Alabama edged Florida to take the evening session of the NCAA Women's Preliminaries. Bama opened the meet with a huge 49.6 on beam and then battled back and forth with Florida all night long. A 49.4 on bars was enough to pass Florida, who managed a 49.275 on floor after a few small stumbles. The Gators tied or outscored Bama on every event but Beam. But solid 49.4 scores on vault and bars to close out the meet was just enough to edge the Gators, and set up a battle for the title tomorrow night.
Arkansas took third, fueled by the return of key gymnasts back from injury. After encountering an early fall on their last event, their two stars Jaime Pisani and Katherine Grable hit for 9.95s to close out the event. They were helped along by two counting falls on beam by UGA. The GymDogs finished fifth, just behind Ohio State in fourth. If not for the two falls, UGA would have challenged Bama and UF for the session win. Ohio State came back with solid performances after opening on their weakest event, uneven bars. Oregon State was just behind UGA with a 196.475, after a slow start caused by a few problems on floor.
In the AA race, Florida frosh Kytra Hunter was unstoppable, posting a 39.725 for the win. In second was senior Kat Ding of UGA (39.65), just ahead of Arkansas senior Jaime Pisani (39.625).
The results set up a Pac-12 vs. SEC showdown in the finals, with three squads from each conference battling it out.
Link: Results
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
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.
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
Regional results will be posted for meets taking place over the next two weekends as we find them (Regions 4, 6 and 7 hold their meets next weekend). We're highlighting the signed and committed athletes who placed first in their sessions or who won individual events. National Qualifiers for the Senior Divisions are summarized below. Full results will be posted under the Club Results tab on the front page.
Region 1
TWU won the afternoon session at the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Nationals, advancing to the finals. Air Force edged William & Mary for the 2nd spot in the finals.
During the evening session, Bridgeport posted a huge 195.525 to win the session, followed by Penn at 193.9.
Bridgeport's Monica Messales Sallares won the AA title with a 39.35. Penn's Dana Bonincontri was 2nd at 39.275, with teammate Kirsten Strausbaugh 3rd at 38.95.
Link: TWU Release and Penn Release
The NCAA has released the Women's Qualifying Field and the rotation assignments. Here's how the preliminary sessions shake out:
Afternoon Session:
| Vault | Bye | Bars | Beam | Bye | Floor |
| UCLA | LSU | Nebraska | OU | Stanford | Utah |
Evening Session:
| Vault | Bye | Bars | Beam | Bye | Floor |
| Florida | Ohio State | Georgia | Bama | Oregon State | Arkansas |
#1 seed Florida starts on vault, while defending Champion Bama (along with OU) starts on beam. For Stanford, Utah, Oregon State and Arkansas, they will have to attempt to make the Super Six by ending on beam.
Link: Qualifier Release and Rotation Announcement
The final rankings using the National Qualifying Scores (NQS) have been published by Troester.com GymInfo. These will be the final National finish for teams ranked 13 and lower. The final top spots will of course be determined at Nationals.
Florida takes the top spot heading into Nationals, with UCLA 2nd. OU is third.