Spartan Gymnastics Arrive at NCAA West Regional After Weather Delays
4/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
April 11, 2008
CORVALLIS, Ore. - After inclement weather in the midwest delayed its arrival, the Michigan State gymnastics team finally reached its destination, Corvallis, Oregon, for the NCAA West Regional Championships. The Spartans arrived Friday morning, although they were scheduled for Thursday night, in time to settle in and take part in the manditory NCAA practice session.
"We are extremely happy to have finally made our way to Oregon State," said head coach Kathie Klages. "We are anxious and excited to compete, and see how we match up against some new competition."
Competition inside Gill Coliseum on the campus of Oregon State University, is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday. Also included in West Region field aside from the host Beavers and the Spartans, are Michigan, Washington, San Jose State and Sacramento State.
The Spartans advance to the NCAA regionals for the 18th time, including the last three seasons. MSU has finished third on five occasions, most recently in 1989. This is the first time that the Spartans are not in the Central region.
The Spartans remained at No. 17 in the latest GymInfo national ranking with a Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 195.620 and a team average of 194.833. The numbers also rank MSU fourth in the Central region (trailing No. 4 Alabama, No. 7 LSU and No. 12 Auburn) and second in the Big Ten Conference, behind only No. 5 Michigan.
Michigan State is in the top 30 nationally in each event. The Spartans have their highest RQS on the vault with a 49.065 to stand in 14th and are 17th on the beam with a 49.000 RQS. They are also 17th on the bars with a 48.920 and currently are 28th on the floor at 48.885. Among this weekend's programs, MSU is third on vault, bars and beam and fourth on the floor.
Each one of the 13 Spartans who have appeared in the competitive lineup this season have placed among the top-three in at least one event. MSU has totaled 96 top-three individual fi nishes so far, with 63 coming from the talented sophomore class. Sophomore Nicole Curler leads the way with 24 podium finishes, followed by sophomore Rochelle Robinson (21) and junior Katlyn Roggensack (11).
The Spartans have also seen seven student-athletes win or share an individual title in 2008. MSU has 34 individual finish place finishes, led by 12 from Robinson and nine from Curler. Again, the sophomore class accounts for 26 of the 34 wins.
The Spartans have faced each of this weekend's opponents, aside from Washington. MSU has lost all 10 meetings with Oregon State, dating back to their first meeting on March 2, 1984, including five trips to Corvallis. The two schools last met on March 5, 2004 in Corvallis. The Spartans have met Michigan on three occasions this season. MSU has lost all three meets, dropping their all-time record to 27-40 against the Wolverines. The Spartans are 3-0 all-time against San Jose State and have tied their only matchup with Sacramento State, ironically in Corvallis in the last meeting between the Spartans and Beavers.
Players Mentioned
