The #3 seed in this regional drew a tough task, but Arizona appears up for the challenge.  Led by senior AAer Monica Bisordi, this squad last qualified for the NCAAs when she was a frosh.  But with strong, consistent performances on all four events, the GymCats will be primed for an opportunity.

#4 Seed Missouri has put together a solid season to claim the #19 rank heading into Regionals. Like Arizona, they will seek an opportunity to slip into Nationals, while battling it out amongst a crowded field below the top two seeds.  The Tigers will once again be lead by senior Alisha Robinson.  #5 Seed ASU has battled injuries and has been short-handed at times.  With Regionals at hand, the team will seek to pull it all together in this crowded field.  Defending NCAA BB champ Ashley Kelly will also be a top AAer at Regionals.  #6 Seed Illinois is competing in Regionals for the 2nd year in a row, edging out cross-state rival UIC.  

The Call:  NU and Michigan will likely battle for the Regional Championship.  Anything can happen at Regionals, and both teams have faced closed Regional battles the past two years.  If either is to falter, Arizona looks best set up to challenge the higher seeds, though MU and ASU could post a surprise.

Be sure to catch:  NU's Richelle Simpson remains stellar on all four events, showing no effects of her knee injury last year.  She opens FX with a double layout and ends with a whip through to double pike.  Another fifth year senior, Michigan's Elise Ray has battled through repeated shoulder injuries and remains excellent on all four events.  She throws consecutive hop fulls on UB.  Arizona's Katie Johnson will sometimes throw a middle pass of a whip immediate-2 1/2 twist-punch front.

North Central Regional, hosted by Utah

#1 Seed Utah, the #1 team by RQS, won't likely need the additional comforts of their home gym, but they'll take it.  Strong, deep and talented, this Utah squad has its best shot in years at the National title.  This was the forecast we made at the beginning of the season, and its holding true to form.  Frosh sensation Ashley Postell has shown her World Championship form while clearly enjoying her rookie year of competition.  With veterans like Annabeth Eberle, Rachel Tidd and Nicolle Ford, the Utes' biggest obstacle may be themselves.

#2 Seed Oregon State has also parlayed a deep squad to navigate through some early season injuries and inconsistency.  The squad is now coming into focus at the end of the season, with scores and consistency building higher and higher.  Unlike some other squads that deploy several all arounders, the Beavers deploy a wide range of gymnasts to cover the 24 scoring opportunities.  With no all-arounders, they instead use the varied talents of veterans like Therese Videan, Heidi Goehring, Heather Justus, Chrissy Lamun and Chelsea Plourde.

#3 Seed BYU won't have to travel very far for this regional, and they could post a strong challenge for the Beavers.  Led by senior AAer Jaime Mabray and another final-year AAer Marie-Helene Claveau (the Claveau twins will return to Canada prior to graduation) this BYU squad shows one of the highest skill levels of any BYU squad, ever.  Strong on vaulting and FX, they will need to stay consistent and clean on UB, their weakest event.  

#4 Seed Southern Utah is led by senior Carly Geronimo and sophomore Leah Sakhitab, both AAers,  The Thunderbird squad has been gradually raising their difficulty and execution level over the last several years, and have been challenging for a seeded spot.  #5 Minnesota is also coming on strong late in the season, as their newcomers gain experience.  Led by Big 10 Co-Gymnast of the Year Carolyn Yernberg and junior all-arounder Laura Johnson, the Gophers will be looking for an opportunity to slip by the higher seeds.  Sixth seed Iowa will be rooting for senior Annie Rue's attempt to be the first Iowa gymnast to qualify for the NCAAs all four years.

The Call:  Utah should win this regional easily, buoyed by the support of their NCAA-leading crowds.  An interesting race for second could develop, with Oregon State starting on BB and BYU giving chase.  If both falter, as can happen in a tight race, don't be surprised if a lower seed such as Minnesota pulls close.

Be sure to catch:  Utah's Gritt Hoffman's FX routine is a huge crowd pleaser in SLC; she opens with a high full-in.  Oregon State's Chrissy Lamun has the flexibility of a Cirque performer, and she uses to great effect on FX and BB (front aerial, bhs, bhs).  BYU's Jaime Mabray packs an Onodi (arabian bhs), Kochetkova (full twisting bhs), and front tuck into her bb set.

West Regional, hosted by Washington

#1 Seed UCLA is on the road to its third straight National Title.  To end this journey successfully, the Bruins will depend on senior Kristen Maloney and frosh Tasha Schwikert to lead the way.  This is not the deepest Bruin squad, and its depth has been tested by a hand injury that has limited star Kate Richardson.  However, the Bruins have sufficient talent to advance easily.  UCLA can likely use this meet as a tuneup for their less experienced athletes, and will seek to close the scoring gaps between their 1st and 6th routines.

#2 Seed Penn State has been attracting attention by throwing a high level of difficulty, especially on FX.  With some of the toughest tumbling in the NCAA, their scoring potential is strong.  With star frosh Kristal Uzelac working her way back from injury, the Lady Lions seek to return to Nationals for the first time since 2000.  The Lady Lions recently put up a strong challenge to Michigan for the Big 10 title, with a solid, consistent performance.  Another repeat will set them up nicely.

#3 Seed Central Michigan travels west minus their top AAer, Kara Reighard.  Unfortunately, Reighard tore her ACL in the last regular season meet.  Without her, CMU will depend on AAers Sara Burtinsky and Julie Ann Passy.  Having been defeated for the MAC Championship title by rival Kent State, CMU will have to eliminate the major mistakes that proved so costly in that effort.  Just a few years ago, CMU tied for the last spot to the National meet.  They learned then that every routine counts.

The West Regional has been crowded by two normally seeded teams that have struggled with injury.  #4 Seed Washington hopes to rise up through the comfort of the home gym and a more favorable rotation.  It must also address consistency problems that have plagued its recent efforts.  With injuries limiting or sidelining their top veterans and their top frosh, the Huskies hope to post their best effort at home.  Likewise, #5 Stanford has struggled with injuries to its top gymnasts, most notably frosh Liz Tricase, out for the season.  Stanford's lineup could hold some surprises, as several gymnasts are working back from injury.  Whether they are back in time could be another huge variable in this Regional.  Finally, #6 Seed Boise State boasts an experienced squad that hopes to push its way up in a crowded field, led by 2004 NCAA qualifier Lindsey Ward.

The Call:  UCLA should use this opportunity to gain post-season experience, while avoiding a major collapse or injury.  PSU will seek to stay consistent, and their first event, BB, could be a key.  If they falter, they could see a strong challenge from CMU, UW or Stanford.  It may all depend on who is available in each team's lineups.  

Be sure to catch:  UCLA's Kristen Maloney opens FX with a double layout and closes with a triple full.  PSU's Kristal Uzelac may be the only NCAA gymnast to throw an FIG "E" level skill (old code) on each event.  UW's Carly Dockendorf will have the attention of everyone in the room during her FX set.  Also capturing the crowd's interest will be Stanford's Tabitha Yim -- she is using a version of her "Blues for Klook" set.

Back to Regional Preview, Part 1