The 2011 season is over, and NCAA Champions have been crowned. Bama won the team title with a spectacular effort, defeating defending champion UCLA. Michigan's Kylee Botterman won the AA title and the AAI American Award. Here's the full list of winners:
Stanford won the 2011 Men's NCAA team title. Congratulations to all of the 2011 Champions. Here's the full recap on the winners.
On Vault, Marissa King stuck her Tsukahara Layout 1 1/2 twist to secure the win. Her second vault of a layout Tsuk full had a small hop. OU's Madison Mooring used a Yurchenko Layout 1/2 and a Yurchenko Layout Full to take second. Erin Davis of NU landed a Yurchenko Layout 1 1/2 but stepped to the side. She followed that up with a big Layout Yurchenko full. Only four event finalists attempted two 10.0 start value vaults.
On UB, Kat Ding of Georgia went early and hit her dismount for the win. Despite what she described as perhaps not her top effort of the year, the consistent Ding nailed her set when it mattered. Oregon State's Jen Kesler was 2nd. A trio of athletes tied in third: Sarah Demeo of Bama, Makayla Stambaugh of Oregon State, and Monique DeLaTorre of UCLA. Just the smallest of hops separated the top placers, while some favorites took steps on their dismount, and only one fell.
Sam Peszek of UCLA used the event finals as a chance to throw a standing full twisting back tuck into her set. Her set was packed with difficulty and she was rewarded accordingly. Bama's Kayla Hoffman and UCLA's Aisha Gerber tied for 2nd. There were no falls in the final, and just small details separated the top finalists, with exception of Peszek's finals-worthy upgrade.
Geralen Stack-Eaton, who was one bobble away from the AA title, won the individual National title on FX to cap off a great weekend for the Bama faithful. She hit her double Arabian mount and a double pike dismount to close. Florida's Maranda Smith tied with Michigan's Kylee Botterman and UCLA's Brittani McCullough for 2nd. Smith and Botterman both opened with pike full-ins, while McCullough did hers in tuck. Super high tumbling was evidenced in the finals, with only two finalists not throwing FIG E skills (but both did Ds in combination). Landing control and dance execution separated the finalists.
Link: Scores
Brittany Webster, L10 from KGDC Twisters in Kansas, has signed with Auburn per her local newspaper. Webster has posted strong results this season, including 2nd AA (1st V/FX) at the Folgers Invite; 4th AA at the Metroplex, 2nd AA at the Gliders Invite, and 5th AA at WOGA. She recently placed 2nd AA in both her state and regional meets. Last season she placed 23rd AA at JO Nationals.
The Honda Award nominations recognize outstanding athletes for their athletic skills, academic performance, leadership skills and community service. The Honda Award Winners in 12 NCAA sports are eligible for the Honda-Broderick Cup, which honors the collegiate female athlete of the year. This year's nominees in gymnastics are:
Kylee Botterman - Michigan
Kayla Hoffman - Alabama
Brittani McCullough - UCLA
Sharaya Musser - PSU
Some of the nation's top up and coming club gymnasts competed at the L10 Regionals this past weekend. Here's how your favorite incoming recruits and future commits did this weekend. Check back later for links to videos. As always, check our Results / Club Results section for links to club meets from across the nation. All of the Regional results are now available.
Pommel Horse - T - Daniel Ribeiro, Illinois and Alex Naddour, OU
Parallel Bars -Tyler Mizoguchi, Illinois
Floor -Jacob Dalton, OU
Rings -Brandon Wynn, OSU
Vault -Jacob Dalton, OU
High Bar - Alex Buscaglia, Stanford
Alabama topped the field with an impressive 197.650, edging defending national champs UCLA (197.375). Rounding out the field:
3- OU (197.250)
4- Nebraska (196.725)
5- Utah (196.500)
6- Michigan (196.425)
Stanford scored 363.450 to hold off OU for the men's national title. OU (361.600) and Illinois (360.150) rounded out the top three spots. Michigan's Sam Mikulak won the AA title.
Two International Elites, Ivana Hong, WOGA in Texas, and Becky Wing of Great Britain, have signed with Stanford. They will join Sam Shapiro next fall.
Ivana Hong won the US National vault and beam titles in 2009. She was an alternate to the Olympic Team and she has represented the United States at Worlds and in the Pan Am Games.
Becky Wing is a former Olympian and two-time Worlds competitor.
Ivana Hong's website (out of date)