UCLA, Utah and Stanford advanced out of Session I of the NCAA Preliminaries, making it an excellent afternoon for the Pac 12 squads. UCLA powered to a 197.4 to win the session, despite noncounting mistakes from stars Samantha Peszek (overcooked her closing double pike on FX) and Vanessa Zamarripa (Fall on BB). Utah used an explosive vault rotation (meet high 49.525) to take second in the session. Frosh Kassandra Lopez wavered on her punch front on BB but held on to post a solid score, after Senior Kyndal Robarts wavered in her set.
Stanford worked through a few wavers on floor to start, powering through vault, bars and beam to pass by OU. With the pressure on, the Cardinal posted a meet-high 49.375 to pass by OU. Favored OU and NU showed signs of the impact of their injuries, coming up short. OU lagged on vault, while NU battled wobbles on BB. LSU started slowly on their weakest event, UB, but closed out strongly.
LSU frosh Reaghan Courville posted the session's highest AA score, a 39.475. Utah's Stephanie McAllister was 2nd, while teammate Corrie Lothrop tied with NU frosh Jessie DeZiel for third.
| 1 | UCLA | 197.4 |
| 2 | Utah | 197.2 |
| 3 | Stanford | 197.125 |
| 4 | OU | 196.925 |
| 5 | NU | 196.625 |
| 6 | LSU | 196.55 |
(Based on unofficial results)
Link: Results
Illinois edged Oklahoma for the top spot in the evening session at the Men's NCAA Championships. Cal claimed the third spot. They will be joined by Michigan, PSU and Stanford in the finals.
| FX | PH | SR | V | PB | HB | Total | |
| Illinois | 59.50 | 58.80 | 58.15 | 59.55 | 60.15 | 60.10 | 356.25 |
| Oklahoma | 60.15 | 59.10 | 59.25 | 59.50 | 60.05 | 57.55 | 356.20 |
| California | 59.15 | 56.50 | 56.50 | 59.70 | 59.45 | 59.85 | 351.15 |
| Minnesota | 57.20 | 55.05 | 56.75 | 59.75 | 58.45 | 56.15 | 343.35 |
| Temple | 57.30 | 56.20 | 55.85 | 58.15 | 56.30 | 55.55 | 339.45 |
| Air Force | 56.35 | 56.10 | 53.15 | 57.35 | 56.40 | 54.40 | 333.75 |
Cal's Dennis Mannhart posted the top AA score for the round with an 85.55.
Link: OU Release
The AAI Award is issued to the nation's top female senior gymnast.
Here are the unofficial results from the preliminary Session 1 at the Men's NCAA Championships in Norman:
| 1 | Univ. Of Michigan | 353.45 |
| 2 | Penn State Univ. | 353 |
| 3 | Stanford Univ. | 348.5 |
| 4 | Ohio State Univ. | 345.35 |
| 5 | Univ. Of Nebraska | 340.55 |
| 6 | Univ. Of Iowa | 336.65 |
Michigan's Sam Mikulak was the top AAer in Session I, posting an 89.3.
Link: Results
Illinois gymnast Paul Ruggeri has been awarded this year's Nissen-Emery Award. The award, sometimes reffered to as the gymnastics equivalent of the Heismman Trophy, is awarded to the country's top senior male gymnast.
Kiersten Graber has signed with Washington, according to a school release. The early graduate's commit was covered in a prior news item.
Link: UW Release
As previously reported at the site, Pitt has announced the signing of Jacqueline Lucci and Maebelle Pacheco.
Link: Pitt Release
Brooke Graham, L10 from National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics in Oregon, has committed to Boise State. In her first season as a level 10, she placed 2nd AA at the MAC Open and recently placed 3rd AA at her regional meet.
Alexa Okamura, L10 from Gym East in Washington, will join the Seattle Pacific team this fall. This season she placed 1st on beam at the Charity Choice and Battle in Seattle and 1st on floor at the Seattle Invitational. She recently placed 2nd on beam at her state meet. She qualified to the 2011 JOs and she was an L9 Western qualifier in 2009 and 2010.
Jordan Widener, L10 from Leading Edge Gymnastics in Washington, will sign with Cal and join the team this fall. The three-time JO qualifier won this season's Seattle Open (1st AA, 1st V) and placed 2nd AA (1st FX) at her regional meet last weekend.
The fields are set for the 2012 Women's NCAA Championships in Duluth, GA. Located outside of Atlanta, the site will be filled with UGA devotees (and other fans, especially from the SEC), rooting for the 12 teams that will battle it out for the coveted spots in the Super Six Finals. #1 Florida (and 7 others) will be looking to break into the exclusive club of four squads that have ever won an NCAA Team title: Alabama, Georgia, UCLA and Utah.
Gabrielle Douglas has reportedly signed with an agent and given up her NCAA eligibity.
Abby Milliet, Jr. Elite from Denton Gymnastics in Texas, has committed to Auburn. Abby has been competing as an Elite since the 2010 season. In 2011 she placed 1st AA; 1st V/UB/BB at the WOGA Classic. This season she placed 2nd AA at the Nadia Comaneci Invite, 1st AA; 1st V/FX at the WOGA Elite Qualifier, and 4th AA at the HNI.
Maebelle Pacheco, L10 from Gymstrada in Virginia, will join the Pitt team this fall per a post on her club's website. In the 2011 season, she picked up 5 vault titles and won the Commonwealth Cup and Capital Cup. She finished 7th AA at the 2011 JOs.
Bridgeport's Monica Mesalles Sallares dominated the event finals at the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Nationals, taking the titles on vault, beam and floor. The former Spanish National Team member and 2004 Olympian won the AA on Thursday. TWU frosh Courtney Cochefski won the bars.
Link: Bridgeport Release
Host Bridgeport ran away with its fourth straight USAG Collegiate National Championship, totalling a big 195.575 to down TWU (193.7), Penn (193.475) and Air Force (191.075). Bridgeport's Monica Mesalles, the AA Champ on Friday, posted the night's high scores on vaut and floor. Penn's Dana Bonincontri was the night's top AAer, edging Mesalles.
Link: TWU Release and Bridgeport Release